Exploring the Scripture

The author of John’s first letter reminds us of God’s generous grace revealed in Christ Jesus and our call as disciples to live ethically. Faithful interpretation and responsible application of this text invite exploration of the frame of reference of its first hearers and the environment of Christ-centered communities today. Some recognize the second Sunday of Easter as Low Sunday, because it was thought the lesser of two Sundays within the eight festival days of Easter, the greater being Resurrection Sunday. One might argue that after the hallelujahs of celebration fade from Resurrection Sunday, the work of Easter begins.

John, the Beloved Disciple, is credited as the author of five New Testament writings, including the fourth Gospel, three letters, and Revelations. While scholars affirm John’s first letter, written in the late first century, was not written by the same author as John’s Gospel, it mirrors the evangelist’s theology and language. First John is written in letter format but is not addressed to a specific congregation.

It is written from a community, likely a group of authorized teachers in the Johannine tradition, to the broader Johannine community. Using “we” in the introduction reflects the group closely connected with John, the evangelist. In contrast, using “we” throughout the body of the letter refers to the common faith shared with the faith community.

Various forms of Docetism divide Christian communities today. The letter addresses a community divided by differing beliefs about Jesus. Some believed the life and ministry of Jesus set a moral standard to be followed. Others argued believing in the Word was enough.

Docetism upholds the distinction between spiritual and material and denies the spiritual Christ took on human form. John’s first letter challenges this belief by reinforcing the Incarnation, the Word becoming flesh, central to John’s Gospel. The opening verses affirm the Incarnation through the direct connection of seeing, hearing, and touching; the Living Word is God’s revelation. This letter serves to unite the community by reinforcing who Jesus is, what God has done in Christ, and the importance of living as a Christ-centered community. 

Light is an important symbol in John’s writings. In John’s Gospel, light is Jesus as God’s revelation. “…What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people” (John 1:3–4). In 1 John, walking “in [God’s] light” refers to ethical conduct (v. 7). Such conduct is what Jesus revealed and modeled as God’s light in the world. Walking in God’s light involves personal choices and conduct.

This passage upholds the importance of understanding ethics and relationship to God through relationships in the community. Verses 5–10 use light to symbolize holiness in the community. It stands in opposition to 1) those who walk in darkness, 2) those who claim to be without sin, and 3) those who deny sin as a human condition. This passage points to the universal nature of sin, as both an individual act and a human condition, and the universal nature of God’s forgiveness. While theologies of atonement are diverse, John’s theology affirms Christ Jesus as the one who deals with the problems of sin for the whole world. As in John 3:16, the universal nature of God’s love is obvious in this passage. Christ is an advocate for the whole world.

The invitation is to walk in God’s light by embodying Jesus, the peaceful One, in Christ-centered communities of justice and peace on and for the Earth. We understand the counsel in this opening passage of 1 John through the lens of revelation in Doctrine and Covenants 163. Jesus Christ embodies the light of God and invites all to receive divine peace, forgiveness, and wholeness.

“…That our joy may be complete” (v. 4) expresses the importance of oneness in community. Koinonia is a Greek word that expresses the mutuality of contributing to, and receiving from, a community of oneness. The joy of life as disciples is most fully realized in a loving and inclusive community living the ethics of Christ’s peace.           

Project Zion Podcast

Co-hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider how this week's scripture connects to our lives today.

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Central Ideas

1. The Incarnation is central to understanding who Jesus is, what God has done in Christ, and what it means to live as communities of Christ.
2. Sin as an act and a human condition is universal, but so is God’s grace.
3. Relationship to God is best understood through relationships in the community. To walk in God’s light is to live the ethics of Christ’s peace through communities of oneness, generosity, justice, and peace.

Questions to Consider

1. Where do you see examples of beliefs about Jesus dividing your community?
2. How does living the ethics of Christ’s peace (embodying Jesus, the Peaceable One) bring light to conditions of darkness in your community?
3. What does the work of Easter look like, as disciples and communities walk together in the Resurrection’s light?