Life Application Bible Commentary

1 Life Application Bible i2/23/2009 1:16:56 PM2/23/2009 1:16:56 ii2/23/2009 1:18:03 PM2/23/2009 1:18:03 PMlife1, 2 & 3 JOHNA pplication Bible CommentaryBruce B. Barton, W. Comfort, et Chaffee TaylorDavid R. Veerman, Woods, TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC. CAROL STREAM, ILLINOISGENERAL EDITOR: Grant Osborne, EDITOR: Philip W. Comfort, et iii3/10/2009 12:20:37 PM3/10/2009 12:20:37 PMVisit Tyndale s exciting Web site at Application Bible Commentary : 1, 2 & 3 JohnCopyright 1998 by The Livingstone Corporation.

2 All rights Editors: James C. Galvin, , and Ronald A. BeersCover photograph of bridge and path copyright by Alyn Stafford / iStockphoto. All rights photographs of woman with a laptop and man holding a pen copyright by Dan Wilton / iStockphoto. All rights photo of man reading copyright by Ronnie Comeau / iStockphoto. All rights illustrations of candle (1 John), sandals (2 John), and mugs (3 John) copyright 2004 by Tracy Walker. All rights quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible , New International Version.

3 NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible , copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

4 (No citation is given for Scripture text that is exactly the same wording in all three versions NIV, NKJV, and NRSV.)Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible , King James quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights , Life Application , New Living Translation, NLT, and Tyndale s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data1, 2, & 3 John / Bruce B.

5 Barton .. [et al.]. p. cm. (Life Application Bible Commentary ) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8423-2857-9 (sc : alk. paper) 1. Bible . Epistles of John Commentaries. I. Barton, Bruce B. II. Series. 1998 227 .9406 dc21 97-33489 Printed in the United States of America14 13 12 11 10 0914 13 12 11 10 iv2/23/2009 1:18:04 PM2/23/2009 1:18:04 PMCONTENTS ix Foreword xi Introduction to 1, 2 & 3 John 1 Introduction to 1 John 1 Author 3 Date and Setting 4 Audience 5 Purpose 6 Message 11 Vital Statistics 11 Outline 13 1 John 1:1 2:11 39 1 John 2.

6 12-29 61 1 John 3 83 1 John 4 105 1 John 5 155 Bibliography 157 Index 123 Introduction to 2 John 123 Author 124 Date and Setting 124 Audience 125 Purpose 125 Message 127 Vital Statistics 127 Outline 129 2 John 141 Introduction to 3 John 141 Author 141 Date and Setting 142 Audience 142 Purpose 142 Message 144 Vital Statistics 144 Outline 145 3 v2/23/2009 1:18:04 PM2/23/2009 1:18:04 vi2/23/2009 1:18:04 PM2/23/2009 1:18:04 vii2/23/2009 1:18:06 PM2/23/2009 1:18:06 PMFOREWORDThe Life Application Bible Commentary series provides verse-by-verse explanation, background, and Application for every verse in the New Testament.

7 In addition, it gives personal help, teaching notes, and sermon ideas that will address needs, answer questions, and provide insight for applying the Word of God to life today. The content is highlighted so that particular verses and phrases are easy to volume contains three sections: introduction, commen-tary, and reference. The introduction includes an overview of the book, the book s historical context, a time line, cultural back-ground information, major themes, an overview map, and an explanation about the author and Commentary section includes running Commentary on the Bible text with reference to several modern versions, espe-cially the New International Version, the New Revised Stan dard Version, and the New Living Translation, accompanied by life applications interspersed throughout.

8 Additional elements include charts, diagrams, maps, and illustrations. There are also insightful quotes from church leaders and theologians such as John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and A. W. Tozer. These features are designed to help you quickly grasp the biblical information and be prepared to communicate it to others. The reference section includes an index and a ix2/23/2009 1:18:07 PM2/23/2009 1:18:07 PMINTRODUCTION TO 1, 2 & 3 JOHNMost adults resent being treated as children by their peers, with patronizing, condescending remarks and simplified instructions.

9 They take pride in their expertise, experience, and knowledge. Mature and well established, they stand confident and secure. But even the most self-assured adult will listen carefully to an admired elder and not be offended, knowing that this person has profound wisdom and insights gleaned from a lifetime of study and adults, as well, may find it difficult to accept correc-tion and instruction from those younger in the faith. But wise believers at any age will hear and heed the words of Spirit-led mentors and John wrote his first letter to the church, he often addressed his readers as dear children (1 John 2:1, 12, 18, 28; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21), and all three of his letters are sprinkled with other references to children (see, for example, 1 John 3:1-3; 5:1 4; 2 John 1, 4, 13; 3 John 4, 11).

10 Yet far from being offended, the first recipients of these letters eagerly received the message of this elder sttesman and revered apostle. Besides the difference in age (John wrote these letters as an older man), John was an eyewitness of Christ and was their spiritual father. In every sense, they were his children who needed to hear his inspired encour-agements, warnings, and removed, believers today still stand as dear chil-dren who need guidance and instruction. Far from having arrived, we are in the process of becoming more and more like Christ as we mature in him (1 John 3:2-3).