I John 2

A great help in understanding the teaching of an epistle is to know something of its origin. It is good to make this the first step in your approach to any book of the Bible. Sources of information you can use for background study of New Testament books are:

1 The four Gospels and especially the Book of Acts. Look in these historical books for references to the author of a book and those receiving it. Use a concordance to see where the author appears, as well as other references to the city or people receiving the letter.
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2 Some Bibles include background information at the beginning of each book.
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3 The Bible Book by Book—G. C. Luck, Moody Press.
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4 Also see the list of helps in Book 7.

Evidence indicates that John wrote this letter about 90 A.D., when he was an old man. Where he was is uncertain, but it was a general letter probably addressed to churches in and around the city of Ephesus, where John is believed to have spent many years of his ministry (Ephesus is in western Asia Minor—see map in Book 7).

John writes to combat false teachings about Christ and also against a head-knowledge kind of Christianity that does not affect people's hearts and lives. He stresses that we can know we are saved (I John 5:13), and that the Christian life is one of harmonious fellowship with God and with others. John also spells out other evidences which will be present when Christ dwells in a heart.

Read through the letter several times, at least once at one sitting. The word "love" leads to some of the major teachings in this book. The word "know" is the clue to other truths. Notice how often these words occur and what they teach. You may want to mark these words in your Bible.