The FIRST Letter of JOHN
The letter is traditionally held to have been composed by the apostle John at Ephesus, some time after 94 CE, when the writer was advanced in age and before 98CE when he is known to have written The Book of Revelations on the island of Patmos. Whereas the Gospel of John was written to unbelievers, this epistle was written to those who were already believers (5:13). It seems likely that its audience was largely gentile rather than Jewish, since it contains few Old Testament quotations or distinctly Jewish forms of expression. The epistle was probably carried by itinerant missionaries to different churches throughout the region and read aloud to the congregations
1JOHN 1:1 We want to tell you about the Logos that gives life, the one who existed before the world began. This is the one we have heard and have seen with our own eyes. We saw what he did, and our hands touched him. 2 This one, whose life is from GOD was shown to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and announce to you that he is the one who has eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us.
3 What we have seen and heard ourselves is what we are telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And this fellowship that we have is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
4 And now, we are writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you included may be full and your joy in being included may be complete.
5 Now the message that we have heard from GOD’s Son and we in turn announce is this; GOD is light, and there is no darkness at all in him.
6 If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living according to truth. 7 But if we live in the light, as GOD does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away.
8 If we say we have no sin (refusing to admit that we are sinners), we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth (which the Gospel presents) does not dwell in our hearts]. 9 But if we confess our sins to GOD, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. 10 In contrast, If we say that we have not sinned, we make GOD a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts.