Home Study 1 John

1 John — PBE 2027 Study Guide

Walking in light, love, and truth.

A pastoral letter from the Apostle John addressing assurance, love, and warnings against false teaching about Jesus.

Author
The Apostle John
Chapters
5
Date written
c. AD 85–95
Audience
Christian churches in Asia Minor
Key theme
Assurance, love, and walking in truth
Notable passages
1 John 1:5–10, 3:1–3, 4:7–21, 5:11–13

Overview

The First Epistle of John was written by the Apostle John late in his life, likely from Ephesus, to churches under his care. The letter responds to early false teachers (sometimes called proto-Gnostics) who denied that Jesus had truly come in the flesh. John writes to give believers assurance of salvation and to call them to walk in light, love, and obedience. Three tests recur throughout the letter: the moral test (do you obey God's commands?), the social test (do you love fellow Christians?), and the doctrinal test (do you confess Jesus as the Christ come in the flesh?). The famous declaration "God is love" (1 John 4:8) comes from this book.

Chapters

Browse each chapter for a study overview and sample practice questions:

Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5

Sample Practice Questions

A small preview from the PBE Quizin database — the full set of questions for 1 John is available free to all signed-up users:

1 John 4
According to 1 John 4:20, what makes a person a liar according to John? (2 points)
1 John 1
According to 1 John 1:2, where was the eternal life before it was manifested to the apostles? (1 point)
1 John 2
According to 1 John 2:13, True or False: John writes to fathers because they have known Him who is from the beginning. (1 point)
1 John 5
According to 1 John 5:5, who is he who overcomes the world? (1 point)
1 John 3
According to 1 John 3:8, why has the devil sinned from the beginning? (1 point)
1 John 5
According to 1 John 5:14, True or False: John says if we ask anything according to God's will He hears us. (1 point)
1 John 4
According to 1 John 4:1 through 4:21, complete this 8-blank summary: do not _____ every spirit but test the spirits — every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the _____ is of God — He who is in you is _____ than he who is in the world — God is _____ — God sent His only begotten Son that we might _____ through Him — perfect love casts out _____ — we love because He _____ loved us — he who loves God must love his _____ also. (8 points)
1 John 4
According to 1 John 4:18, what does perfect love do to fear? (1 point)
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3 John

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Final words against false teaching.

Peter's farewell letter, warning believers against destructive false teachers and reassuring them of Christ's certain return.