First, Second, and Third John

The New Testament canon includes three books attributed to someone named John.  These three very brief documents are sometimes referred to as letters or epistles.   The first reads like a sermon or essay.  The other two are more like memoranda.  They appear to have been composed early in the second century by leaders in a cluster of Christian communities along the Aegean coast that had been established by the Apostle John.  The biblical scholar, Raymond Brown referred to these as the “Communities of the Beloved Disciple.”

Key theological terms that occur frequently in the Gospel of John and in these three brief documents include, LOVE, LIGHT, TRUTH, and LIFE.

Please plan to join us on Wednesday mornings as we read and discuss these books from the New Testament.  We gather in the parish hall at 10:30am and conclude with noonday prayers.

May 19        Session 1     I John 1: 1- 2: 29

God is light and in him is no darkness

May 26        Session 2     I John 3: 1 – 4:6

Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light and in such a person, there is no cause for stumbling

June 2         Session 3     I John 4: 6 – 5: 21

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed.  What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

June 9         Session 4     II John 1: 1 – 13

Beloved, let us love one another because love is from God.  Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

June 16       Session 5     III John 1: 1 -15

God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life and whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.