Questions throughout 1 John

Below, you will find a few questions to ask if you’re going through 1 John on your own.  Pick any one, and use it like a lens as you read. It may be helpful to write the question at the top of a page in a journal or notebook, and then, as you read through 1 John, write down your observations in answer to the question. 

Throughout the book, John gives numerous explicit reasons for writing to them (“I am writing these things…I write to you…”). Why does he write to them?

John refers to his readers in multiple ways. How does he address them?

John repeatedly emphasizes knowing. What could they know and how could they know it?

What do you learn about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? This question could be divided into three pages. For example, you could break it down like this:

Who is God the Father, and what did/does he do? 

Who is Jesus, and what did/does he do? 

Who is the Spirit, and what did/does he do?

What do you learn about the devil/evil one, antichrist, and the world? This could also be separated into three different pages with each subject at the top.

What do you learn about love?

These questions draw out major themes in 1 John, so whether you’re able to focus on one or all of them, they’ll be worth the effort!