2. The First Letter of St. John

3. Meet the Author Born in Galilee The Apostle Jesus Loved Son of Zebedee; brother of St. James the Great Author: 3 letters; 1 Gospel; Revelation Became Mary’s “son” Died in Ephesus at an extreme old age

4. Meet the Author Born in Galilee The Apostle Jesus Loved Son of Zebedee; brother of St. James the Great Author: 3 letters; 1 Gospel; Revelation Became Mary’s “son” Died in Ephesus at an extreme old age

5. Some Heretical Groups: Docetists δόκησις dókēsis (apparition, phantom) Denied that Jesus was human Believed that His human body was an illusion Firmly rejected at Council of Nicea in 325

6. Some Heretical Groups: Gnostics γν ῶ σις gnōsis, knowledge Believed that the material world was bad Spiritual world and heaven to be attained through knowledge Jesus was a human who gained divinity by gnosis

7. Some Heretical Groups: Cerinthians Founded by Cerinthus, an enemy of St. John Jesus was not divine but was guided from baptism to the Passion by the Christ Jesus would establish a 1000-year time of sensual pleasure Rejected at Nicea in 325

8. That Which Was from the Beginning Which we have heard, seen, touched The Word of Life Eternal Life which was with the Father and made manifest to us Fellowship with the Father and His Son

9. God is Light 5 Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

10. God is Light Light is to be understood here as truth and goodness; darkness here is error and depravity (Footnote from NAB)

12. God is Light 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.

13. God is Light 7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

14. God is Light 8 If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

15. God is Light 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

16. Questions How does the opening of 1 John remind you of the Gospel According to John? How is it different? What, for you, is “darkness”? What is “light”? How is community like fellowship with God?