Dennis R. Wiles

FBC Arlington

God is Light and God is Love

An analysis of 1 John

Fall Bible Study

September 2020

SESSION 1: Preparing the Hear the Message

Edmiston – The Bible Was Not Written To You

AUTHOR OF 1 JOHN

John the Apostle is traditionally accepted as the author. What do we know about John?

HISTORICAL SETTING OF 1 JOHN

End of the Apostolic Era

External Threats

THEOLOGICAL SETTING OF 1 JOHN

Incipient Gnosticism – Greek word “gnosis” – “knowledge”

What was Gnosticism?

· Human body (matter) is evil

· Salvation is connected to higher knowledge

· Christ was not fully human

· Asceticism

· Licentiousness

ECCLESIOLOGICAL SETTING OF 1 JOHN

The church was facing conflict stoked by false teaching and broken fellowship.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Vocabulary

Reasons for writing a pastoral letter

Johannine Contrasts

Affirming tests of faith

GOD IS LIGHT AND GOD IS LOVE

THE INCARNATION: Get this right or nothing else matters!

1 John 1:1-4