1 John

🏛️ Historical context

A group had split from the community, denying that Jesus had really come in the flesh and despising brotherly love.

🔙 Background

It is closely linked to John's Gospel, from which it takes up light, truth, life and love.

🧭 Structure of the book

⭐ Key events and teachings

1. 1"What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you" (1:1-3)
2. 2"If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us" (1:9)
3. 3"See what love: we are called children of God" (3:1)
4. 4"God is love" (4:8.16)
5. 5"He who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen" (4:20)

🏷️ Main themes

📖 Verses to memorize

• 1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.
• 1 John 3:18My little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
• 1 John 4:8He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is charity.
• 1 John 4:19Let us therefore love God: because God first hath loved us.
• 1 John 5:4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory which overcameth the world: Our faith.

💭 For reflection

• Is my love for God visible in my love for others?
• What does being a "child of God" mean to me?

A letter proclaiming that God is love and that whoever loves God must also love his brother. It insists on true faith in Jesus Christ come in the flesh.