Gospel of MARK (first gospel)

• Shortest gospel (for the same story it is always longer but in overall it’s shorter)

• The gospels are so similar, there must be a main source - important to know what they took away or put in because it reflects the theological emphasis.

 

Author

• John Mark (Acts 12:12). Cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10) and a close companion of Peter (1 Peter 5:13)

• Interpreter of Peter and wrote down all that is remembered.

• Was young when Jesus was crucified and resurrected. His mother Mary was a well to do widow who came to faith (Acts 12:12). When Barnabas & Paul were commissioned by church in Antioch to go for first Missionary journey he went with them (Acts 13:1-3)

• Mark left abruptly and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13) without reason. When Paul & Barnabas began to plan second journey he became the cause of a sharp disagreement between them (Acts 15:36 - 41)

• Mark emotionally and spiritually matured under mentoring of Barnabas and Paul even asked TImothy to bring Mark to Rome because he is “helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Tim 4:11)

• Mark may have stayed in Rome 1 Peter 5:13 to work closely with Peter and prob left in AD 65 during Nero’s persecution. Died soon after Paul & Peter died.

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Recipients

• Christians who could read Greek & Latin. (expected readers to understand Latin; people not from Rome city will not understand Latin). Readers unfamiliar with Aramaic as author offered many translations of Aramaic terms and names. (7:11 & 15:22 etc).

• Non-jews since many Jewish practices were being explained in details (Mark 7:1-4)

• Seemed that readers were persecuted as there were exhortations to persevere & against falling away

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Time

• AD 50s or 60s

• Definitely before first Jewish war since temple was likely still around at the time of writing and there were hints of persecution.

• Paul wrote Romans around AD 57 (no mention of Peter & Mark). Luke & Acts written in60 -62 had references from Mark. So mark is around 57-60.

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Purpose

• Jesus as the Son of God. Include supernatural nature of Jesus and his ministry.

• Recorded a description of who Jesus was and the impact he had on those who came into contact with Him

• Ended with call for a commitment from the readers. (challenge their commitment to Roman Caesar)

• Mark part 1 (who is Jesus), Part 2 (why His plan includes Him being executed by Roman govt)

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Messianic Secret

• Repeatedly gave orders to conceal His power and identity. Happened until 9:9 after the Transfiguration.

• Jesus’ Messiahship cannot be understood in terms of a position or a power, apart from his work on the Cross. Discipleship itself cannot be properly lived out until the identity of Jesus as Christ is clearly understood and affirmed.

• Jesus only let them proclaim that He’s the Messiah when He entered Jerusalem because the disciples already understood His identity

Discipleship

• Jesus gave 3 teachings about what it means to follow Him as the Messiah

1. Bear a cross, lose our life and despise the opinion of worldly people so what we remain loyal to the One  (Mark 8:34-38)

2. Serve others not measuring rank (9:33-37)

3. Measure greatness by serving others & pouring oneself out for them (10:42-45)

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Unfolding Christology

• Contrast between divinity and humanity of Christ

• Overcoming disease, demons and death vs emotions like compassion, anger, sorrow and empathy and physical exhaustions)

• Recorded more miracles than sermons.

Servanthood

• Jesus fulfilled prophecies of OT regarding Messiah coming to earth. But not as a conquering King but as a servant.

• Greatness in Christ’s kingdom is shown by service and sacrifice, no room for personal ambitions or the love of power or position when we do God’s work.

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Sidetrack

• Persecution.

AD 30+: Jewish leaders persecuting Jewish christians

AD 40 - 50: Gentile Christians not persecuted

Ephesians / Philippians: Social persecution because their religion affected other people.

 

• Slave (identity. Like citizenship, PR, TR)Attitude and mentality

• Servant (occupation)

• Desire to be great is not wrong (significance/importance) Jesus rebuked their definition of being great.

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Reflection Questions:

1. We are often more gracious to those outside the Church than to those within, even though those within the Church are our very own spiritual siblings. How do you relate with fellow believers who have fallen from grace? Do you write them off easily? How can you give them a second chance in their spiritual life & ministry?

2. According to Mark, our pattern of discipleship will be shaped by what we understand about Jesus’ Messiahship. How close is your version of discipleship to what Jesus taught to be the standards? Am I able to put the needs of everyone in my LG above mine even to the point of humiliating myself? “I’ll do everything I can to edify you, to grow your walk with Christ”

3. Mark explain who Jesus is - a man who has done enough to prove He is God. Is our concept of faith lack of evidence and just psychoing ourselves to believe? NT and OT is full of evidence. (“now that you see this, follow me”)

4. What characterizes your leadership? Is this evident through the way you relate & through the things you constantly do as an expression of your leadership? How much of your leadership is worldly management principles and how much of it truly flows from the biblical concept of leadership as exemplified by Jesus?

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Gospel of MATTHEW

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Author

• Matthew (Levi) - one of only 3 writing apostles

• Levite (knows his scriptures) & Galilean tax collector (knows how to write)

• Jew writing to Jews about the Messiah.

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Recipients

• To Jewish Christians dispersed around the Roman Empire (prove to them that Jesus is the awaited Messiah)

• Presents Jesus as awaited Messiah, stress on theme of Kingship, more OT references.

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Time

• 50’s - 60’s before the destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70) because Matthew did not mention that Jerusalem was in ruins.

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Purpose

• Present JC as fulfillment of OT. - (first chapter trace back to Abraham & David. Cause they’re the only two who have direct covenants given to them that’s specific to their descendants.)

• Provides teaching content of Christ’s ministry for use in the church. (long discourses of JEsus interwoven in it) - early church only had OT where alot was surpassed and some oral traditions. Gospel of Matthew is to teach.

• Arranged in a thematic way.

• Literature markers to show a new segment in the book, concludes a teaching and a geographical point (7:28, 11:1, 13:53, 19:1, 26:1-2)

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Discipling

• Teaching them to unlearn their worldviews and align it to the Bible

• Our encounters with Christ & God help us share our knowledge of God. Knowing a fact doesn't mean we know God

• Your confession is not an indicator of your theology, it’s your response.

• Matthew 7. We can serve, worship like christians but are far from God. Are there people in my LG who are non christians? DON”T PLAY WITH PEOPLE'S SALVATION.

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Forgiveness

• If we don’t forgive one another, chances are that we’re not saved. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. If I don’t forgive you, it means i dont believe that Jesus died for your sins. “I dont need to pay, you dont need to pay.”.

• Forgiveness is not immediately restoring the r/s to the former. That’s trust and it takes time to heal.

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Fasting

• When we ask God, are we willing to hear God’s answer?

• What’s the answer that we know we confirm dw? Pray and fast until im okay and will obey if God wants me to go with that option.

• Fasting is not trying to twist the arm of God.

• The type of prayer we pray, are we already telling God what to do?

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KOG

• Jesus revealed as the King of kings - miraculous birth, life, teaching, miracles, triumph over death. Jesus came to earth to begin His kingdom, His full kingdom will be realised at his return and will be made up of those who has faithfully followed Him.

• When Jesus came, not all prophecies were fulfilled, only those enough for us to identify Him. “i’ll come again”

• You can’t claim that Jesus is Lord without acknowledging and living out that “I’m a slave”. Son and servant are not mutually exclusive. Son of God, slave of Jesus Christ (we’re bought at a price)

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Righteousness & Law

• Righteousness is all that God requires as pleasing to Him.

• The Law was given AFTER Israelites had been delivered and AFTER the special covenant r/s that was formed.

• 3 fold. (Given to maintain the r/s established, establish fault when r/s is broken, avenue to restore broken r/s)

• Law was a pointer and tutor to bring and protect the Israelites and bring them to the Teacher. It was requirement to Jews but revelation to Gentiles (reveals God and His principles - Paul uses OT to support his arguments)

 

Reflection Questions:

1. Jewish people were unable to recognize Jesus as the Messiah King. Very often we have our preconceived ideas about how God should act in our situations such that when He delivers in another way, we fail to recognize it. Are you ‘looking’ for His move in your life and ministry?

2. Is He really your King? If Jesus is really king, who gets to decide how i feel, where i serve, what jobs I do, what i do with my resources.

 

LESSON 4 (Gospels & Acts 2 - Gospel of Luke & Acts, Gospel of John)

Gospel of Luke & Acts

 

Author

• Luke the Gentile Physician (Philemon 24; Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11)

• Travelling companion of Paul. In charge of the work in Philippi for about 6 years. Was with Paul in Rome during Paul’s house arrest.

• Methodical approach in writing and interest in research shows that he is highly educated and trained.

• Gave the most complete account of Christ’s ancestry, birth and development.

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Recipients

• Theophilus who was prob a Roman official/someone of high position cause of the use “most excellent”

• As the only Gentile author in the NT, Luke naturally targeted Gentile readers.

• Focused on careful historical research, present events against backdrop of secular political history (let people cross check)

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Time

• Luke written before Acts. Acts written before persecutions of Nero (AD 64), Paul’s death (AD66-68) and destruction of Jerusalem (AD70) - too important to have been omitted by Luke.

• Both after development of Christianity to the point where a Gentile inquirer like Theophilus was interested.

• Probably during Paul’s two years imprisonment at Caesarea which allow Luke opportunity to research and write.

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Purpose

• Written to Christians, not to teach but confirm. Confirm that God really intended from the beginning the salvation of the Gentiles.

• An “orderly account”, to “know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.”

• Acts show how the faith rise so far and how the Spirit would preserve and empower the gospel message.

• Historically, Acts bridge between Gospels and Epistles.

• Luke - starts from Galilee, exploded in Jerusalem

• Acts - starts from Jerusalem to the end of the world.

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God’s Universal Plan

• First theme is focused on GOd’s dealing with the world, Luke traced Jesus’ ancestry from mother (virgin birth, blood relationship).

• Spend efforts on God’s faithfulness to Israel and thereby confirm God’s reliability toward the new people of God. (it was not God that cast the chosen people aside but they rejected God)

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Son of Man

• Described how Jesus entered human history and lived as the perfect example of a human. Demonstrated to the Greeks that Jesus alone could fulfill the Greek ideal of human perfection.

• Mark’s emphasis was to show Jesus different from everybody. Luke wants to show how human Jesus is.

• How can He be my role model if He’s not completely human? Jesus do it cause He surrenders and is empowered by HS. Same for me.

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Ministry of HS

• Hs present at Jesus’ birth, baptism, ministry and resurrection. Carried over to Acts, where Christians are immersed and motivated by the HS.

 

Reflection Questions:

1. Why is there a need to trace the historical reliability of Christianity? Is not faith enough? Luke - Acts demonstrates that biblical faith is more than just wishful thinking, but built solidly upon the reliability of God’s revelation. What is your faith based on?

2. How many times must a man commit adultery to be considered an adulterer? Once. A God that breaks One promise is an unfaithful God. If we ever prayed for something & damn sure God will do something but He didn’t don’t sweep it under the rug. Wrestle. I misunderstood the promise or the promise has yet to come.

3. The Scriptures records Jesus commanding his disciples to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.” What standards do you follow when measuring yourself?

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Gospel of John

 

Author

• John the disciple wrote it from Ephesus. (disciple Jesus loved, who leaned on Jesus at the Passover 13:23, 19:26, 20:2)

• Peter & Jesus spoke in Aramaic, John wrote in greek. He paraphrased key info 3 times so that everyone gets it. Repeat for people to remember. (if we preach the entire Bible, it’s hard to find new teachings because God repeats.)

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Recipients

• Gentile Christians

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Time

• Close to end of first century. (AD 85 - 90) after terrible persecutions by Nero and destruction of Jerusalem. The church flourished under persecution but needed reassurance. (persecution doesn’t always mean dying. Empire had wars and economics to deal with, sometimes they were disadvantaged / ostracised)

• John was the last surviving apostle & one of the few still living who had seen Jesus in flesh. The hostile government and unbelieving neighbours cause them to have doubts and second thoughts

• John 3 (Nicodemus, top of the society, came to Jesus.) John 4 (Samaritan, scorn of society, Jesus went to her). No matter where / how, as long as you believe, saved.

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Purpose

• Most unique out of the 4 Gospels since about 90 percent of his material appears only in his Gospel.

• Demonstrate that Jesus was not just a good man & great teacher but the eternal Son of God, the only One who can give eternal life.

• Also like a missionary tract because of the way the evidence were presented.

• Encouragement to believers to deepen their faith.

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Identity & Significance of Jesus

• Highlights both the deity & humanity of Jesus.

• When Jesus said “I AM” it’s not “emi” but “ego emi” which means Yaweh to the Jews.

 

Reflection Questions:

1. Book of John tells us what is NOT faith. Not mental exercise, not emotional feeling, not verbal confessions. Believing and agreeing is not the point. It’s doing & actions. (I may not understand everything, but i understand enough to know You hold the word of life.) Tension between knowing something to have faith but having faith to act without knowing everything.

2. No such thing as being “short changed” by God. There’s no equation. (me - what God did = surplus/blessing or deficit/shortchanged) But. “What God did - whatever i can ever give back = i still owe God a debt”

3. What are we really looking for when you are seeking God’s will? Is Jesus sufficient for you to believe? If I know for sure God died for me. Is this enough? Even if no more answered prayers, everything God ask me to do also don’t make sense. Will i still serve?

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LESSON 5 (General Writings 1 - Hebrews & James)

Gospel of Intro to NON Pauline World

• Common focus of writing to Christians who were under stress - physical or social persecutions.

 

Events Leading to shift in focus.

1. Leadership Changes

• After AD 60s, many leaders of early Church martyr. Church grew and raise new leaders, resulted in complication of internal structure. Also letters which tend to be read aloud in communities, there was a trend that they turned to formal writing.

2) Reorientation of Jewish Systems

• Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple in AD 70. By AD 90, Christians were officially forced out of Jewish synagogues. Re establishment of religious institutions among the Jews

3) Eschatological Expectations

• Disappointments and confusions as to why the eschatological age did not come.

 

Consequences of the shift in Focus.

1. New Identity in Churches

• Christian churches became predominantly more Gentile. Had to grapple with forging their new identity.

• Jewish - Gentile tension within the community threatened to tear infant churches apart from the inside.

• Tension later became more external through false teachings and persecutions.

2) Centrifugal to Centripetal

• Started as an intensely missionary movement, but emphasis shifted from missions to establishment of these churches.

• Leadership gradually became more prescriptive; not persuading young believers to the truth of the Gospel but prescribing proper attitude and conduct.

 

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Hebrews

• Word of Exhortation. Sermon script.

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Author

• Unknown.

• We know he is a teacher and a second gen Christian (2:3b)

• Pastorally concerned leader, used Greek with purity and strong vocab.

• Well acquainted with the Israelites sacred history, teachings were “Pauline” and mentioned Timothy suggested that he knew Paul or was associated with those close to him.

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Recipients

• Hebrew Christians who want to abandon faith and return to Judaism.

• Going through social persecutions (10:32 - 35 & 12:3-13)

• Grown cold spiritually and theological perspective was skewed (2:1)

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Time

• AD 64 - 68

• Quoted by Clement of ROme (AD 95), before destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70), because Temple was mentioned in present tense.

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Purpose

• Explaining Gospel to Jews, presented divinity, glory and superiority of Christ over OT system of religious law and sacrifices.

• Warn against dangers of giving up what they have in Christ for the temporary shadows of the OT system and encouraged to mature and go after their reward.

(If you stay in the box, nothing Satan can do can take away your salvation. But we can be lied to and decide to walk out by myself)

• 1st half of book (IDENTITY, prove that Jesus is priest), 2nd half (WORKS of Jesus, prove that he is a BETTER priest)

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Superiority of Christ

• Jesus’ true identity as God in the flesh and as the ultimate authority.

• (1:1-14, 2:5- 3:6, 4:14 - 5:10, 6:13 - 10:18). Greater than any angel, Son of God, superior to any Jewish leader - ultimate King, Prophet and Priest.

• Scripture centers around Christ (what God will do to solve human rebellion. In light of what God has done, what is my response?)

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Our Great High Priest

• (3:1, 4:14 - 5:10, 6:19 - 8:6, 9:6 -10:22, 13:11 - 13).

• In OT, high priest represented the Jews before God to make sacrifices for their sins. Priesthood of Jesus surpases the levitical priesthood. (not temporal, no need to atone for Himself, not serving under law)

• Is our religion a new age one? Not everything that has “God” is christian. “God accepts you for who you are” is rubbish. “God loves us for who we are” not accept. God only accepts us on an account of Christ.

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A life of Enduring Faith

• Faith is the confident trust in GOd and the eager expectations for God to act on his promises.

• His greatest promise is that people can be saved from sin and have eternal life through Christ.

• Jewish Christians were persecuted by other Jews (their own family) and when Romans started to persecute the Church, they also kenna. Hebrews was encouraging them to endure faithfully and triumphantly.

• We compromise on our faith not just through backsliding, but if God calls you and you walk away.

 

Reflection Questions:

1. Most of us don’t face persecution from family, friends or society. But sometimes we look back longly at our previous life “before Christ”. We feel the pull of an old lifestyle, materialism, cultural cult of self worship. Is Christ in your Christianity really that superior? Is Christ one of the many options? In Christ, ALONE.

2. Why do we end our prayers with “in Jesus name”? Is it “your sincerely”. God listens to the righteous. 2 kinds of person can go into the Holy of Holies (perfectly righteous man or someone who is covered by the Lamb’s blood - In Jesus Name).

3. Why do we say grace? (so that we remember God is my provider. It is a ritual. OT & NT are full of rituals, rituals are useless only when you do without knowing why)

 

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James

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Author

• Brother of Jesus, not apostle. Recognised leader of Jerusalem church (Gal 1:18 - 19; Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18)

• Skeptical younger brother to committed pastor of the Jerusalem church.

• Apostles didn’t stay to pastor, they went out to evangelise.

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Recipients

• James 1:1 (12 tribes scattered among the nations). Hebrew Christians.

• Those who were scattered after stoning of Stephen / those who witnessed the Pentecost and went back to their homelands.

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Time

• Distinctly Jewish nature of book suggests that it was written when church was predominantly Jewish (before Paul’s missions). No reference made to Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), James martyed in AD 62.

• Written around AD 45 - 59.

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Purpose

• Instruct & encourage dispersed people in the face of difficulties.

• Not in response to problems but to exhort them to maturity and holiness.

• Dealt with practice of Christian faith than its precepts. (how to mature through confident stand, godly wisdom, compassionate service, careful speech, contrite submission and concerned sharing) - put faith into action.

(People who encounters God, speech, way of thinking will change. If you have faith, no one will know including yourself unless there are some actions)

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Faith that Works

• Many believed that James wrote about “faith & works” (2:17-20 & 2:26) which contradicts the teachings of Paul.

• James’ teachings is that faith is not conceptual and must be expressed in actions that are consistent with what is professed. The church must continually call people to a faith that results in radically changed life.

(Challenge people to respond, don’t just teach them. Don’t teach information, force them to encounter. “This is what the scripture says. You’re not living up to that standard”  )

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Trials & Temptations

• 1:3-4, 12. Patient, stand firm and look for Christ’s return.

• Godly sorrow (repentance & urge to change), Worldly sorrows (regret, but when it comes again I fail again)

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Integrity of Speech

• Constantly thinking about what we say. It’s not about what I say but what they hear.

• James laments the difficulty of keeping ourselves from sinning in our speech and the dangers that the tongue poses to the whole body.

• 3:13 - 17. Rely on God’s wisdom and insight, not be led by selfish ambition. Wisdom shows itself in wise speech. God holds us responsible for our destructive words.

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Wealth & the Christian

• Church in Jerusalem was poor (fisherman, poor and oppressed class). In fact Paul collected money for them on his third missionary journey. Another factor contributed to their poverty was the emphasis on caring for the needy and feeding the hungry in church.

• James taught them to not compromise on wealth and not show partiality to the wealthy and prejudiced against the poor.

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Reflection Questions:

1. What’s my most instinctive reaction when i’m not thinking? That’s my theology. Renew our mind, not what I know to say or act. But my behaviour.

2. Obeying God is someone who trust in God and listen to God, don’t lean on my own understanding. “Make your paths straight” - obvious path, not easy path.

3. What’s my attitude towards repenting? You can’t repent without acknowledging your sins, owning it. Do we justify the wrong we do because of a wrong someone else did? Irresponsible for my retaliation, it’s always a choice. (Romans 8: we can’t repent telling God that we tried our best. Because it means that we tried our best but no other way we failed, then not our fault, whose fault? God’s fault?)

4. Where are the main battles you are fighting in your discipleship. Instead of self victimising, we need to look inwardly and recognise that many battles are actually decided before they are even physically fought. (When there’s an external behaviour, there’s an internal concern)

5. Is it normal for Christians to become rich? Bible never say. Wherever you find yourself, you’re responsible for that. You cannot feel guilty for being rich, just make sure you know God provided and that God can use you as a blessing.

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LESSON 6 (General Writings 2 - Peter, Jude, John & Revelation of John)

 

Peter

 

Author

• Apostle Peter.

• Shows intimate knowledge of the life & teachings of Jesus. Eyewitness sufferings of Christ (2:19 - 24; 3:18; 4:1; 5:1)

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Recipients

• Believers scattered throughout Roman provinces undergoing suffering

• Most with Gentile background, some were Hebrew Christians.

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Time

• Talks about impending persecution, written not long before Peter’s death (AD 67 - 68, cause of Nero)

• 1 Peter prob AD 63 - 64 when he first arrived at Rome (5:13)

• 2 Peter prob AD 67 - 68.

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Purpose

• 1 Peter centers on problem of suffering, how to live as temporary resident and ambassadors of Christ in an alien and hostile world (1:1; 13 - 21; 2:11 - 12; 3:14; 17; 4:1)

• 2 Peter warns dangers of apostasy and rising of false teachers as predicted by prophets and Jesus and apostles.

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Identity of Christian Community

• Peter addresses the Christians as ‘chosen exiles’, merely passing through and do not truly belong her.

• Because now born into a new household, Christians called to reflect God’s character of holiness.

• We are temporary residences here. We don’t have to fight for everything, fight for what we’re citizens of.

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Suffering as Proving Ground

• Proving ground of the genuineness of their trust and commitment to God. (1 Pet 1:6-7).

• Suffering for christ is a sign of ‘favor’ before God as sharing in Christ’s suffering is prerequisite to sharing in His glory (1 Pet 4:13)

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Certainty of the End

• Peter presents history to show that God does intervene to punish ungodly and rescue the just.

• He addressed the seemingly ‘delay’ by affirming them of the Second coming of Christ which is the final judgement.

• The ‘delay’ is the difference between divine and human experience of time as well as God’s mercy and patience.

 

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you feel at home in this world? We should be increasingly feeling ‘homesick’. People who are suffering for their faith wants Jesus to come back soon. If you’re settled here, a citizen here, you don’t want Jesus to come soon.

2. When the martyrs were being killed, why didn’t God do anything? What am I expecting God to do? The only way God can do something is to judge evil before the appointed time. 2 Peter. God is not slow in keeping His promises as some understand slowness. I’m thinking of the sufferer, God is thinking about the persecutor. God is saying ‘you are saved, just hang on. They are not saved’ God is not just about our comfort, He is about salvation.

 

Jude

 

Author

• Jude, servant of JC, brother of James

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Recipients

• No specific group (v1-3)

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Time

• Subject matter similar to 2 Peter. 2 Peter warned about false teachers while Jude mentioned v4 - certain man. Jude spoke of it as present. (written after 2 Peter)

• Ad70 - 80

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Purpose

• Intended to write about common salvation. But cause of heresy and danger threatening church, he wrote to encourage them to contend earnestly for faith against false teachings. There were advances made by an incipient form of Gnosticism.

• Condemn practices of ungodly libertines who were corrupting believers

• Counsel believers to stand fast and grow in faith.

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Authority for Truth

• Master scripture to sieve out false teachings

• Jude returns to the revelations of God in scripture and apostolic teaching as a means to show that false teachers anyhow. New revelations from God must be consistent with former revelations from God.

• Not condemning or excluding but encouraging them to reclaim people who are straying under influence of false teachings.

 

Reflection Questions:

1. How grounded am I in God’s words. Does the scripture has final say and authority in my life?

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John

 

Author

• John the apostle.

• Original witness of Saviour who knew Jesus intimately (1 John 1:1-5), similar expressions and phrasese when compared to Gospel of John.

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Recipients

• 1 John written to believers of Gentile bg (1 John 3:1-2, 5:21)

• 2 John written to elect lady and her children (2 John 1, 4-5).

• 3 John personal letter addressed to the beloved Gaius (3 John 1)

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Time

• Difficult but reasonable to assume it was after the gospel and before persecutions of Domitian AD 95. Therefore around AD 85-90

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Purpose

• 1 John. False teachers appeared in Church (4:1), drawing some christians away from fellowship with true believers. (2:19) John addressed this by emphasizing the sources and nature of true knowledge

• 2 John. to keep readers from losing things they had worked together for. Give clear instructions against false teachers.

• 3 John. regarding issue of hospitality and physical support to itinerate missionaries. Contrast encouraging ministry of Gaius and selfish behaviour of Diotrephes.

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Belief & Love

• Affirm proper and holistic view that Christ has strong implications for Christian love and unity. Stress that merely “believing” certain facts about Jesus does not make us children of God. God is looking for belief that reflects His loving, just and holy character in real-life interactions.

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Sin & Righteousness

• John asserts that whether or not someone keeps on sinning shows his or her true lineage (from God or from devil)

• Failures do not disqualify Christian from fellowship with God or from continued pursuit of righteousness.

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Christian Hospitality

• 2 John told them to refuse errant teachers. 3 John tell them to extend proper hospitality to those who faithfully represent God and His message.

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Reflection Questions:

1. Love among believers is proof of genuine walk with God, but is not a love that we can ‘engineer’ out on our own, since ‘we love because He first loved us’. What should you do if you find yourself lacking in love?

2. The sign of spiritual maturity is often heightened awareness of sin in our lives coupled with a greater resolution against it. Are you aware of the sin in your lives? How long does it typically take for you to be aware of a sin that you may have committed?

3. How do you balance between being too open and being too closed to new ideas? Both extreme positions are unhelpful but it requires serious discernment to adopt an appropriate stance.

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NOTE TO ADD INTO NT 2:

• Rebuking 8 month old Galatians. Harsh because it concerns salvation. Sincerity don’t get people saved, God needs the people to know what they believe in. Make sure we share the Gospel CORRECTLY, centered on Christ.