Theme - John wrote to meet the doctrinal and practical needs of the Christians for whom the letter was intended, and he wrote in the most intimate terms - a sort of family letter to the house-hold of faith. The world is shut out, and he talks to his brethren as "little children" in the intimacy of a "father." Even though this First Epistle is chiefly didactic and controversial, it is tender, sympathetic, and affectionate. It leads its readers into the inner family circle of redemption and places emphasis upon the truth that even in faults, errors, and sins, God's children are secure with "Jesus Christ, the righteous, as an advocate with the Father."

Purpose - Specifically, John seems to have had four great purposes in mind when writing this Epistle: 1. To enhance both the joy of his readers and his own. 2. To keep his readers from sin. 3. To strengthen their assurance of salvation. 4. To warn them against error.

Outline - These four main purposes stand out in detail in the following analysis: I. The Reality of Christ's Incarnation (1:1-4) II. The Practical Aspects of the Question of Sin (1:5-2:6) III. Emphasis on the New Commandment for Love (2:7-11) IV. The Christian Requirement for Complete Separation from the World (2:12-17) V. Warnings against Heretical Teachings (2:18-29) VI. Admonitions to Consistent Christian Living (3:1-12) VII. Test of Salvation (3:13-24) VIII. Ways of Distinguishing between the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error (4:1-6) IX. An Entreaty for the Practise of Brotherly Love (4:7-21) X. The Logical Outward Working of Faith in Christ (5:1-12) XI. Assurance for Believers (5:13-17) XII. A Summary of the Things a Believer Really Knows (5:18-21)