Journey Through James and 1 2 3 Johnಮಾದರಿ

Intro

Nicole introduces this lesson about a movement that threatened to swallow the whole Christian movement in the generations after these letters were written.

Proto-Gnosticism: In the Text

The epistles of John emphasize the literal, physical body of Christ for an important reason.

What We Have Seen with Our Eyes

Throughout BibleJourney, we’ve noted the significance of the fact that the Bible story takes place in history. In place of theories about God, or mythical tales, we’re invited to watch God act in specific places at specific times in history. John, in both his Gospel and letters, emphasizes this aspect of biblical narrative in a unique way. He twice claims to have been an eyewitness to the events in question:

The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.

John 19:35 (NIV)

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

John 21:24 (NIV)

The opening passage of 1 John seems to pick up right where the Gospel of John left off in this regard, as there are no fewer than nine references to God’s availability to human senses. These references are highlighted in 1 John 1:1-3 below:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.

1 John 1:1-3 (NIV)

Though we learn that he is eternal, we are introduced to the God of the Bible through history and the testimony of eyewitnesses passed down orally and in writing. The Bible doesn’t offer speculative accounts of God’s presence, or abstract theories about who he is. We see God interact with our spiritual ancestors, and we get to know him as a tangible and historical personality.

We may not walk the streets with Jesus as did eyewitnesses like John, but our encounter with God in history is just as real and actual through the Holy Spirit—who is God, just as Jesus is God, and who involves us intimately in the life of the Father and Son.