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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Basics
- Author: Apostle John, the son of Zebedee
- Date: c. 85-95 AD
- Audience: Believers in general
- Purpose: Correction of false teaching
- Who was John?
Genre: Understanding Epistles
Background & Outlines
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: 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: 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
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)
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
Maps from Holman Bible Atlas
Romans, Palestine, and Herod the Great
Roman Expansion in the 3rd & 2nd centuries BCE
Civil Wars amidst Roman Expansion in 1st century BCE
Roman Empire in the Age of Augustus
Roman Rule in Palestine 63-40 BCE
The Kingdom of Herod the Great
The World of Jesus
The Division of Herod’s Kingdom
Palestine in the Time of Jesus (1)
Palestine in the Time of Jesus (2)
Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I
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)
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
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
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
Reformation Study Bible Notes- 3 John
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 3John
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Letters
Baker Evangelical Dictionary: John, Theology of
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: John, letters of
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: John, 1st Epistle of; John, 2nd Epistle of; John, 3rd Epistle of
Fausset Bible Dictionary John, the Epistles of
Holman Bible Dictionary John, the Letters of
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible John, Theology of; John, the Epistles of
McClintock and Strong: John, 1st of; John, 2nd and 3d Epistles Of.
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: John, the Epistles of
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Johannine, Theology of; John, the Epistles of
Morrish Bible Dictionary John, 1st Epistle of; John, 2nd Epistle of; John, 3rd Epistle of;
Smith Bible Dictionary John, 1st Epistle; John, 2nd and 3d Epistles of
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia John, the Epistles of
The Nuttall Encyclopedia John, Epistles of
Author
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: John, Theology Of
American Tract Society: John
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: John the Apostle
Easton’s Bible Dictionary:
Fausset Bible Dictionary: John the Apostle
Holman Bible Dictionary: John
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: John, the Apostle
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: John the Evangelist
Morrish Bible Dictionary: John the Apostle
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:John the Apostle
McClintock and Strong: John, the Apostle
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: John
John means “the grace or mercy of the Lord” – Hitchcock’s Bible Names
Gnosticism & Early Heresies
Holman Bible Dictionary: Gnosticism
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Gnosticism he Bible
McClintock and Strong: Gnosticism
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Gnosticism
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 Diotrephes
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
GotQuestions.org
1John
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?
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?
Why is obedience to God important?
What does the Bible say about being an overcomer?
How can I have assurance of my salvation?
Does God hear / answer the prayers of a sinner / unbeliever?
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?
2John
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
Who was Diotrephes in the Bible?
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