Billy Myron introduces a new teaching series on the book of 1 John, planning to cover the entire epistle starting with an overview and the first four verses. He describes 1 John as containing simple yet profoundly deep statements, with an unusual, non-linear structure resembling a spiral that loops back to key themes multiple times, building on them progressively rather than progressing in a straight line.
The book focuses on fundamentals necessary for fellowship with God and fellow believers, resulting in full joy. Major recurring themes include walking in light versus darkness, avoiding sin (with emphasis on confession in 1 John 1:9), loving one another (the new commandment), not loving the world, and assurance of a right relationship with God through obedience to commandments and other evidences.
John’s stated purpose in 1 John 1:3-4 is to declare what he has seen and heard about the Word of life (Jesus Christ, the eternal life manifested) so that readers may have fellowship with the apostles (and thus with the Father and the Son), leading to complete joy.
The letter is general rather than addressed to a specific person, church, or tied to current events, applying broadly to believers. Though anonymous, early church tradition attributes it to the Apostle John, who claims firsthand experience with Jesus (hearing, seeing, handling the Word of life).
Eternal life is highlighted as a quality of life (not merely endless duration), a gift through Christ, distinct from everlasting life. Fellowship involves sharing in common spiritual realities unique to believers, incompatible with unrighteousness or darkness, and includes fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Joy is presented as a mental appreciation (part of the fruit of the Spirit), not mere emotion, enhanced by passing tests of faith (James 1), asking according to God’s will (John 16, 1 John 5), unity and esteeming others (Philippians 2), and loving one another sacrificially.
John equips believers to discern truth from error, identify walking in light, avoid worldly influences, love genuinely, and gain confident assurance of eternal life and right standing with God. The looping structure revisits these interconnected concepts, adding depth each time, to remove obstacles to fellowship and enable full joy.
