John’s Letters Bible Study Resources

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Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study John’s first epistle.

Bible Study: 1 John: Discerning the True Gospel

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Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encylopedias; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **

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Basics

• Author: Apostle John, the son of Zebedee
• Date: c. 85-95 AD
• Audience: Believers in general
• Purpose: Correction of false teaching

Genre: Understanding Epistles

Background & Outlines

• Early Church Heresies
• Map of NT Churches
• Chronology of Paul
• Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles

1John

• Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
• John MacArthur: 1 John
• Blue Letter Bible: Outline of 1John
• NIV: 1 John Introduction
• ESV: Introduction to 1-3John
• ESV: The Global Message of 1-3John
• James Van Dine: Intro to 1 John
• First John – Charles Swindoll
• 1 John: Introduction, Argument, and Outline – Daniel Wallace
• Key to 1 John – William Orr
• 1 John Introduction and Outline – J Vernon McGee 
• John Epistles Introduction –  Wil Pounds
• David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction To The Book Of 1 John
• David Malick: Introduction To The Book Of 1 John

2John

• Blue Letter Bible: Outline of 2John
• 2 John: The Vital Balance – Ray Stedman
• 2 John: Introduction – John MacArthur
• NIV: 2 John Introduction 
• ESV: Introduction to 1-3John
• ESV: The Global Message of 1-3John
• James van Dine: Intro to 2John
• 2 John: Introduction, Argument, and Outline – Daniel Wallace
• Key to 2 John – William Orr
• Second John – Charles Swindoll
• 2 John Introduction and Outline – J Vernon McGee
• Synthetic Bible Study – 2 and 3 John – James Gray
• John Epistles Introduction – Wil Pounds
• David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction To The Book Of 2 John
• David Malick: Argument For The Book Of 2 John

3John

• Blue Letter Bible: Outline of 3John
• 3 John: A Tale of Three Men – Ray Stedman
• 3 John: Introduction – John MacArthur
• NIV:3 John Introduction
• ESV: Introduction to 1-3John
• ESV: The Global Message of 1-3John
• James van Dine: Intro to 3John
• 3 John: Introduction, Argument, and Outline – Daniel Wallace
• Key to III John – William Orr
• The Epistles of John – Myer Pearlman (1935)
• Third John – Charles Swindoll
• 3 John Introduction and Oultine – J Vernon McGee
• Synthetic Bible Study – 2 and 3 John – James Gray (1906)
• John Epistles Introduction – Wil Pounds
• David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction To The Book Of 3 John
• David Malick: Argument For The Book Of 3 John

Section 2: Maps

Maps from Bible-History.com

• Israel in NT Times
• Kingdom of Herod the Great
• Herod’s Kingdom Divided
• New Testament Cities
• Apostles’ Journeys

Maps from Studylight.org

• The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I
• The Kingdom of Agrippa II
• Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora
• Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine

Section 3: Key Words

Key Words

Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text.  “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.

1John

• know (36x/29v) – Strong’s G1097 in 1Jn 2:3; 1Jn 2:4; 1Jn 2:5; 1Jn 2:13; 1Jn 2:14; 1Jn 2:18; 1Jn 3:1; 1Jn 3:16; 1Jn 3:19; 1Jn 3:24; 1Jn 4:2; 1Jn 4:6; 1Jn 4:8; 1Jn 4:13; 1Jn 4:16; 1Jn 5:2; Strong’s G3609a in 1Jn 2:11; 1Jn 2:20; 1Jn 2:21; 1Jn 2:29; 1Jn 3:2; 1Jn 3:5; 1Jn 3:14; 1Jn 3:15; 1Jn 5:13; 1Jn 5:15; 1Jn 5:18; 1Jn 5:19; 1Jn 5:20.
• love (36x/24v) / loved (4x/3v) – Strong’s G26 in 1Jn 2:5; 1Jn 3:1; 1Jn 3:16; 1Jn 3:17; 1Jn 4:7; 1Jn 4:8; 1Jn 4:9; 1Jn 4:10; 1Jn 4:11; 1Jn 4:12; 1Jn 4:16; 1Jn 4:17; 1Jn 4:18; 1Jn 4:19; 1Jn 5:3; Strong’s G25 in 1Jn 2:15; 1Jn 3:10; 1Jn 3:11; 1Jn 3:14; 1Jn 3:18; 1Jn 3:23; 1Jn 4:7; 1Jn 4:8; 1Jn 4:11; 1Jn 4:12; 1Jn 4:19; 1Jn 4:20; 1Jn 4:21; 1Jn 5:2.
• abides – (15x/12v) – Strong’s G3306 in 1Jn 2:6; 1Jn 2:10; 1Jn 2:14; 1Jn 2:24; 1Jn 2:27; 1Jn 3:6; 1Jn 3:9; 1Jn 3:14; 1Jn 3:24; 1Jn 4:12; 1Jn 4:15; 1Jn 4:16; abide (6x/5v) – Strong’s G3306 in 1Jn 2:24; 1Jn 2:27; 1Jn 2:28; 1Jn 3:17; 1Jn 4:13.
• fellowship (4x/3v) – Strong’s G2842 in 1Jn 1:3; 1Jn 1:6; 1Jn 1:7.
• sin (14x/9v) – Strong’s G266 in 1Jn 1:7; 1Jn 1:8; 1Jn 3:4; 1Jn 3:5; 1Jn 3:8; 1Jn 3:9; 1Jn 5:16; 1Jn 5:17. Strong’s G264 in 1Jn 2:1; 1Jn 3:9.
• born (9x/6v) [of God/Him] – Strong’s G1080 in 1Jn 2:29; 1Jn 3:9; 1Jn 4:7; 1Jn 5:1; 1Jn 5:4; 1Jn 5:18.
• truth (9x/8v) – Strong’s G225 in 1Jn 1:6; 1Jn 1:8; 1Jn 2:4; 1Jn 2:21; 1Jn 3:18; 1Jn 3:19; 1Jn 4:6; 1Jn 5:6.
• true (6x/3v) – Strong’s G227 in 1Jn 2:8; 1Jn 2:27; 1Jn 5:20.
• light (6x/5v) – Strong’s G5457 in 1Jn 1:5; 1Jn 1:7; 1Jn 2:8; 1Jn 2:9; 1Jn 2:10.

2John

• abides (2x) – Strong’s G 3306 in 2Jn 1:2; 2Jn 1:9; abide (1x) – Strong’s G3306 in 2Jn1:9
• truth (4x) – Strong’s G225 in 2Jn 1:1; 2Jn 1:2; 2Jn 1:3; 2Jn 1:4.
• love (4x) – Strong’s G25 in 2Jn 1:1; 2Jn 1:3; 2Jn 1:5; 2Jn 1:6.
• commandment(s) (3x/4v) – Strong’s G1785 in 2Jn 1:4; 2Jn 1:5; 2Jn 1:6.
• teaching (3x/2v) – Strong’s G13222 in 2Jn 1:9; 2Jn 1:10.
• walk (2x/1v) – Strong’s G4043 in 2Jn1:6.

3John

• truth (5x) – Strong’s G225 in 3Jn 1:1; 3Jn 1:3; 3Jn 1:4; 3Jn 1:8; 3Jn 1:12.
• good (4x/3v) – Strong’s G5198 in 3Jn 1:2; Strong’s G15 in 3Jn 1:11; Strong’s G15 in 3Jn 1:11; (implied in 3Jn 1:12)

Section 5: Commentaries

Commentary Recommendations

1John

• Top 5 Commentaries on the Epistles of John – Ligonier,org
• Tim Challies Best Commentaries: John’s Letters
• Commentary Reviews: John’s letters
• Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: 1 John
• Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: 1 John
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: 1 John
• Alfords Exegetical Commentary -1John
• Geneva Study Bible: 1 John
• Reformation Study Bible Notes- 1 John
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 1John

2John

• Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: 2 John
• Alfords Exegetical Commentary -2John
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: 2 John
• Geneva Study Bible: 2 John
• Reformation Study Bible Notes- 2 John
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 2John

3John

• Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: 3 John
• Alfords Exegetical Commentary -3John
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: 3 John
• Geneva Study Bible: 3 John
• Reformation Study Bible Notes- 3 John
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 3John

Section 4: Encylopedias

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Letters

• Baker Evangelical Dictionary John, Theology of
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary John, letters of
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary John, Second Epistle of John, First Epistle of John, Third Epistle of
• Fausset Bible Dictionary John, the Epistles of
• Holman Bible Dictionary John, the Letters of
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible John, Theology of
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible John, the Epistles of
• John, First Epistle of – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• John, the Epistles of – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• John, the Epistles of – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Johannine, Theology of – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• John, 2nd & 3rd Epistles of – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Morrish Bible Dictionary John, First Epistle of John, Third Epistle of John, Second Epistle of
• Smith Bible Dictionary John, the First Epistle General of John, the Second and Third Epistles of
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia John, the Epistles of
• McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia John, Second and Third Epistles Of. John, First Epistle Of,
• The Nuttall Encyclopedia John, Epistles of

Author

• John – Holman Bible Dictionary
• John, the Apostle – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• John, the Apostle – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• John, the Apostle – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• John, the Evangelist – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Gnosticism & Early Heresies

• Gnosticism – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Gnosticism – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Gnosticism – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Gnosticism – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• What is Docetism? – Zondervan Academic
• Early Church Heresies from ChurchHistory101

Diotrephes

• American Tract Society Diotrephes
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary Diotrephes
• Fausset Bible Dictionary Diotrephes
• Holman Bible Dictionary Diotrephes
• Hitchcock Bible Names Diotrephes
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Diotrephes
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT Diotrephes
• Morrish Bible Dictionary Diotrephes
• People’s Dictionary of the Bible Diotrephes
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Diotrephes
• Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Diotrephes
• McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Diotrephes

Section 6: Articles

Articles

• Johnny V. Miller – Book Review of the unusual interpretations of 1 John in Zane Hodges’ book The Gospel Under Siege
• The Meaning of Walking “in the Darkness” (1 John 1:6) — By Charles P. Baylis
• Getting Up to Speed An Essential Introduction to 1 John — By Barry Clyde Joslin
• What Is the Message of 1 John — By Gary W. Derickson
• Persevering in Christ and Tests of Eternal Life — By A. B. Caneday
• Sin and Perfection in 1 John — By Colin G. Kruse
• The Holy Spirit In 1 John — By Donald W. Mills
• ‘Little Children, Keep Yourselves From Idols’ (1 John 5:21) – Terry Griffith
• Should We Pray for Straying Brethren? John’s Confidence in 1 John 5:16-17 – Randall K J Tan
• Third Class Conditions in First John – David L Washburn
• The Sin Unto Death – Problem Texts – F F Bruce
• What Shall We Call Each Other?… – Paul Trebilco
• The Overcomer of the Apocalypse – James E Rosscup

Section 7: Got Questions

GotQuestions.org

1John

• Book of 1 John 
• What are some of the signs of genuine saving faith?
• What does it mean that God is light?
• Do we need to confess our sins to those we have sinned against?
• Why do we need to confess our sins if they have already been forgiven?
• Do Christians have to keep asking for forgiveness for their sins?
• What does it mean to abide in Christ?
• What does it mean that we are not to love the world?
•  What is the pride of life?
• Is a backsliding Christian still saved?
• Are we all God’s children, or only Christians?
• What is the definition of sin?
•  What does it mean that believers do not continue to sin?
• What is the key to victory when struggling with sin?
• Why can’t I stop sinning? Please help!
• How can I overcome a habitual sin?
• What does it mean to be dead to sin?
• What does it mean to test the spirits?
• What is agape love?
• Why is obedience to God important?
• What does the Bible say about being an overcomer?
• What is the Comma Johanneum?
• How can I have assurance of my salvation?
• Does God hear / answer the prayers of a sinner / unbeliever?
• What is the sin unto death?
• What is free grace? What is Free Grace Theology?
• What is the relationship of faith, works, and security in salvation?
• Why is faith without works dead?
• What is lordship salvation?

2John

• Survey of 2 John
• Who is the elect lady in 2 John?
• Should we allow false teachers into our home?
• What does it mean that God is love?
• What is the definition of a cult?
• What is the best way to evangelize someone who is in a cult or false religion?
• What is the definition of heresy?

3John

• Survey of 3 John
• Who was Gaius in the Bible?
• Who was Diotrephes in the Bible?

Bible Study Helps

• Bible Study 101
• Interpreting Epistles
• Study Software & websites
• More Maps & Charts
• Greek Word Studies by Precepts Austin
• Books on how to study the Bible

Section 8: Next

Next: Jude

Previous: 2 Peter

Series: Resources by Book

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