Thursday, October 30, 2014

Bible Challenge: 1, 2 & 3 John and Jude

The Johanine letters are actually teachings from a teacher to what is known as the Johanine community.  That is a group of Christians who were more focused on a spiritual Christianity.  They are the same community to whom the Gospel of John is addressed.

It is possible that the same author who wrote the Gospel of John wrote these letters.  It is also possible that the author was the apostle John - "the one whom Jesus loved"

There is strong warnings about false teachers and a reminder of their central commandment - that they love one another above all else.

This is most clearly seen in 1 John 4:7-8  "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love."

Jude is a really brief warning against people who cause divisions in the Christian community.  The exhortations are very general and perhaps it is just to remind people of the threat.

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