Letters of the Apostles 2 - First letter of John ...

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009. John, the apostle, wrote the fourth gospel, the revelation of John and also some letters. The letter 1 John is usually dated around A.D. 85-95, after the gospel of John which is assumed to be written around A.D. 85.

The letter of John is a clear testimony of original Christian faith. It has some similarities with John's gospel. He speaks about “the life”, which has appeared and which they could touch with their hands, clearly pointing to Jesus. He speaks about the fellowship with the father and the son, Jesus Christ.

John is addressing basic problems Christianity had to face from around 50 years after Jesus' cruzifiction. These problems resemble some popular teachings of our modern time. People started to have a very “spiritual” idea of faith and of life. They thought they could do what they wanted - but their spiritual life would not be touched by their physical actions.

The New Testament perceives our body as a unity of spirit and flesh. It does not generate any artificial separation. But everything is connected. There is such a strong connection, that believers are even seen as the “body” of Christ, when they are connected to him in faith. A man and a woman who are married are seen to be “one body”.

We cannot be linked to God, and at the same time be linked to darkness and sin. Faith has to show itself in our daily life. It needs to determine our whole person, our existence, our thoughts and actions. And it does. John claims: “anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.” (1 John 2, 9) These are strong claims, words which cut your soul and your existence into pieces!

John gives also sincere warnings. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. […] The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2, 15-17) We need clear insight into the meaning of his warnings - which balance the command to love your neighbors as yourself! Christian life is understood as part of a new creation, which is linked to God, lives in his spirit and knows a world beyond our usual world.

The letters of John are a highly fascinating and deep resource of Christian thoughts, the word of God into our heart still today! ... more texts