# The book of 1 John

> 1 John is written to churches shaken when some members left and denied that Jesus came in the flesh. It gives tests for knowing you belong to God: walking in the light, loving one another, and believing in Jesus. It says plainly, “God is love.”

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/about
Section: General letters · 5 chapters

## Who wrote 1 John?

The letter is unsigned. Tradition names the apostle John. Most scholars link it to the same circle as John’s Gospel, whether the apostle or a leader called “the elder.”

## When was it written?

About AD 90–100.

## Main themes

- **God is light.** Walk in the light and confess sin.
- **God is love.** Anyone who loves is born of God.
- **Assurance.** Written so that you may know you have eternal life.

## Outline

- Chapters 1–2: [Walking in the light](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/1)
- Chapters 3–4: [Children of God love one another](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/3)
- Chapter 5: [Faith that overcomes and assurance](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/5)

## Key verses

Quoted from the Lumin Translation.

> If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous: he will forgive our sins and make us clean from every kind of unrighteousness.
> — [1 John 1:9](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/1#9)

> See what great love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God—and that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
> — [1 John 3:1](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/3#1)

> The one who does not love has not come to know God, for God is love.
> — [1 John 4:8](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/4#8)

> We love because he first loved us.
> — [1 John 4:19](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/4#19)

## Where to start

Read chapter 4, then the whole letter. [Read 1 John 4](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/4.md)

Read the whole book: https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-john/1.md
Ask about it: https://www.lumin.faith/ask.md