1.1-10

Despite not naming himself, there is ample evidence of John's authorship of this letter. His eyewitness knowledge of the events he recorded, his intimate acquaintance with the thoughts and feelings of the Twelve, and the authority with which he spoke to the church refute any arguments to the contrary. Likely written in 90-95 AD, John was writing in response to the emerging threat of Gnosticism, which taught that "matter is inherently evil, and spirit is good." This threat denied the incarnation of Christ in two basic forms. "Docetists" taught that Jesus' body was not a real physical body but only appeared to be so. See John's rebuttal in v1. Others taught that while Jesus' body was real, Christ's spirit descended on the man Jesus at His baptism but left Him before the crucifixion. Both heresies undermine the biblical teaching of Jesus' true humanity and His atonement for our sins. Gnosticism taught that the body was merely a prison in which the spirit was incarcerated; therefore, sin committed in the body had no effect on the spirit. See John's direct rebuttal to this heresy in vv8,10. Look for the following truths in John's writings here that you will find consistent with what he also wrote in his Gospel - Jesus is one with God as well as with us; Love and righteousness are indispensable for the believer who seeks, as a child of God, to walk in the Light; and Unity is a demand laid upon all the churches.

CHAPTER 1

The Word of Life

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—
2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things we are writing, so that our joy may be made complete.

God Is Light

5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not do the truth;
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.