Lesson 14 Flashcards
- How are the wrong prophets being described in the first letter written by St. John?
This letter was written to condemn strongly and clarify the doubts raised about the complete Godliness and complete humanness of Jesus Christ. The church there had people who taught that Jesus Christ was not Messiah (2:22), people who taught that Holy Father and Holy Son didn’t exist (2:23), people who taught that Jesus Christ didn’t accept human form and that was just a mysterious feeling. In the letter these people are mentioned as duplicate Messiah (2:18,19) , false prophets (4:1).
- What was the aim behind writing the first letter of St. John?
The reason for writing this letter is mentioned in 5:13.(“ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”) . St. John has repeatedly used the word “know” throughout his letter. The most important concept discussed is the living unity with the God. Giving importance to the concepts such as God is light, just and love.
- Which letter emphasizes on the living unity with the God?
First letter of St John
- Compare between the gospel and letter written by St. John
There is conceptual and linguistic relationship between the gospel and the letter written by St. John. The human incarnation of Jesus Christ (St. John 1:4, 1 John 4:2), the concept of be (or stay in Christ) in Christ (St. John 15, 1 John 2:24), the concept of love each other (John 13:34, 1 John 3:23), the advice regarding eternal life (St. John 5:24, 1 John 5:13) etc are evidences of the relationships between these two books.
- Whom did St. John write his second letter to?
There are differences among theologians regarding to whom this letter was written. One perception is that this letter was written to a respected and elected lady. Vishudha Grandham says that this letter was written to Elected Lady Kuria and her children. Some of the English version says, it was written to the Elect Lady and her children. Kyria is the Greek work for Lady and hence the work Kuria could have evolved from it. From the introduction it looks like it was written to a person and her children.
- What is the relationship with first two letters written by St. John?
The second letter written by St. John has lot of conceptual similarity with the first letter. Not only the church is asked to “walk in love” but also “walk according to the commandments” is visualized as love. There is an alert to watch out for those who deny the human incarnation of Jesus Christ. Apostle teaches that if any one teaches that Jesus Christ was never born as a human being, then he is cheating you. Further he teaches that they are anti-christ. St. John teaches in this letter that those who come with wrong teaching shouldn’t be received at our home. We shouldn’t even talk to them.
- Why did St. John write a letter to Gaius?
St. John has written his third letter addressing to a person called Gaius. The main concept mentioned is to walk in truth. He wrote this letter appreciating Gaius and requested him to continue doing the same.
- Compare between the letter written by St. Jude and second letter written by St. Peter?
The teachings of St. Jude are similar to the teachings of the St. Peter. A detailed study reveals a very close relationship between these two teachings. Since there is no common letter where both of them could have referred, the question of who referred whom arises here. Following are two reasons because of which we can derive that the second letter of St. Peter could have written before the letter of St. Jude.
a. While the second letter of St. Peter claims that wrong preachers would arise in future, St. Jude’s letter claims that they already claim (2 Peter 2:12 3:3 Jude 4)
b. 2 Peter 3:3 is quoted in St. Jude 17, 18 and stated that this was earlier mentioned by Apostles.
