JOHN, ErIsTLEs or. Three of the canonieal Epistles of the New Testament. TILE FIRST EmsrLE. The literary form of I. John is peculiar and some have considered it a tract rather than an epistle. Yet it seems clear that the writer has a quite definite circle of readers in mind, whom lie addresses in a tone of loving but au thoritative familiarity: and although without definite address or signature, it is properly desig nated an Epistle. In an introduction (i. 1-4), x•hieh reminds one of the Prologue to the Gospel of John. the writer states that the Word, who was manifested, with whom lie and others had had personal experience. is the Word of life, to know whom is to gyve fellowship with the Father and the Son. To assist the readers to realize this truth and experience its joy is the purpose of the message that follows. Since God is light. emphasis is laid upon the necessity and possibility of separation front sin in order to fellowship with the light (i. 5-ii. 6), The result and evidence of fellowship with God is mutual love. the supreme duty of each toward the other (H. 7-121. while the world with its attractions is to he shunned (ii. 12-17). The readers are then warned against those who deny .lesus to he the Christ (ii. 18-29). The full signifieance of being children of God is then unfolded (iii. 1-17), the realization of through faith, is equiva lent to vital union with the truth (iii. 18-2.!). Once more (iv. 1-6) the false views, the spirit of Antichrist, are mentioned. One must oppose these, holding fast to the manifestation of love in the mission of Jesus, God's Son, and exempli fying it in his life of righteousness, faith, and love of the brethren (iv. 7-21). This gives the victory over the world (v. 1-5). Such is the un impeachable testimony to Jesus, the Son, in whom is life (v. 6-12). With hints of the prac tical purpose of the Epistle (v. 13-17), a sum mary restatement of fundamentals (v. 18-20), and a final exhortation (v. 21) the Epistle closes, somewhat abruptly.
The Epistle itself contains no direct informa tion as to its author, date, and place of writing, or parties addressed. The 'we' (i. 1 sqq.) gives place to the singular (ii. 1, 7, 8, 12-14, 26: v. 13). The author thus indicates that he is one with others in his fundamental position, but is personally responsible for the Epistle as a whole. It was a time when new views, especially those of Gnostic tendency, were in the air. The view most repugnant to the author was that which denied that Jesus was the Christ (ii. 18-25, cf.
iv. 1-3; v. 1-13). As this view does not appear to have been elaborated to any great extent when the Epistle was written, as it afterwards was, a date somewhere near the beginning of the second century is most probable. The internal evidence being so insufficient, we must fall back (1) on traces of the work in early Christian literature, and (2) on compdrison with the Gospel of John for facts touching its origin and destination.
The notices of 1. John in ancient literature are singularly full and direct. From the quotation and allusions in Polyearp's letter to the Philip pians (c. 115), and the use of the Epistle by Papias (according to Eusehius's express state ment), its circulation and high standing in Asia Minor soon after A.D. 100 cannot be doubted. It was known in the West as John's before the writing of the Muratorian canon (e.170), which quotes its first verse. Iremeus, Clement of Alex andria, and Tertullian all speak of it as by .John. That Marcion and possibly the Alogi did not ac cept it was due to dogmatic, not historical rea sons. If this strong chain of ancient testimony is to be accepted, we are brought to the same general date and situation as that with which the fourth Gospel (see JOHN, GOSPEL OF) is con cerned. A comparison of the vocabulary, leading ideas, and other characteristics of the Epistle with the Gospel has led the majority of scholars (H. .T. Holtzmann, P. W. Schmiedel. and a few others are exceptions) to conclude that the two are products of the same mind and hand. A more difficult question is that of the respective dates of the two writings. There are no data at hand to decide this. All that can be said with confidence is that during his sojourn in Asia the Apostle John sent this message to a circle of be lievers (not necessarily to the church in Ephesus), with many of whom he was well ac quainted, and by whom he was looked up to as a spiritual father, to warn them against danger ous views concerning Christ. and to impress upon them that faith in Christ must manifest itself in love and in a life separate from sill. Around these fundamental thoughts the whole Epistle re volves in a peculiar epigrammatic style. of great external simplicity, yet singularly rich and com prehensive in thought. The teachings antag onized contradicted the most important elements of Christian doctrine taught by the Apostolic Church. Whether they can he assigned to Ce rinthus, the Ephesian heretic, we cannot decide.