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The Epistle of 1 JOHN
This outline is based on the
assumption that 1Jn is fashioned as a Classical Greek trial -- or at least
as a legal deposition. This
approach is unique, as far as I know.
Most of the commentaries I have read or seen quoted say that the
"epistle" is next to impossible to outline (i.e., using their
Pauline logic/grammar-structure glasses) to the mistaken point where some
have concluded that they are reading the "the ramblings of an old man"!!! The word clues (in either the original Koine Greek or our 21st century English) are all there to indicate that this is >>much<< more than has been suspected: MARTUROUMEN
(witnessing), APAGGELLOMEN (declaring), hOMOLOGWMEN (confessing),
ARNOUMENOS (denying), PARAKLHTOV (lawyer/advocate), the appeal to the old
& the new ENTOLHN (commandment), along with the accusations of YEUSTHS
(liar) and ANQRWPOKTONOS (murderer/man-killer). John stresses repeatedly
the importance of the written (legal) nature of his statements and that the
knowledge (2 Grk kinds) of the readers is critical. These are just some of
the words we (from our 21st century perspective) should recognize as legal
terms. I now know that FANEROW (manifested) is >>definitely<< used repeatedly in
Classical Greek trials in association with "convicted" &
"proven" -- as in the sense of "Clearly convicted/proven
beyond any shadow of doubt".
What other words have I not even guessed their original legal
context? (Does NENIKHKATE describe, not just the victor in a battle, but
also the vindicated in a trial?) That is just the “words” – can the structure, the form
& function, of a Greek trial be found in the letter? Comparing it to such classical Athenian
trials as “Aeschines: Against
Timarchus” [346 BCE http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/aeschines.html] would seem to indicate that this
>>is<< the case. Your servant and HIS, Bob Wilson Centerport, PA
I. THE OPENING
STATEMENT (1:1 – 2:14)
A. EYEWITNESS
TESTIMONY IN DEFENSE OF: 1:1-2
1)
the WORD of Life &
2)
the revealed Eternal Life in HIM.
1)
The Possibility of Fellowship
2)
The Possibility of Full Joy
3)
The Proof of the Essential Nature of God as LIGHT
1) CHARGE # 1 (1:6-7)
The False Claim of
Fellowship. TEST: Light vs Darkness
2) CHARGE # 2 (1:8-2:2)
The False Claim of
Sinlessness. TEST: Confession vs Deception
PRESENTATION OF THE ADVOCATE &
HIS CREDENTIALS. 2:1b-2
The False
Claim of Knowledge. TEST:
Keeping vs Breaking the Law
KNOWLEDGE: 1) “We
know HIM” 2) “WE are in HIM”
(2:3, 6)
The
False Claim of Being in the Light. TEST:
Love vs Hate of Brothers
1st THREE-FOLD APPEAL: Addressed to Hearers Based on Age & Experience
2nd THREE-FOLD
APPEAL: Addressed to Hearers Based on
Age & Experience
2:15a
1) Nature
of the Location (“world” =
temporary) 2:15-17
2) Nature
of the Time (“last hour” =
immediate) 2:18b
3) Nature
of the Antagonists (“antichrists” =
temporary) 2:18-19
B. CLARIFICATION
OF THE MAIN PREMISE 2:17b
Although the world &
everything in it are temporary, Eternal Life IS available.
C. REMINDER
TO HEARERS (Protagonists) OF THEIR SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE 2:20
The Holy One has anointed them to
give them insight
DECLARATION OF PURPOSE # 5 2:21
(Reminding
them that they have the ability to perceive the truth)
D.
THE BASIS FOR AWARD (THE CHARACTER OF THE PARTIES) 2:22-24
1) The
character of the Antagonists—based on their active rejection—is exposed.
2) The
character of the Protagonists—based on continual association—is basis for
award.
E. PREMISE OF THE TRIAL REPEATED 2:25
The AWARD is the promised Eternal
Life
DECLARATION OF PURPOSE # 6 2:26
(Warning
against the seduction of the Antagonists)
F. HEARERS HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY EQUIPPED TO DETERMINE THE TRUTH 2:27
2:28
A. HE SHALL BE REVEALED 2:29-3:1
We can be
confident at His coming (presence)
KNOWLEDGE: 1) “Born
of HIM” 2) “WE are God’s children”
B. IT HAS NOT YET
BEEN REVEALED… 3:2a
…What we shall
become [i.e., What does Eternal Life
look like?]
C. WHEN HE IS REVEALED… 3:2b-4
…We shall be like
Him & see Him as He is
DISCOURSE
ON THE TRUE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE & THE OFFENDERS (3:4)
D. HE WAS REVEALED… [according to their perception] 3:5-8a
1) To take away our sins
2) In Him was no sin
DISCOURSE
ON THE SOURCE OF THE OFFENSE & THE OFFENDERS (3:6-8a)
F. THE SON OF GOD WAS REVEALED… 3:8b-9
…To destroy the works of the
adversary.
G. IN THIS IS BEING REVEALED… 3:10-17
1) The
children of God
2) The
children of the Adversary
DISCOURSE
ON THE CONDUCT OF THE PROTAGONISTS & ANTAGONISTS (3:12-17)
Seen
as proof of the premise of Eternal Life.
KNOWLEDGE: 1) “We
have [already] passed from death to LIFE” 2)
“No
murderer has Eternal LIFE” 3)
“Love:
He laid down His LIFE for us”
(As
reflected in the Conscience & Confidence of the Hearers/Protagonists)
KNOWLEDGE: 1) “We
are of the Truth” 2) “We
can assure our hearts”
3:22-24a
A. THE FIRST WITNESS
NAMED: THE SPIRIT 3:24b-4:6
KNOWLEDGE: “He is abiding in us”
DISCOURSE
ON THE TESTING PROCESS FOR ALL WITNESSES (4:1-6)
KNOWLEDGE: “The spirits of truth & error”
B. THE SECOND WITNESS NAMED: GOD 4:7-10
HIS character is
expounded as the God of Love
[H. EVIDENCE REVEALED: God’s love is proven
because HE gave HIS Son. (4:9)]
C. THE THIRD WITNESS NAMED: PROXY FOR GOD 4:11-13
The unseen GOD
will accept certain individuals as HIS proxies based on their character.
D. THE FIRST TESTIMONY: THE WRITER/SPEAKER 4:14-16
The writer gives
his own personal eyewitness testimony
E. THE SECOND TESTIMONY: THE PROXIES 4:17-5:5
PROOFS OF ETERNAL LIFE:
1)
Love, caused by association with God, has resulted in
confidence (4:17-21)
without fear concerning the day of judgment.
CHARGE
# 5 (4:20)
The
False Claim of Loving God Test:
Love vs. Hate of Brothers
(4:21)
2) Loving
God’s children shows they have been born of GOD (5:1-2a)
3)
Keeping God’s commandments show they love GOD (5:2b-3)
4)
Overcoming the world by Faith shows they are born of GOD (5:4-5)
F. THE THIRD TESTIMONY: THE SPIRIT 5:6-8
G. THE FINAL TESTIMONY: GOD 5:9-12
CHARGE
# 6 (5:10) [SUMMATION]
The Antagonists are condemned
because there is no SPIRIT WITNESS in them.
Test:
Trust vs. Unbelief
GOD says that HE
>>has<< given us Eternal Life in His Son. 5:11-12
Since
no one can refute this impeccable Source:
1) The testimony is vouched true
2) The protagonists are declared the victors,
their premise declared true
3) The prize is awarded
4) The case is closed
VI. THE
LISTING OF THE PRIZES AWARDED (5:13-21)
B. AWARDS = Eight things we KNOW 5:13-20
C. THE FINAL WARNING
AGAINST IDOLS 5:21