General Epistles · New Testament
1 John
c. AD 85–95
- Section
- General Epistles · New Testament
- Events span
- c. AD 85–95
- Written
- c. AD 90 critical view: c. AD 90–110
- Author
- John the Apostle critical view: The Johannine community / anonymous
John writes to assure believers of eternal life and to expose false teaching. He gives tests of genuine faith: walking in the light, obeying God's commands, and above all loving one another — for “God is love.” By these we know we belong to the truth.
Key themes
- God is light
- God is love
- Assurance of eternal life
- Tests of true faith
- Love one another
The letter's message
- "God is light" — walking in the light brings fellowship and cleansing from sin
- Obeying God's commands and loving others prove that we truly know him
- Believers are the children of God; test the spirits, for many false prophets have gone out
- "God is love" — we love because he first loved us
- These things are written so that you may know you have eternal life
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”