1 John

This Epistle was not written to any particular church or to any particular individual. It is an Epistle that is spoken of as being catholic in its character because it is written for the whole family of God. The subject of the Epistle is eternal life and the evidences of it, such as love, obedience, boldness and having no fear.

Men speak of their business life, which is life connected with their business, or of their home life, life connected with their home. When it is eternal life that is being considered, it is life that is connected with the Father. Thus, John speaks in this Epistle of ‘that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us’, 1.2. In the Gospel, he writes that we might have eternal life, but in this Epistle he writes that we may know that we have eternal life.