1 John Chapter 5 & 2nd and 3rd John - The Johns Bible Study

1st, 2nd, and 3rd John

1 John Chapter 5 & 2nd and 3rd John

This is an AI Recap of the class.
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Short Summary of the Whole Class

The class delved into the conclusion of 1 John and the short letters of 2 and 3 John, continuing the themes of God as light and love. The discussion highlighted that genuine faith in Jesus Christ is not a passive belief but is demonstrated through active obedience to His commandments, primarily to love God and others. We explored how this active love allows believers to overcome the world and identify false teachers, who may profess faith but lack loving actions. The session touched on the nature of mortal sin, identifying it with the destructive Gnostic heresy that denied Jesus came in the flesh. 2 John provided a practical warning against supporting these deceivers, while 3 John contrasted the faithful hospitality of Gaius with the self-important, exclusionary leadership of Diotrephes. The study connected these concepts to the transformative story of Scrooge and the flawed human attempt to create a "perfect" group, as seen in the story of Noah.

In-Depth Class Summary

Introduction and Recap of 1 John

The session began by recapping the themes from the previous weeks, drawing from a Bible Project guide on 1 John. The first three chapters established the theme that "God is light," while the previous week’s discussion focused on "God is love." A key point from 1 John chapter 4 was revisited: the inseparable link between loving God and loving fellow human beings. One cannot claim to love the unseen God while hating a brother or sister they can see. This set the stage for diving into 1 John chapter 5.

Summary: The class started by reviewing the core themes of 1 John: God is light and God is love. The main takeaway from the previous session was that loving God requires loving others, which provided the foundation for the current study.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• 1 John chapter 4

Reading and Initial Reactions to 1 John 5

The class then read through the entirety of 1 John chapter 5. Key themes included belief in Jesus, keeping God's commandments, overcoming the world through faith, and the testimony of the spirit, water, and blood. A significant point of discussion was how John views faith and keeping God's commandments not as two separate steps but as one cohesive unit. It’s not that you have faith and then you keep the commandments; rather, genuine faith is expressed through keeping the commandments. This understanding is crucial for interpreting the rest of the chapter.

Summary: After reading 1 John 5, the class noted its parallels with Revelation and focused on how John presents faith and obedience to God's commandments as a single, unified action.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• 1 John chapter 5 (entire chapter)

The Witness of God and Discerning False Teachers

The conversation moved to verses 9-12, which discuss the "witness of God" about His Son. This was connected to the idea that to "believe in the Son" is to join God in His life-giving work. Verse 10 states, "he who does not believe God has made him a liar." If someone claims to be all about God but shows no love, their claim is false. This concept was illustrated using the story of Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. Scrooge’s transformation wasn't a mental agreement but a complete change that compelled him to go out and actively do good.

This principle serves as a rubric for discernment. The warning in verse 21 to "keep yourselves from idols" was interpreted as a caution against the false teachings John counters throughout the letter. False teachers can be identified by their lack of love. If they actively push people away from showing love, their message should be treated with caution.

Summary: Believing God’s witness means joining in His life-giving work. A claim to faith without loving action is a lie, as illustrated by Scrooge's transformation. This principle helps identify false teachers ("idols") who lack the fruit of love.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• 1 John 5:9-12

• 1 John 5:21

Stories Mentioned:

• The transformation of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol

• The shepherds visiting the baby Jesus in the manger

Sin, Prayer, and False Teachers (1 John 5:16-21)

The class wrestled with the difficult verses 16-17, which distinguish between "sin which does not lead to death" and "sin leading to death." The consensus was that the "sin leading to death" likely refers to the destructive heresy of the false Gnostic teachers. However, John encourages prayer for them, suggesting they are not a lost cause. The letter concludes by reaffirming the believer's identity in God—we are "born of God," kept from the "wicked one," and have true understanding through Jesus Christ. The purpose of 1 John was to warn the church to watch out for messengers whose message lacks the core truths of God as light and love.

Summary: We discussed 1 John 5:16-21, interpreting "sin leading to death" as the Gnostic heresy. John encourages prayer for these individuals while urging the church to remain vigilant, rest in the truth of Christ, and avoid the "idols" of false teaching.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• 1 John 5:14-21

Stories/Concepts Mentioned:

• Gnosticism (the heresy that physical matter is evil and spirit is good)

2 John: Do Not Support Deceivers

The class moved on to 2 John, interpreting the "elect lady and her children" as a local church. The letter’s central theme is walking in "truth" and loving one another. This is immediately contrasted with the "many deceivers" who "do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh." John gives a stern warning not to receive these teachers into their house or even greet them, as doing so would mean sharing in their evil deeds. This letter serves as a practical application of the warnings in 1 John.

Summary: 2 John serves as a direct warning to the church. John urges believers to walk in truth and love but to firmly reject and refuse to support traveling false teachers who deny that Jesus Christ came in a physical body.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• 2 John (entire letter), especially vv. 7, 10

Stories/Concepts Mentioned:

• The "elect lady" as a metaphor for the church.

3 John: An Example of Good and Bad Leadership

The final letter, 3 John, was addressed to Gaius, who is praised for his faithfulness and hospitality toward true Christian missionaries. In stark contrast is Diotrephes, described as one "who loves to have the preeminence" (v. 9). Diotrephes rejects John's authority and excommunicates members who show hospitality to the brethren. He exemplifies evil leadership rooted in pride. This was connected to the temptation within churches to become exclusive and self-righteous, an impulse illustrated by the story of Noah, where God's attempt to create a "perfect" group still resulted in sin. Diotrephes represents this flawed human desire to purify the church by force rather than living in grace.

Summary: 3 John presents a case study in church leadership, contrasting the hospitable Gaius with the prideful, exclusionary Diotrephes. The letter warns against leaders who put themselves first and seek to purify the church by kicking people out, reminding us that this self-righteous impulse is flawed.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• 3 John (entire letter), especially v. 9

Stories/Concepts Mentioned:

• The story of Noah and the flood as an allegory for the failed attempt to create a "perfect" group free of sin.

Final Summary

In our study, we journeyed through 1 John 5 and the epistles of 2 and 3 John, connecting their themes of truth, love, and discernment. The central argument was that John presents belief in Jesus Christ not as a passive, intellectual agreement but as a dynamic, living faith demonstrated through actions—specifically, by loving God and others. This fusion of faith and works is the key to "overcoming the world" and serves as a practical tool for discernment. The way to identify false teachers, or the "idols" John warns against, is to examine the fruit of their lives.

We concluded that the "sin leading to death" in 1 John 5 was a reference to destructive Gnostic heresies that denied Jesus's physical incarnation. This theme was reinforced in 2 John, which gives a stark command not to support these "deceivers." Finally, 3 John provided a real-world example, contrasting the faithful Gaius, who lovingly supported true missionaries, with the prideful church leader Diotrephes, who "loves to be first." This led to a broader discussion on the dangers of self-righteousness and the flawed temptation to create an exclusive "holy" group, illustrated by the story of Noah. Ultimately, John's letters call us to a faith that walks in the truth of Jesus Christ come in the flesh, loves the brethren, and wisely rejects any teaching or leader not rooted in God's light and love.

Main Points

• True faith in Jesus is demonstrated by keeping His commandments to love God and love your neighbor.

• Faith and loving action are one cohesive unit, and this active faith is how believers "overcome the world."

• A profession of faith without the action of love is a lie.

• The primary heresy John combats is a form of Gnosticism that denies Jesus Christ came in a physical body.

• The church must be discerning and not offer support to those who spread false doctrine.

• Church leadership should be modeled on humble service (like Gaius) and not on pride or a desire for preeminence (like Diotrephes).

• The impulse to "purify" the church by kicking out sinners is a dangerous temptation that goes against the lesson of grace.

• Confidence in prayer comes from aligning our will and actions with God’s loving will.

Scriptures and Stories Mentioned

Bible Scriptures:

• 1 John Chapter 4

• 1 John Chapter 5 (specifically verses 9-12, 14-21)

• 2 John (entire letter)

• 3 John (entire letter)

Stories and Concepts:

• The transformation of Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

• The story of the shepherds visiting the manger after Jesus' birth.

• Gnosticism

• The story of Noah and the Flood (Genesis 6-9)