Epistles of John

A Hungarian rendition of St John the Evangelist

Three books in the New Testament, thought to have been written between 85–100,^[1] are collectively called the Epistles of John. The author of these letters is traditionally believed to be John the Evangelist, also known simply as "the Elder".

First Epistle of John

This epistle unlike the other two is written more as a sermon, one to help strengthen people's faith in Jesus, to help them understand why a being as great as the Son of God would have a mortal life and a mortal's agonizing death.^[2]

Second Epistle of John

This Epistle is written as a short letter from the Apostle to an unnamed "elect lady" whom he loves and her children.^[3] Within the letter John warns about opening home to false teachers and to always practice truth avoiding secrecy.

First Epistle

Third Epistle of John

The third epistle, also a short letter, is addressed to a man named Gaius and mentioned as "a dear friend". It talks about a man named Diotrephes whom Gaius excommunicated from the church and had gone on to create an anti-missionary sentiment, trying to get the church to stop receiving missionaries. It is believed that the letter was delivered by a third person, Demetrius.

References

1. Tenney, Merrill. "THE EPISTLES OF JOHN". www.abideinchrist.com. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
2. "THE EPISTLES OF JOHN". www.earlychristianwritings.com. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
3. Missler, Chuck. "A Timely Study The Epistles of John". khouse.org. Retrieved 27 September 2012.