First Epistle of John facts for kids

The First Epistle of John is a book in the Christian Bible. It is the 23rd book in the New Testament. Many people believe this book is a letter written by John.

People are not completely sure if the John who wrote this letter is the same John who wrote the Gospel of John or the Book of Revelation. This letter was likely written in Ephesus around AD 95–110.

Why John Wrote This Letter

John wrote this letter to help Christians understand important truths about Jesus. Some teachers at the time were saying that Jesus was only a spirit and not a real human being. John said these teachers were "anti-Christ," meaning they were against Christ.

This false idea was called docetism. It taught that Jesus only seemed to have a human body. John's letter explains that Jesus truly came "in the flesh." This means he was a real human being with a real body.

John wanted Christians to know how to spot true teachers. He said true teachers will agree that Jesus came as a real person. They can also be known by their good ethics (how they live) and by their love for others.

Key Messages from the Letter

John wrote this letter for several reasons:

• He wanted his readers to have complete joy (Chapter 1, verse 4).
• He taught that true Christians should not keep on sinning (Chapter 2, verse 1).
• He emphasized that Christians should love one another (Chapter 3, verse 11).
• He wanted believers to know they have eternal life through faith in the Son of God (Chapter 5, verse 13).

So, the letter aimed to fill Christians with joy. It also helped them understand if they were truly saved.

Images for kids

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  The end part of the Second Epistle of Peter (3:16–18) and the beginning of the First Epistle of John (1:1–2:9) on the same page of Codex Alexandrinus (AD 400–440)

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  1 John 4:11-12, 14–17 in Papyrus 9 (P. Oxy. 402; 3rd century)

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  Codex Montfortianus (1520) page 434 recto with 1 John 5 Comma Johanneum.

See also

In Spanish: Primera epístola de Juan para niños