Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Editor's preface
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The theology of the Johannine Epistles
- 3 The Epistles within the Johannine tradition and the New Testament
- 4 The significance of the Johannine Epistles in the church
- Select bibliography
- Index of references
- Index of names
- Index of subjects
2 - The theology of the Johannine Epistles
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Editor's preface
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The theology of the Johannine Epistles
- 3 The Epistles within the Johannine tradition and the New Testament
- 4 The significance of the Johannine Epistles in the church
- Select bibliography
- Index of references
- Index of names
- Index of subjects
Summary
The First Epistle of John has often been likened to a spiral; again and again it returns to a point where it has been before, and yet by bringing in a new element moves on a step further. This spiral is not merely a technique of literary style and structure, but is equally an expression of thought-structure. Inevitably, then, its theology cannot be separated out topic by topic; themes and ideas are interwoven, and it is impossible to explore one without having to say something about the others as well. This means that to present I John's theology through the stages of an argument would be to misrepresent it. Yet the letter does offer some hints as to a starting point. Its purpose is not first of all to engage in polemic with outsiders or with their views, and so we shall not start, as is often done, from the points where the author disagrees with his supposed opponents. Instead its purpose is stated explicitly at the beginning and at the effective end of the letter – the proclamation and assurance of eternal life (1:255:13; the theme is repeated at the very end of the letter in 5:20). The concept of ‘Eternal Life’ constitutes the basic framework of the letter with the promise of its presence repeated at the focal point of the letter after the first introduction of the schismatics – it is both the basis and the goal of remaining faithful (2:25). Eternal life also holds together the past – for it is that which was manifested or given (1:2; 5:11) – and the present – as that which is proclaimed and is experienced (1:2; 5:13).
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- Information
- The Theology of the Johannine Epistles , pp. 22 - 97Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1991