Berean Study Bible A Greeting from the ElderJohn writes with the authority of an apostle and the maturity of one long established in the faith. His age, experience, and pastoral responsibility gave weight to his counsel. 1Pe 5:1 As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings… To the chosen lady and her children, He addresses a Christian woman and her family, known to him and set apart by God. Their household was part of the wider fellowship of believers. 1Pe 5:13 The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, … whom I love in the truth— John’s affection rests on their shared faith in Christ and commitment to His teaching. Their relationship is bound by the truth of the gospel. 3Jn 1:1 The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth: and not I alone, but also all who know the truth— Other believers who knew this family shared the same love and fellowship, united by their common confession of Christ. 1Jn 2:21 I have not written to you because you lack knowledge… because of the truth John’s love for fellow believers rests on the unchanging Gospel: Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, Savior, and Lord. Christian fellowship is grounded in this shared confession, not merely personal affection. 1Jn 2:21 I have not written to you because you lack knowledge… that abides in us Those who have received the Gospel continue in it. God’s truth remains in believers through the work of the Holy Spirit and guards them against departing from Christ or accepting false teaching. 1Jn 4:13 By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us:… and will be with us forever: The Gospel does not change, and its promises extend beyond this present life. Believers possess the sure hope of eternal life because they belong to Christ, whose truth and salvation endure forever. Jhn 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another… Grace, mercy, and peace John opens with blessings that summarize God’s saving work: grace, His undeserved favor; mercy, His compassionate forgiveness; and peace, the reconciliation and security given through Christ. 1Ti 1:2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy… from God the Father All blessing comes from God, the Creator and Father who receives believers as His children. Gal 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father… and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, Jesus Christ shares the Father’s divine authority while remaining personally distinct from Him. As the eternal Son who became man, He is the promised Messiah and the mediator of salvation. Jhn 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son… will be with us God’s favor and presence remain with His people, strengthening the church in its fellowship and witness. Mat 28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded… in truth and love. Truth is God’s revealed message centered in Christ, and love is its faithful expression in obedience to God and care for fellow believers. Eph 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will…
Walking in the TruthJohn rejoices that believers in this congregation are living faithfully according to the gospel. “Children” reflects his pastoral care and the family bond shared by those who belong to Christ. Walking in the truth involves more than professing faith; it is a continued pattern of believing and obeying what God has revealed. 3Jn 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that… just as the Father has commanded us. Their faithfulness rests on God’s command, not personal preference or changing custom. The Father calls His people to live in obedience to His truth, and such obedience shows the reality of their relationship with Him. Jhn 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love… And now I urge you, dear lady— John addresses a respected Christian woman, likely a hostess or leader whose household included believers. 1Th 4:1 Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you… not as a new commandment to you, He recalls an established duty rather than introducing a new requirement. 1Jn 2:7-8 Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment,… but one we have had from the beginning— From the earliest days of their faith, believers had received Christ’s command to live in love. 1Jn 2:24 As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning… that we love one another. Christian love is shown through faithful care, obedience to God, and commitment to fellow believers. 1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God.… And this is love, Love for God is revealed in willing devotion to Him, not merely in words or feelings. It reflects the pattern of Christ, whose love was marked by obedience to the Father and self-giving for His people. 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.… that we walk according to His commandments. Obedience is to shape the believer’s daily conduct. God’s commands direct His people in truth, righteousness, and love, making their faith visible in the way they live. Deu 10:12-13 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you… This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, The command to love was part of the original apostolic message received by the churches. It had not been replaced or altered, but remained a settled requirement for those who belonged to Christ. 1Jn 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning:… that you must walk in love. Love is to govern relationships within the church and before the world. It is expressed through faithfulness to God, care for fellow believers, and conduct consistent with the teaching of Christ. Eph 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us…
Beware of DeceiversFalse teachers had spread beyond the churches and were actively seeking to influence believers. Their teaching threatened the apostolic message by distorting the identity and work of Christ. 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test… refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. These teachers denied that the eternal Son truly came as a man. Such denial rejected the real incarnation, including Christ’s genuine human life, suffering, death, and bodily resurrection. 1Jn 4:2 By this you will know the Spirit of God:… Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Those who reject Christ’s coming in the flesh stand against Him and promote deception. John identifies them as antichrists because their teaching opposes the truth about Jesus Christ and leads others away from the faith delivered to the church. 1Jn 2:22 Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies… Watch yourselves, Believers must remain alert to teachers who depart from the truth about Jesus Christ and seek to lead others away from apostolic doctrine. Luk 21:34 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down… so that you do not lose what we have worked for, John includes himself and the other apostles, whose labor established congregations in the truth of the gospel. Receiving false teaching could undo the fruit of that ministry and damage the church’s faithfulness. Gal 4:11 I fear for you, that my efforts for you… but that you may be fully rewarded. Those who continue in Christ’s teaching will receive the reward promised to faithful servants when He returns. Col 3:24 because you know that you will receive an inheritance… Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ John warns against abandoning the apostolic message for teachings that claim greater insight while departing from what Christ taught. False teachers were troubling the churches by denying essential truths about Jesus Christ and promoting doctrines incompatible with the gospel received from the apostles. Gal 1:8-9 But even if we or an angel from heaven… does not have God. Departure from the truth about Christ separates a person from fellowship with God. The Father cannot be known apart from the Son, and rejection of Christ’s teaching is rejection of the God who sent Him. 1Jn 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son… Whoever remains in His teaching Faithful believers continue in the instruction Christ gave through His apostles. Such perseverance involves holding to the truth of Christ’s person, work, commands, and gospel rather than accepting innovations that contradict them. Jhn 8:31-32 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him,… has both the Father and the Son. Those who abide in the true teaching of Christ possess fellowship with both the Father and the Son. The unity of the Father and Son means that faithfulness to Christ is inseparable from a genuine relationship with God. 1Jn 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father… If anyone comes to you Traveling teachers depended on local believers for lodging and support, making discernment necessary when they arrived among the churches. Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you… but does not bring this teaching, The apostolic message confessed Jesus Christ as truly come in the flesh. Those who denied this truth rejected essential teaching about Christ. 1Ti 1:3 As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia,… do not receive him into your home Homes often served as meeting places for believers. Giving such a teacher hospitality or a place to speak would support his work and endanger the church. 2Th 3:14-15 Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions… or even greet him. A public welcome signaled fellowship and approval. Believers were not to give false teachers credibility or treat them as faithful brothers. Luk 10:4 Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone… Whoever greets such a person “Whoever greets such a person” refers to anyone who receives or welcomes a false teacher who denies that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. In the early church, greeting and hospitality often included lodging, meals, financial help, and public acceptance. Such support could give a deceiver influence among believers and make his teaching appear acceptable. 2Th 3:14-15 Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions… shares in his evil deeds. Receiving and assisting a false teacher makes a believer a participant in the damage caused by that teacher’s message. John warns the church to guard its fellowship carefully, since error about Christ attacks the foundation of the gospel and can lead others away from the truth. 1Ti 5:22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands…
ConclusionJohn had further instruction and encouragement for this congregation, likely including matters better handled with personal knowledge of their circumstances. Jhn 16:12 I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet… but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Written letters were valuable for preserving apostolic teaching, yet they could not fully convey personal concern, answer questions, or address difficult matters as directly as a visit. 3Jn 1:13 I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer… Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, John expected to visit the believers in person, strengthening their fellowship and giving pastoral guidance through direct conversation. 3Jn 1:14 Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you… so that our joy may be complete. Their shared joy would be brought to fullness through fellowship in the truth, mutual encouragement, and the strengthening of the church. 1Jn 1:4 We write these things so that our joy may be complete. The children of your elect sister John conveys the greetings of believers in the congregation from which he writes, portraying the churches as sister communities and their members as children within God’s household. 1Pe 5:13 The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, … send you greetings. Their greeting affirms fellowship and mutual support among believers separated by distance. 1Co 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings.… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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