Of the three epistles of John, the first may justly be considered the most important, though the others, despite their brevity and the fact that they are apparently addressed to individuals, have an interest and a significance of their own. The style and content of these letters show close affinities to the fourth Gospel, and there is general agreement that they come from the pen of the same author. Some have been puzzled by the fact that the writer refers to himself as "the elder" in the introductory verses of both II and III John, and have been inclined to find in "John the Elder" some personage other than John the son of Zebedee, the apostle "whom Jesus loved"; but the very fact that the writer unequivocably calls himself "the elder" without mentioning his name, suggests a confident sense of authority such as might well lie with the beloved disciple. In fact, as Dr. Davison reminds us, "The three Epistles ... have from the beginning been attributed to the Apostle John" (Hastings' Shorter Bible Dictionary, p. 484).
The first epistle is generally taken as having been addressed, not to any specific individual, group, or church, as was usual in the letters of Paul, but rather to Christians everywhere. The breadth and universality of the writer's message are further shown by the fact that all personal greetings are omitted. This does not imply that the letter is lacking in affection, for John's tender consideration for his readers is shown by his repeated references to them as "beloved" and as his "little children." He unfolds a message of light and of love, based upon his clear realization of the nature of Deity, expressed in the vivid pronouncements, "God is light" (I John 1:5), and "God is love" (4:8). If these be accepted, John argues, certain definite results must follow. We must "walk in the light, as he is in the light," thereby obtaining not only "fellowship one with another," but also cleansing "from all sin" (1:7). Then, too, he would have his readers replace love of "the world" with "love of the Father" (2:15); and he points out the Father's love in these words: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (3:1); and, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him" (4:9).
The second epistle is rather cryptically addressed to "the elect lady and her children" (verse 1)—a phrase which some take as referring to a church and its members. Here again love is stressed, especially as an antidote against deception and false teaching; while John points out the danger of welcoming those who fail to expound "the doctrine of Christ" (verses 9 and 10).
