Introduction: The Reality of the Incarnation (1:1–4) The Christian Life as Fellowship with the Father and the Son (1:5—2:28) Ethical Tests of Fellowship (1:5—2:11) Moral likeness (1:5–7) Confession of sin (1:8—2:2) Obedience (2:3–6) Love for fellow believers (2:7–11) Two Digressions (2:12–17) Christological Test of Fellowship (2:18–28) Contrast: apostates versus believers (2:18–21) Person of Christ:
1 John The Prologue to the Letter 1:1 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life – 1:2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen
THE FIRST GENERAL EPISTLE OF JOHN Commentary by A. R. Faussett INTRODUCTION Authorship.--Polycarp, the disciple of John [Epistle to the Philippians, 7], quotes 1Jo 4:3. Eusebius [Ecclesiastical History, 3.39] says of Papias, a hearer of John, and a friend of Polycarp, "He used testimonies from the First Epistle of John." Irenæus, according to Eusebius [Ecclesiastical History, 5.8],