While the ecclesia was not yet 70 years old, the antichrist already existed. In fact, the apostle John indicates many Antichrists were present (2:18,22; 4:3). This epistle describes not only the character of the Antichrists but also the qualities of the Christ-like person. These descriptions are still valid today.
John the writer
While John never identifies himself in the epistle, there can be little doubt that he is the writer. The style and vocabulary are virtually the same as the Gospel of John.
This apostle seems to have had the closest personal relationship to Jesus of any of the twelve. He was a cousin of Jesus, is called the one whom Jesus loved and the Lord personally asked him from the cross to care for Mary, his mother.
Those in darkness
John identifies false believers and true in this epistle. It is useful to see them clearly contrasted with one another while doing the readings.
The false believers have a lot to say, most of it untrue. They say “we have fellowship with him…we have no sin…we have not sinned…I know him…[I am] in the light” (1:6,8,10; 2:4,9). Yet by their actions they deny Christ.
John reveals that they walk in darkness, refuse to confess their sins, disobey the commands, hate their brethren, love the world, divide from true brethren, deny the Son of God, reject true teaching and refuse to hear the apostles (1:6,10; 2:4,11,15,15,23; 4:3,6). In spite of what they claim, they have no fellowship with Christ.
No wonder John refers to them as liars, deceivers and Antichrists throughout the letter.
Those in the light
The true believers do rather than say. They “walk in the light…even as he walked” by loving their brethren (1:7; 2:6,10). They “keep his commandments,” purifying themselves “even as he is pure,” sinning not (3:3,6,9). They are “righteous even as he is righteous” doing righteousness (3:7). When they speak, they confess their sins (1:9). They believe “that Jesus came in the flesh” (4:2) and was “the son of God” (4:15).
Words of thunder
Occasionally in this epistle, the author betrays his former identity as one of the “sons of thunder” (Mk. 3:17; Luke 9:54). He thunders out stern warnings: “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning” (3:8). Like the Master (cp. John 8:44), John does not hesitate to identify the evil works of men for what they really are.
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer” (3:15) echoes Christ’s denunciation (Matt. 5:21,22). “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar” (4:20) is another of John’s strong statements.
Teachers of error
Part of the problem the true believers faced was caused by those who claimed to be superior teachers of Christianity. “Many false prophets are gone out into the world” was the apostle’s summary (4:1). His epistle was written to warn true believers of the danger in these false teachers.
Many think John alludes to the beginnings of Gnosticism, whose adherents claimed to have a special knowledge, superior to that of the ordinary believer.
Later, as a mature sect, Gnostic’s insisted that the natural elements of man are spiritually irrelevant. Thus instead of discouraging fleshly conduct, they believed that the wider experience gained by sinning was beneficial since it presented an opportunity to gain new knowledge. The appeal to the flesh is obvious.
John could see that if such heresies were not nipped in the bud, it could be disastrous. Indeed, some damage had already occurred and John determines to correct the notion that sin was unimportant and knowledge all important.
Keep the commands
This background explains John’s repeated emphasis on keeping the commands and not just knowing them: “We know him, if we keep his commandments” (2:3). “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar” (2:4). “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (5:3). John’s message again reminds us of Jesus’ words: “Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28).
Reinforcing his point, John provides some practical examples of obedience in action: “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” and one specific example is helping a brother in need (3:18,17). We can easily say we love our brother, but if we don’t have pity on him and supply his needs, John says the love of God does not dwell in us. A second example regards our treatment of a brother whose sin we have seen (5:16). While the human tendency is to gossip about the sin, the right reaction is to pray for our brother.
Test of false teachers
The way to determine which teachers were false was to determine what they taught regarding the nature of Christ. The teacher who “confessed that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God” but those denying this doctrine are “of antichrist” (4:2,3). Today, the doctrine of the trinity serves much the same purpose as a critical test. “Christians” who embrace it fit into the category of false teachers John described as Antichrists.
Repetitive words
John repeats many words and phrases in this epistle. Seeing this helps us determine the main point of the verses we are reading. For instance, in chapter 2:3-8 the word “commandment” is repeated six times and in 4:7-21 “love” is used 28 times, clearly indicating the main considerations of those sections. Throughout the epistle, he uses the word “know” (Greek gnosis) many times because of the gnostic background to the heresies he was refuting. In 5:6-10, the word “witness” occurs six times, indicating the subject of that section. In fact, if we were to look at a Greek text, we would find the word rendered “witness” occurs 11 times in verses 6-11 (it is translated “bear record,” “hath testified,” etc.). The subject is obviously God’s certain proof of the son-ship of Jesus.
Emphasis by repetition is common in the Bible because God wants us to understand His priorities. In addition to understanding them, He wants us to implement them in our lives.
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