Scofield Reference Bible Notes/1 John

by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield

Book Introduction - 1 John

Read first chapter of 1 John
WRITER: The Apostle John, as unbroken tradition affirms, and as internal evidence and comparison with the Gospel of John prove.
DATE: Probably A.D. 90
THEME: First John is a family letter from the Father to His "little children" who are in the world. With the possible exception of the Song, it is the most intimate of the inspired writings. The world is viewed as without. The sin of a believer is treated as a child's offence against his Father, and is dealt with as a family matter (1 John 1:9; 2:1). The moral government of the universe is not in question. The child's sin as an offence against the law had been met in the Cross, and "Jesus Christ the righteous" is now his "Advocate with the Father." John's Gospel leads across the threshold of the Father's house; his first Epistle makes us at home there. A tender word is used for "children," teknia, "born ones," or "bairns." Paul is occupied with our public position as sons; John with our nearness as born-ones of the Father.
First John is in two principal divisions.

• The family with the Father, 1:1-3:24.
• The family and the world, 4:1-5:21.

There is a secondary analysis in each division of which occurs the phrase, "My little children," as follows:

• Introductory, the incarnation, 1:1,2.
• The little children and fellowship1:3-2:14
• The little children and secular and "religious" world2:15-28.
• How the little children may know each other, 2:29-3:10
• How the little children must live together, 3:11-24.
• Parenthetic: How the little children may know false teachers, 4:1-6.
• The little children assured and warned, 4:7-5:21.

CHAPTER 1

Verse 1

grace Grace (imparted). Summary (see "Grace,") (See Scofield "John 1:17") grace is not only dispensationally a method of divine dealing in salvation
(See Scofield "John 1:17") but is also the method of God in the believer's life and service. As saved, he is "not under the law, but under grace" Romans 6:14. Having by grace brought the believer into the highest conceivable position. Ephesians 1:6. God ceaselessly works through grace, to impart to, and perfect in him, corresponding graces ; John 15:4,5; Galatians 5:22,23.
Grace, therefore, stands connected with service Romans 12:6; 15:15,16; 1 Corinthians 1:3-7; 3:10; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9,10; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:7,8; Ephesians 4:7; Philippians 1:7; 2 Timothy 2:1,2; 1 Peter 4:10 with Christian growth ; 2 Corinthians 1:12; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:16; 4:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:12; Hebrews 4:16; 12:28,29; 13:9; James 4:6; 1 Peter 1:2; 3:7; 5:5,10; 2 Peter 3:18; Jude 1:4 and with giving ; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 8:1,6,7,19; 9:14
grace Grace (imparted). Romans 6:1; 2 Peter 3:18.

Verse 7

light
What it is to "walk in the light" is explained by 1 John 1:8-10. "All things...are made manifest by the light" Ephesians 5:13 The presence of God brings the consciousness of sin in the nature 1 John 1:8 and sins in the life 1 John 1:9,10. The blood of Christ is the divine provision for both. To walk in the light is to live in fellowship with the Father and the Son. Sin interrupts, but confession restores that fellowship. Immediate confession keeps the fellowship unbroken.
light (See Scofield "Exodus 27:20")

CHAPTER 2

Verse 1

advocate
Advocacy is that work of Jesus Christ for sinning saints which He carries on with the Father whereby, because of the eternal efficacy of His own sacrifice, He restores them to fellowship. CF Psalms 23:3. (See Scofield "John 13:10").
sin Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 2

propitiation (Greek - ἱλασμός^[1], that which propitiates). (See Scofield "Romans 3:25").
the sins Omit words "the sins.".
world kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8").

Verse 3

commandments
John uses "commandments":

• (1) in the general sense of the divine will, however revealed, "his word" (1Jn 2:5); and
• (2) especially of the law of Christ Galatians 6:2; 2 John 1:5. See, also, John 15:10-12.

Verse 5

perfect
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 12

sins
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 13

little children
The little ones of the family; (See Scofield "1 John 2:28").

Verse 15

world
kosmos = world-system. 1 John 3:13; John 7:7. (See Scofield "Revelation 13:8").

Verse 19

went out from us
"Went out from us," that is, doctrinally. Doubtless then, as now, the deniers of the Son 1 John 2:22,23 still called themselves Christians. Cf 2 Timothy 1:15.

Verse 28

little children
The general term for all children.

CHAPTER 3

Verse 1

world
kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8").

Verse 4

committeth sin practiseth sin practiseth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
sin Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23")

Verse 7

righteousness
"Righteousness" here, and in the passages having marginal references to this, means the righteous life which is the result of salvation through Christ. The righteous man under law became righteous by doing righteously; under grace he does righteously because he has been made righteous Romans 3:22.
(See Scofield "Romans 10:3")

Verse 10

righteousness
(See Scofield "1 John 3:7").

Verse 13

world
kosmos = world-system. 1 John 4:3-5; John 7:7. (See Scofield "Revelation 13:8").

CHAPTER 4

Verse 3

world kosmos = world-system. 1 John 5:4,5,19; John 7:7. (See Scofield "Revelation 13:8").

Verse 9

world
kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8").

Verse 10

propitiation
(Greek - ἱλασμός^[2]). (See Scofield "1 John 2:2").

Verse 12

perfected
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 14

Saviour (See Scofield "Romans 1:16").
world kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8").

Verse 18

perfect
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

CHAPTER 5

Verse 4

world
kosmos = world-system. Revelation 11:15; John 7:7. (See Scofield "Revelation 13:8").

Verse 7

v. 7
It is generally agreed that v.7 has no real authority, and has been inserted. 1 John 5:7.

Verse 8

in earth Omit "in earth."
agree Or, are to one point or purpose.

Verse 16

sin
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

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