Introduction to 1 John
1 John was written to 1st century believers in Asia Minor to guard themselves against a pernicious heresy that today we know as incipient or pre-gnosticism, a cluster of teachings that took sin lightly, believed in salvation by 'enlightenment' via secret rites, and was socially elitist, etc. To expose them and to give believers some benchmarks by which to test themselves John provides some tests of authenticity.
Gnosticism may have come and gone but certain features of it continue to manifest themselves to this day and must be taken as serious threats to the integrity of the faith. The epistle is as relevant today as the day it was written and it would do all those into 'easy believism' or 'cheap grace' a world of good to read it over and over again until its message seeps in.
Recent Posts
- Introduction to Colossians
- Introduction to 1 John
- Introduction to Philippians
- Introduction to Isaiah
- Introduction to 1 Corinthians
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