Having not sinned? (1 John 1:10)
It is hardly imaginable, that someone who calls himself a Christian says such a thing. Yet it happens. It is striking that one does not…
That which was from the beginning
If We Confess Our Sins (1 John 1:9)
In this verse we learn the wonderful truth. God forgives sins and is “faithful and righteous.” These are firm truths. Anyone may lean on them…
Self-Deception (1 John 1:8)
In verse 6, John had already spoken about someone saying that he has fellowship with God. Now John presents a second case. Second case: Someone…
Walking in the Light (1 John 1:7)
John begins this verse with the words: “But if we…”. This points to a contrast with the previous verse. Now it is about God’s children.…
The Message (1 John 1:5)
The Nature of God as the Basis of Fellowship We have been brought into fellowship with divine persons. This is a wonderful privilege—but it also…
Joy to the Fullest (1 John 1:4)
Full Joy Through Fellowship One could say that the children of God—and such are addressed here—may already breathe something of the “air of heaven” while still on…
Christian Fellowship (1 John 1:3)
The Testimony of the Apostles For the third time, John refers to what they had seen (vv. 1, 2, and 3) and what they had heard (vv. 1, 3,…
The Eternal Life with the Father (1 John 1:2)
This verse is a parenthetical statement that explains in more detail what John has already written. He is still speaking about Christ, here described as “the…
That which was from the Beginning (1 John 1:1)
John begins his letter immediately, without introducing himself or greeting the recipients. He himself recedes into the background and speaks immediately of Christ. The letter…
The First Letter of John – Introduction
Introduction to the First Letter of John Authorship and Historical Context Although the letter begins without the author introducing himself, there is no doubt that…