1 John 1:1 - 2:5 

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries. Chapter 2.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons. Chapter 2.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit: Ill.
  • III.XVII.3, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • III.12, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • III.4, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter III, On Patience,  Tertullian (c. 202)
  • Chapter VI, Considering Repentance,  Tertullian (c. 203)
  • I.4, To His Wife, Tertullian (c. 206)
  • Chapter XVII, On the Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter XII, On the Flesh of Christ, Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XV, Chapter XXVIII, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • Chapter VII, Chapter XIX, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217)
  • I.I.1, II.VII.4, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • I.23, I.38, II.18, II.20, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • IV.Summary.28, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen / Rufinus (c.230)
  • VI.37, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
  • I.XLVIII, III.XLIX, IV.XXVIII, V.XI, VII.XXXIV, VIII.XIII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • Epistle XXIV -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • Epistle LI -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Concerning Works and Almsgiving -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • V.20, VII.25, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 320).
  • Augustine's Homily I on I John 1:1 - 2:11.
    • "Perhaps some of the brethren who are not acquainted with the Greek do not know what the word "witnesses" is in Greek: and yet it is a term much used by all, and had in religious reverence; for what in our tongue we call "witnesses," in Greek are "martyrs.""
  • From the Geneva Notes. Chapter 2.
    • "God is in himself most pure light, therefore he agrees well with them who are of the light, but with them that are of the darkness he has no fellowship."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary. Chapter 2.
    • "And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy."
  • From Wesley's Notes. Chapter 2.
    • "We have for our advocate, not a mean person, but him of whom it was said, "This is my beloved son." Not a guilty person, who stands in need of pardon for himself; but Jesus Christ the righteous; not a mere petitioner, who relies purely upon liberality, but one that has merited, fully merited, whatever he asks."
  • "Justice Satisfied," Romans 3:26/1 John 1:9, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1859.
    • "Never has there been a sin pardoned, absolutely and without atonement, since the world began. There has never been an offense yet remitted by the great Judge of heaven, until the law has received the fullest vindication."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871). Chapter 2.
    • ""There is no incongruity that a father should be offended with that son whom he loveth, and at that time offended with him when he loveth him" [BISHOP PEARSON]. The only other place in the New Testament where Greek "propitiation" occurs, is 1Jo 4:10; it answers in the Septuagint to Hebrew, "caphar," to effect an atonement or reconciliation with God; and in Eze 44:29, to the sin offering. In Ro 3:25, Greek, it is "propitiatory," that is, the mercy seat, or lid of the ark whereon God, represented by the Shekinah glory above it, met His people, represented by the high priest who sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice on it."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891. Chapter 2.
    • "To say that we have reached a sinless state in which we no longer need the blood of Christ to cleanse us is a deception. This language is in square opposition to the claims of the "Perfectionists" of all ages."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Easter 2," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Flesh and blood and real human relations are not an encumbrance, but themselves the theatre of the divine."
  • 1 John 1:1 - 2:2, A River Ride with 1 John: Texts of the Easter Season, Robert M. Brusic, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1997.
  • "Becoming Forgiving People," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Forgiveness," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2001.
  • "Communion with Christ: 1 John 1:1 - 2:2," The Word of Life in the Witness of the Cross, Paul S. Berge, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1988.
  • "Walking in the Light," "Our Advocate," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Sin is When Life Freezes," Dorothee Solle, The Christian Century, 1982. At Religion Online.
    • "Coming of age means becoming capable of guilt. To understand what sin is, we need a standard by which we can measure false, unconscious, frozen life."
  • "Honest to God! Or, God is Not a Pit Stop (1 John 1:5-10)," by Daniel B. Wallace, Associate Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary.
    • "The Christian life is not difficult to understand; it's just impossible to accomplish--that is, apart from the work of the Spirit in our lives. At bottom, God wants us to be honest with him about what we are and who he is."
  • Discussions about 1 John 1:3 and 1 John 1:9 from the B-Greek Archives. Follow "next in thread."
  • 1 John 1:5, from B-Greek Archives. Sort by "subject" to follow thread.
• Articles & Background:
  • "While Visions of Salvation Dance in Our Heads," Ellen T Charry, Theology Today, 2004.
    • "Christians have focused primarily on personal salvation, while today's ecological Jeremiahs point to salvation's corporate dimensions, an important corrective to a more individualistic, human-centered Christian view. Everyone knows that something is wrong, and we want someone to fix it."
  • "Jesus Loves Everybody," Ronald Goetz, at Religion OnLine.
    • "I must conclude that Jesus Christ's death entails not just God's atonement for our sins but God's own atonement for being the ultimate agent of evil as well as good."
  • "A Lifestyle of Confession," Kenneth W. Collins, at Ken Collins' Web Site.
    • "Confessing sins is also like taking out the garbage. It is a stinky affair, but if you don’t get rid of that stuff, the problem only gets worse."
  • "Walking Through the Fire," by Helen Prejean, CSJ, in The Other Side on line.
    • "We must oppose the death penalty -- and stand with all who suffer from crime."
• Articles in ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are subscribed and logged in to ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
  • Knapp, John C., "Pride and the Power of Self-Deception," Journal for Preachers, 2002.
  • Yaqob, Olga, MVM, "The Face of God in Suffering: Iraq," Theology Today, 2006.
  • Yarid, Jay R., Jr., "Reflections of the Upper Room Discourse in 1 John," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2003.
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Strength for Each New Day," David Zersen, 2006, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "1 John, the Lyricist of Love," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Sermons from Seattle.
  • "That Our Joy May Be Complete," Jana Childers, Dean and Professor of Homiletics, San Francisco Theological Seminary, 2003. Covenant Network of Presbyterians.
  • "The Real Miracle of Easter," John Jewell, 2000.
• With Children:
  • "The Greatest Commandment - Love," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Don't Be Afraid," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "Walking in the Light," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns, midi files, scores at Blue Letter Bible/Cyber Hymnal:
    • How Can We Sinners Know (1 John 1:3)
    • Father of Light, We Sing in Thy Praise (1 John 1:5)
    • Father of Lights (1 John 1:5)
    • Heavenly Sunlight (1 John 1:5)
    • Light of Light, Enlighten Me (1 John 1:5)
    • O Light That Knew No Dawn (1 John 1:5)
    • Walk in the Light (1 John 1:5)
    • Walking in the Good Old Way (1 John 1:7)
    • Yes, I Know! (1 John 1:7)
    • No, Not Despairingly (1 John 1:9)
    • Search Me, O God (1 John 1:9)
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Just as I Am
    • O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
    • Trust and Obey
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Seeing/Not Seeing
  • Confession
  • Reconciliation/Forgiveness
  • Love
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 John