Faith & Reason Nexus

AUTHOR: John

TIME WRITTEN: Likely around A.D. 90 from Ephesus

POSITION IN THE BIBLE:

• 62nd Book in the Bible
• 23rd Book in the New Testament
• 18th of 21 Epistle Books (Romans to Jude)
• Followed by 4 books

CHAPTERS: 5
VERSES: 105
WORDS: 2,523

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT 1 JOHN:

• John, the author, was one of the original twelve apostles and part of the inner circle with Peter and James. He was known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23) and was one of the first two disciples called by Jesus.
• John was a key figure in the early church, referred to as one of its “pillars” (Galatians 2:9). He spent his later years in Ephesus and was exiled to Patmos towards the end of the first century.
• John wrote five New Testament books: John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation. Only Paul wrote more New Testament books than John.
• The purposes of writing 1 John include:
• Increasing their joy (1:4)
• Helping them avoid sin (2:1)
• Affirming that the faithful have overcome evil (2:12-14)
• Strengthening their faith and assuring them of eternal life (5:13)
• Key teachings in 1 John include:
• God is light
• God is love
• God is life
• The letter addresses themes such as:
• Love
• Fellowship
• Forgiveness
• Confession
• The blood of Christ
• Sin

Key Verse:
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” — 1 John 1:7