Overview Article
John’s first letter shares his testimony about Jesus Christ and its impact on Christians. Jesus Christ offers eternal life, so we can know through our actions and experiences that we have eternal life. Jesus reveals God the Father, giving us confidence in our relationship with Him.
Key People, Places, and Terms
People 4
Places
None mentioned.
Key Terms 52
Themes
The Son of God 6 Jesus' healings, exorcisms (casting out demons), raising the dead, and teachings resulted in wonder, awe, amazement, and fear (for example, Mark 1:22 , 27 ; 4:41 ; 5:15 , 20 , 33 ; 7:37 ; 9:15 ; 10:24 , 26 , 32 ; 12:1... Overcoming the Devil 6 The New Testament writers believed in the reality of evil and the dangers of the spiritual world. They saw Satan, also known as "the evil one" or "the devil," as a serious threat. The devil blocks the work of God's pe... Darkness and Light 6 Darkness means there is no light. There was no light until God commanded it to appear. He then separated light from darkness ( Genesis 1:2 , 4–5 , 18 ). The ninth plague he sent against Egypt was three days of deep da... Remaining in Christ 5 The Greek term menō , often translated as “remain,” “stay,” or “abide,” appears often in Jesus’ teachings about deep, intimate, and lasting relationships. For example, Jesus said, “ If you continue in [ menō en , ‘sta... Love in the Community of Christ 4 Living in a community is not always easy. The community of Jesus Christ (the church) has often experienced disunity and division throughout its history. Even in its earliest days, the church struggled with unity issue... Loving Others 4 Jesus said that loving your neighbor is the second most important commandment in the Old Testament ( Mark 12:31 ). The command to love sums up the entire Old Testament law ( Matthew 22:40 ; compare 7:12 ; 9:9–13 ; 12:... The Antichrist 4 The term antichrist appears only in the apostle John's letters ( 1 John 2:18 , 22 ; 4:3 ; 2 John 1:7 ). John believed many antichrists would appear throughout history ( 1 John 2:18 ). These antichrists would deny that... The Land 4 The land was very important to ancient Israel because agriculture was the main way people made a living. Most Israelites were farmers or herders, and their survival depended on the land’s ability to produce crops and...
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The Written Word 3 During the prophet Jeremiah’s crisis at his public trial on the temple grounds, friends saved his life ( Jeremiah 26 ). Yet, King Jehoiakim killed the prophet Uriah and tried to arrest Jeremiah. Would this end Jeremia... God’s Covenant Love 3 The Bible talks about God's love in two main ways. First, there is the common understanding that God deeply cares about and has great affection for all people. Second, in some parts of the Bible, like Deuteronomy (whe... Knowing God 3 To know someone meant having a close relationship with them. Knowing God involves more than just learning facts about him. It goes beyond discussing God's nature and character, though those things are important. Knowi... Miracles 3 Miracles often happened in the Bible. They were especially common during the time of Moses and the ministries of Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, and his apostles. The Bible does not try to prove miracles. It just reports them.... Religious Hypocrisy 3 Religious hypocrisy happens when people selectively obey rules and only pretend to follow God's law without real change in their motives and lives. Those who boast about their religious commitment often lack a true de... The World 3 The book of John often uses the word "world" (Greek kosmos ). In Greek-speaking Jewish thought, kosmos means the heavens and the earth created by God ( Genesis 1 ; see also John 1:3 , 10 ; 17:5 , 24 ). The apostle Joh... Belonging to Christ 2 To many people today, the New Testament seems to present an extreme view of the Christian life. God calls Christians to give up their rights, endure suffering, and even face death for Jesus ( Mark 8:34–36 ). They must... By Faith 2 Faith is a key theme in Scripture, but many misunderstand it. Some think faith means any kind of spirituality, like saying someone is a "person of faith." Others think it means a strong belief that good things will ha... Early Christian Heresies 2 The Greek word hairesis , which first means "choice," refers to a sect or faction . For example, the Sadducees were a sect within Judaism, as were the Pharisees ( Acts 5:17 ; 15:5 ). They called early believers in Jes... Pride and Humility 2 Pride is a feeling people naturally have when they succeed or achieve something. Many people in the world value being recognized and famous (see 1 John 2:16 ). However, pride comes from thinking too much about yoursel... The Little Horn 2 In the vision of the prophet Daniel, the little horn represents a king. It has human-like features, such as eyes and a mouth. This imagery is typical of apocalyptic literature. "Apocalyptic" is from a Greek word meani... The Seventy Sets of Seven 2 The "seventy weeks" (or sevens) in Daniel 9:24–27 have always been difficult to understand. Although it is difficult to connect them to a specific historical period, these "seventy sets of seven" are important. They s...