1 John 4:1-6

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them. We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.”

— ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭6‬‬

 This is one of three self-contained units in 1 John, as in there are only loose connections with what comes before and after (per the NET). These six verses focus on a single topic.

It’s true that 1 John emphasizes love for one another as a major sign of disciples, but the confession of Jesus as the Messiah is the other. Certainly, the Holy Spirit is not the only active spirit in the world, and the author is giving a key filter through which to interpret the message of teachers/preachers of the day. 

Again 1 John 2:18-19 is a major verse when we begin talking about those who leave the church/faith. There were opponents/secessionists from this church, and the heresy to nail down in 1 John can be difficult. There’s a major NET note around confessing “Jesus as the Christ,” because grammar allows for three different options. It could be similar to Rom 10:9-10 where it’s more of an object-complement idea, or it could be all of the idea of Jesus as Christ and coming in flesh. That’s the confession, because these heretics also denied Jesus as having physical body (proto-Gnostics).

We can fill out that debate at a later time, but the point is that their message of Jesus was lacking. And this was the main identifier of a message from the true Spirit or a demonic spirit. 

John calls this the message of the antichrist. It’s already in the world. It’s been around for thousands of years, and so we can debate “timelines” all we want. We can argue over figures of history or who will fill roles, but the function of being against Jesus and His people has been in business for a long time. All one has to do is deny Jesus’ deity or humanity and he/she is anti-Christ.

Conquering: How do we conquer? War? Might? Winning arguments? John says we’ve already conquered. We have the spirit inside. We can rest in truth, knowing the Christ. 

By this: the entire preceding paragraph. The prophet test. What does he/she say? In the OT, there was the test of if his prophecies came true. Even one false prophecy would cost someone his life. But there was also the prophet test of if he would support idolatry. This is closer to the latter. Will these teachers promote false teaching? Or do they teach the full person and being of Jesus?

This is the essence of truth. And this is how we know to whom to listen. Most of the rest of 1 John is practical, because who teach Jesus in fullness…love.

3 John 9-12

“I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us. Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing – the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church! Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God. Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.”

— ‭‭3 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭12‬‬

 This letter is slightly different than 1 and 2 John, in that there’s a very specific purpose. Yes, still false teachers, but we get specific names. There’s division and different perspectives of how to handle the controversy. It’s one of (if not the shortest book) in the NT, but there’s a lot to unpack in these verses. 

The NET does a good job for not being a commentary in helping us understand the background. There’s obviously debate as to the exact situation. Gaius and Diotrephes are probably at different churches, and Demetrius may be the leader of the traveling missionaries. John, or the author of the book, can speak from experience, not that he travels with the group. He has been on the same circuit and knows that Diotrophes is not generous and only cares about his own pride and authoritarian leadership style.

He urges Gaius to show hospitality and do good to those teaching the truth. 

Diotrophes slanders those preaching the truth, spreads lies, refuses hospitality, and wants them removed from the church. We can see this and think, “Wow that’s mean.” But in the first century, this would be far worse. Whether it’s an honor and shame culture mindset, or just depending on home churches for food and shelter during travel. (It was dangerous). 

So the verse of “do good and not evil,” is not just a general statement like what we might read in Paul. This is right in line with John’s letters. Works of love demonstrate our having received the love of God.

See John 3:17-21; 1 John 3:6, 10; 4:7, 20 for similar verses. “Seeing God” is obviously a parallel phrase to salvation or eternal life, etc.

Contrary to Diotrophes, the apostle is affirming the witness and personal character of Demetrius so the message can be believed, and someone will take care of him.

It’s helpful to have personal stories like this, because it’s relatable. May we support those who are teaching the truth and be quick to meet needs, not slander and refuse aid.

Jude 17-23

“But you, dear friends – recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. For they said to you, “In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.” These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life. And have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.”

— ‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭23‬‬

This is a fascinating little letter, primarily a warning about false teachers. It’s written at a time when false teachers began to spread through the church. Heresies began popping up, and leaders of the church had to rebuke them.

Jude and 2 Peter are remarkably similar in outline and even illustrations. One of my seminary study buddies did his dissertation on this, since many think that these two authors used each other as source material. (Like the Synoptic Gospels).

It’s amazing how much OT material is in Jude. Nearly every verse has an illustration of a villain from the OT: Cain, Balaam, Sodom and Gomorrah, etc. He uses them as warnings and comparisons of both the teaching and behavior of the false teachers. Like 1 John, it’s not always easy to describe what the teachers taught. It’s more helpful to describe their behavior and say, “That’s not of Jesus.” 

By the time you get to this section, Jude (who is Jesus’ half brother by the way), says “Here’s how we respond.” But you all should remember this was prophesied, even by Jesus. Scoffers or people who mock the faith would come in. (Another side note that it was happening in the 1st century. No need to exaggerate how terrible things are now.)

False teachers were divisive, had no Spirit, and worldly. Again, focusing on behavior and not really their teaching. The contrast would be the church would hopefully be unified, filled by the Spirit, and pure. Jude says this in the next verse, adding the qualifier, maintaining the love of God. That has always been a unique marker of the church.

V 23 is odd for a couple reasons. Some debate as to the structure, whether two or three clauses. It’s weird that “mercy” is in the first and third clauses. There are different responses to the target audience (mercy, snatching, mercy). This would require mass amounts of discernment. And without much explanation, it’s difficult to really know what Jude is talking about. These are kernel statements that could really use another sentence. If he’s still talking about the false teachers, his tone has changed dramatically.

I haven’t read sufficient amount of scholars or commentaries on Jude to have a settled understanding. I’m assuming he’s talking about those who seem to be following the teachers.

Show mercy to those who waver: Not showing harsh judgment, knowing that we all can be deceived at any moment.

Snatch some from fire: Predominant view is this is referencing eternal damnation. There are verses in Zechariah and Amos that use Israel as a branch being rescued from fire, so this could be Jude’s reference. Snatching is an abrupt action of seizing/somewhat forceful, but it’s not really clear how we do this (or who exactly we are seizing). I’m sure there are other views for “fire,” whether temptations, sin,—if quoting OT, could be destruction of Jerusalem as metaphor??. The point is to rescue a certain group of people before destruction overcomes them. The who and the how remain unclear.

Show mercy to others with fear of God: Again, unclear if this is a distinct group. Main point here is to incorporate fear of God with response. NET makes good point that both mercy and fear of God are necessary for a balanced approach. 

Hating their clothes? Apparently, even the items closely associated with these teachers/sinners were stained with sin. “Flesh” is a debated term, but NET takes it as sin nature. Since these teachers ran towards immorality, it could be referencing physical body. Even if Jude was talking about the place where immorality occurs (body), it is still condemning the sin nature in the body, not the body itself. It will be redeemed.

We are not trying to please people (especially false teachers). We are to be discerning, though. We can be kind and loving while encouraging disciples in the one faith.