Jensens survey of the old testament adam 596
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old impression that his Lord had
promised him immortality (John
21:23); that, as if remembering the
actual words which had been thus
perverted, the longing of his soul
gathered itself up in the cry, “Even
so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20),
we have stated all that has any
claim to the character of historical
truth.1
Who would not like to know how soon
after writing “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev.
22:20) John’s spirit was ushered into the
presence of Christ?
G. CHARACTER
John, like Peter, is an example of a man
with an intense, vigorous nature that Christ
directed to the glory of God. At times John’s
intensity was unfortunately the channel for
evil words and deeds. Read Matthew 20:2028; Mark 9:38; 10:35; Luke 9:49, 54; and
observe the apostle in the dark moments of
intolerance,
vindictive-ness,
undue
vehemence, and sel sh ambition. For the
most part, however, the New Testament’s
picture of John is an attractive and beautiful
one. Charles C. Ryrie says, “In actions, in
love for the brethren, in condemnation of
heresy, John was the intense apostle.”2
John is known as the apostle of love.
Writes Tenney, “As Christ tamed his ardor
and puri ed it of unrestrained violence,
John became the apostle of love whose
devotion was not excelled by that of any
other writer of the New Testament.”32 His
tender concern for other Christians is
manifested most clearly in his epistles where
he addresses his readers as “my little
children” and “beloved.” As we study John’s
epistles we will be learning more of the
character of the one so loved of Christ.
III. BACKGROUND OF 1 JOHN
A. AUTHOR
Let us now look at the evidences for
John’s authorship of his rst epistle. Internal
evidence and early church tradition give
ample support to the view that the apostle
John wrote the epistles as well as the fourth
gospel.43 Arguments favoring another
author, such as a di erent John with the
designation “John the elder,” are not as
strong.
Our starting point here is that the same
author wrote the gospel of John and 1 John.
Identi cation of the author of the fourth
gospel is narrowed down to the one man
John the apostle when one considers the
following descriptions of the author. (Note:
Study this section not only for the
identi cation of authorship, but also to learn
more about the person John.)
1. He was a Palestinian Jew. This is shown,
for example, by his use of the Old Testament
(John 6:45; 13:18; 19:37); by his knowledge
of Jewish traditions (John 1:19-49; 2:6, 13;
3:25; 4:25; 5:1; 6:14-15; 7:26 .; 10:22;
11:55; 12:13; 13:1; 18:28; 19:31, 42); and
by his knowledge of Palestine (John 1:44,
46; 2:1; 4:47; 5:2; 9:7; 10:23; 11:54).
2. He was an eyewitness. This is shown by
the exactness of details in his reporting (e.g.,
John 1:29, 35, 43; 2:6; 4:40, 43; 5:5; 12:1,
6, 12; 13:26; 19:14, 20, 23, 34, 39; 20:7;
21:6), and by the intimate character
descriptions he gives of such men as
Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Nathanael, and
