Bible Study 1 John 1

 

Commentary of the Book of 1 John 1

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study 1 John 1

Book Introduction from the 1917 Scofield Reference Bible

The First Epistle General of John

WRITER: The Apostle John, as unbroken tradition affirms, and as internal evidence and comparison with the Gospel of John prove.

DATE: Probably A.D. 90

THEME: First John is a family letter from the Father to His "little children" who are in the world. With the possible exception of the Song of Solomon, it is the most intimate of the inspired writings. The world is viewed as without. The sin of a believer is treated as a child's offense against his Father, and is dealt with as a family matter (1Jo 1:9; 2:1). The moral government of the universe is not in question. The child's sin as an offense against the law had been met in the Cross, and "Jesus Christ the righteous" is now his "Advocate with the Father." John's Gospel leads across the threshold of the Father's house; his first Epistle makes us at home there. A tender word is used for "children," teknia, "born ones," or "bairns." Paul is occupied with our public position as sons; John with our nearness as born-ones of the Father.

First John is in two principal divisions.

I. The family with the Father, 1. 1-3. 24. II. The family and the world, 4. 1-5. 21.

There is a secondary analysis in each division of which occurs the phrase, "My little children," as follows:

(I.) Introductory, the incarnation, 1.1, 2. (II.) The little children and fellowship 1.3-2.14 (III.) The little children and secular and "religious" world 2.15-28. (IV.) How the little children may know each other, 2.29-3.10 (V.) How the little children must live together, 3.11-24. (VI.) Parenthetic: How the little children may know false teachers, 4.1-6. (VII.) The little children assured and warned, 4.7-5.21.

Text:

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.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 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—”

The Apostle John had heard the Lord Jesus Christ speak, had seen Him with his own eyes, and touched His physical body. Many errors were springing up in the church. John was now an old man, but he had a 60 plus year history knowing the reality of Christ. The “Word of Life” is the gospel message without compromise.

Verse 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—”

John is relying on the authority of his own personal experience as an eyewitness of Jesus’ life. He repeats this message to refute the heretical teachers who falsely taught about the Christ they had never seen or known. The phrase “which was with the Father and was manifested to us” emphasizes the permanence of Christ in His preincarnate glory. Christ has always been fully God. He was not a created deity of lesser quality than the Father. The Holy Trinity is composed of One God in three Persons. 

Verse 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.”

John is repeatedly saying that he had seen the historical and physical Jesus. He is building a case that he knows better than the false teachers that were creating a false Jesus. John stresses fellowship. This is not referencing social gatherings, but rather that they were to be partakers (or, partners) with John in possessing eternal life in Christ. John states that those in Christ have salvation, i.e. fellowship with the Father and Son. Christians are never “out of fellowship”, since fellowship equates with salvation.

Verse 4: “And these things we are writing, so that our joy may be made complete.”

This is a tender letter written by John to his family of believers. He states his clear purpose which is to bring joy. The proclamation of the gospel brings fellowship in salvation between the Christian and the Father and the Son which results in joy.

Verse 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.”

This description of God emphasizes His attributes of moral purity, absolute holiness and omniscience (the state of knowing everything), which reinforces John’s emphasis on our need to confess sin and repent. God is perfectly pure. There is not even a shadow of evil in Him. He is Good, not just does good.

Verse 6: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not do the truth;”

Notwithstanding their claims to enlightenment and having special knowledge concerning salvation, and although the false teachers may have claimed a relationship (fellowship) with Christ, their walking in sin (darkness) refuted such claims and, consequently, demonstrated their lack of genuine salvation. While we are not saved by living a life of holiness, once saved our holy walk and lifestyle are evidence of our salvation.

Verse 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.”

A true Christian walks habitually in the light which means a lifestyle characterized by holiness and righteousness, and not in darkness, i.e. sin. The believer’s walk results in cleansing from sin as the Lord continually forgives His own when we repent. Since those walking in the light share in the character of God, they will be habitually characterized by His holiness, indicating their true relationship with Him. A genuine Christian does not habitually walk in darkness, but only in the light, and cleansing from sin occurs continually. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke about knowing the tree by looking at its fruits. The fruits of a Christian will be holiness, righteousness and sanctification (being set apart to God).

Teaching note: In the next three verses, the words sin and sins will be referenced. To understand their meaning understand the following:

1. “Sin” (singular) means the sinful nature all were born with after the fall in the Garden of Eden; and

2.  “Sins” (plural) means the acts of sin committed as a result of our sinful nature.

“Sin” needs cleansing and “sins” needs forgiveness.

Verse 8: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.“

The false teachers habitually walked in darkness, and they went so far as to deny the existence of the sin nature in their lives. Everyone born after the original sin of Adam and Eve is born with a corrupt sinful nature. That nature is not to be forgiven but cleansed. It is to walk in deception to deny it.

Verse 9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This verse deals with what the Christians must do when they realize they have sinned. Continual confession of sin is evidence of genuine salvation. While the false teachers would not admit their sin, the genuine Christian confessed and repented (means to turn away from the sin; to have a change of mind about the sin). To “confess” means to say the same thing about something. When one confesses sin, one has the same attitude and hatred of sin as a Holy God. When we agree with God about our sin, He forgives us and cleanses us from the acts of sin. 

Verse 10: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

False teachers claimed to have no sin or that sin was in the physical realm only. The argument went like this: the body is physical and everything physical is evil; only the spiritual is holy. Since the spiritual is holy and the body can’t be anything but sinful, it doesn’t matter what you do in the flesh. John is making a strong statement that if you deny your sin, you call God a liar and you are not a real Christian.