Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of 1 John
First John is written that believers may know they have eternal life, testing genuine faith by belief in Christ, obedience to God, and love for one another. Warm and searching, it declares that God is light and God is love, and points us to the cleansing blood of Jesus. This commentary walks through it verse by verse.
About This Commentary
The First Epistle of John was written by the apostle John, the beloved disciple, likely late in the first century, to strengthen believers and counter early false teaching that denied Jesus had truly come in the flesh. John writes as an eyewitness of Jesus, with a pastoral warmth, so that his readers may know they have eternal life and walk in real fellowship with God and one another.
This commentary covers 1 John verse by verse, with the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, verified background, and an Apostolic reading. John applies clear tests of genuine faith, belief in Christ come in the flesh, obedience to God's commands, and love for the brethren, and declares the two great truths about God: God is light, and God is love. Its precious promise of cleansing and forgiveness for the confessing believer has comforted the church for two thousand years. References are given at the foot of each chapter.
This commentary on 1 John is now complete, covering all five chapters verse by verse.
Author
The apostle John, the beloved disciple, as an eyewitness.
Setting
Written to strengthen believers against early false teaching.
Key Themes
God is light and love, tests of faith, and assurance of life.
Purpose Verse
That you may know that you have eternal life (5:13).
Translation
King James Version (KJV) throughout.
The Chapters
1 John Commentary
The chapters below are available now. The rest are being written and will open here as they are finished and verified.
1 John 1:1-10
If We Confess Our Sins
John testifies as an eyewitness to the Word of life come in flesh, sets out fellowship with the God who is light, and gives the precious promise that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive.
Read Chapter 1 →1 John 2:1-29
An Advocate with the Father
'If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins.' We prove we know Him by obedience and love, and by not loving the world. John warns of 'many antichrists': 'he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ... denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.'
Read Chapter 2 →1 John 3:1-24
The Sons of God
'Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God,' destined so that 'when he shall appear, we shall be like him.' 'For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.' Love is the proof of life, defined by the cross, 'he laid down his life for us,' and shown 'in deed and in truth.'
Read Chapter 3 →1 John 4:1-21
God Is Love
'Try the spirits,' for 'every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.' Then the letter's heart: 'God is love,' proved because 'God sent his only begotten Son... to be the propitiation for our sins.' Because 'God so loved us, we ought also to love one another,' and 'perfect love casteth out fear.' 'We love him, because he first loved us.'
Read Chapter 4 →1 John 5:1-21
This Is the True God
'This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.' John presents the witnesses to Jesus, 'the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one,' so that 'he that hath the Son hath life.' He writes 'that ye may know that ye have eternal life,' and closes at the summit: 'we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.'
Read Chapter 5 →