The First Letter of John

The First Letter of John is a short book near the end of the New Testament. It is not very long, but it has a strong message. It speaks about love, truth, and what it means to live as a follower of Jesus. It reminds Christians to stay close to God and to love one another. The writer speaks like a caring teacher or elder, someone who wants to guide others in the faith.

This letter does not say who wrote it, but many believe it was written by the same person who wrote the Gospel of John. It sounds very similar in style and ideas. Like the Gospel, it talks about Jesus as the Word of life and the light that shines in the darkness. The writer is clearly someone who knew Jesus or knew people who were close to Him.

1 John was likely written to a group of early Christians who were confused or divided. Some people were spreading false ideas about Jesus. The writer wants to make sure the community stays strong in what they first believed. He reminds them of what they heard from the beginning and calls them to remain faithful.

This book is not a story. It is more like a sermon or a reminder. It repeats key ideas over and over to help them stick. It tells readers that God is light, God is love, and that real faith is shown by how we live. It encourages believers to walk in the light, follow the truth, and care for others. These simple lessons are still helpful today.

The First Letter of John was likely written near the end of the first century. This would be around 85 to 95 A.D. The early Church was growing, but some groups were starting to teach false ideas. Some people said Jesus was not really human. Others claimed they were without sin. These ideas caused confusion and division.

The author does not say his name, but many people believe it was John the Apostle. He was one of the original twelve disciples. He followed Jesus closely. He also may have written the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. The style and themes in these books are very similar. They all talk about love, truth, light, and knowing God through Jesus.

John likely wrote this letter to a group of believers in Asia Minor, which is now Turkey. He cared about them and wanted to keep them strong in their faith. Some people had left the community and were spreading false teachings. This letter was written to help the faithful stay united and focused on Jesus.

The Church was still young at this time. There were no printed Bibles or large church buildings. Believers met in homes. They shared stories about Jesus and read letters like this one to help guide their lives. The First Letter of John gave them hope, direction, and peace during a time of change.

The First Letter of John does not follow the usual pattern of a letter. It has no greeting or closing. It feels more like a talk or a short sermon. The writer speaks with care and love, like a teacher or parent guiding children. He wants the readers to know the truth and live it.

The style is very simple. The writer repeats ideas many times. He talks about light and darkness. He talks about love and hate. He talks about truth and lies. These clear words help the reader understand what is right and what is wrong. The message is not hidden. It is out in the open.

The letter also uses contrasts. If you love others, you walk in the light. If you hate, you walk in darkness. If you obey God, you belong to Him. If you do not obey, you do not know Him. These simple contrasts help make the message clear.

Even though the language is simple, it is strong. The writer speaks with care, but also with firmness. He wants people to stay close to Jesus and not be led astray. The style may seem soft, but it gives clear direction. It helps readers stay rooted in their faith.

The First Letter of John shares many simple but important ideas. These themes are also part of Catholic teaching. They help us live as followers of Jesus and members of the Church.

• God is love
  This is one of the clearest messages in the letter. If we belong to God, we must love one another. Love is not just a feeling. It shows in how we act.
• Jesus is truly human and truly God
  Some people were saying Jesus was only a spirit. But the letter says He came in the flesh. This is part of what the Church teaches in the Creed.
• Keep God’s commandments
  The letter reminds us that we show our faith by what we do. Obeying God is not extra. It is part of what it means to know Him.
• Avoid sin but trust in God’s mercy
  The writer knows we all fail. But he tells us not to give up. Jesus is our helper and forgives us when we are sorry.
• Truth matters
  We must be careful of lies, even from people who seem smart or holy. The Holy Spirit helps us stay faithful to the truth we learned from the beginning.

These themes are still part of Catholic life today. We hear them in Mass, in the Catechism, and in our prayers. They help us stay close to Jesus and to each other.

The First Letter of John does not follow a clear outline like some other letters. It repeats ideas and flows more like a talk or short message. But we can still divide it into sections based on the topics and verses.

1. 1 John 1:1–2:2
   Jesus is real. He came in the flesh. God is light. We must walk in the light and admit our sins.
2. 1 John 2:3–2:17
   Knowing God means keeping His commands. Loving others shows we live in the light. Avoid the world’s empty ways.
3. 1 John 2:18–2:29
   Be careful of false teachers. Stay with the truth you first learned. Keep doing what is right.
4. 1 John 3:1–3:24
   We are children of God. Do what is right. Love one another with actions, not just words.
5. 1 John 4:1–4:21
   Test the spirits. Real love comes from God. If we love God, we must love others too.
6. 1 John 5:1–5:21
   Faith in Jesus gives life. Keep away from sin. Trust God to hear our prayers.

Each part connects to the others. The message circles around the same ideas: love, truth, faith, and doing what is right. The letter helps us stay close to Jesus and live as His followers.

Even though 1 John was written a long time ago, its message still fits our world today. We still need to know what is true. We still need reminders to love others. And we still need help to stay strong in our faith.

Many people today are confused about Jesus, just like in the time of this letter. Some say He was just a good man. Others twist His message. 1 John reminds us that Jesus is the Son of God and came to us in the flesh.

The letter also helps us live our faith in real ways. It tells us to love others with action, not just words. This is a message we need now, in families, schools, and communities.

1 John also brings comfort. It says we don’t have to be perfect. If we sin, we can turn back to Jesus. His mercy never ends. That truth gives hope, no matter what we face.

The First Letter of John is often read at Mass, especially during the Easter season. This is a time when the Church focuses on new life, love, and faith. These are the same themes found in this letter.

Parts of 1 John are used on Sundays and weekdays. Some of the most well-known readings talk about how God is love, how we should love one another, and how faith in Jesus gives us life. These messages are simple, but they remind us what really matters.

We also hear 1 John during daily Masses after Christmas. This is a time when the Church celebrates that Jesus came to us in the flesh. The letter fits well with this season because it talks about Jesus being truly human.

When we hear 1 John at Mass, it helps us reflect on how we live each day. It reminds us to stay close to Jesus, to love others, and to walk in the truth.

Click on a link below for more information and resources for a specific reading:

3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

Jesus Helps Us When We Fall

In 1 John 2:1-5, we are reminded that we should try not to sin, but if we do, Jesus is there to help us. He gave His life for all people, not just for a few. This shows how much He wants everyone to turn back to God.

The reading also tells us that knowing God means keeping His commandments. If we say we know Him but do not obey, we are not living in the truth. But if we follow His word, God’s love grows in us. This helps us stay close to Him each day.

4th Sunday of Easter Year B – Good Shepherd Sunday

God Calls Us His Children

In 1 John 3:1-2, we are reminded that God has made us His children. This is a special gift. The world may not understand us, but that’s because it does not know God. We belong to Him in a deep and real way.

Right now, we do not fully see what we will become. But we know that when Jesus returns, we will be like Him. We will see Him clearly. This gives us hope as we wait and try to live in God’s love each day.

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Year C

Living as God’s Children with Love and Confidence

In 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24, we are reminded that we are God’s children. This is a gift we did not earn. We may not understand all that we will become, but we know we are meant to be like Jesus when we see Him face to face.

The reading also says we can be confident when we pray if we keep God’s commandments. God asks us to believe in Jesus and to love one another. When we follow His teaching, we stay close to Him. And He gives us His Spirit to guide us.

Solemnity of All Saints

We Are God’s Children Now

In 1 John 3:1-3, we hear that we are already God’s children. This is a gift of love. The world may not understand us, but that’s because it does not know God. We belong to Him and that makes us different.

We don’t yet know what we will become, but we will be like Jesus when He comes again. This hope helps us stay strong. It also calls us to live pure and good lives as we wait to see Him.

5th Sunday of Easter Year B

Love in Action and Truth

In 1 John 3:18-24, we are told to love not just with words, but with real actions. This kind of love shows that we belong to the truth. Even when our hearts feel unsure, God knows us better and is greater than our doubts.

When we follow His commandments, we can pray with confidence. God wants us to believe in Jesus and love one another. If we do this, He stays with us. And we know this because He gives us His Spirit to guide us.

6th Sunday of Easter Year B

Love Shows That We Know God

In 1 John 4:7-10, we are reminded that love comes from God. If we truly love others, it shows that we know Him. But if we do not love, we do not know God, because He is love.

God showed His love by sending Jesus to save us. This was not because we loved Him first, but because He chose to love us. Jesus gave His life so we could live. This is the kind of love we are called to share with others.

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Year A

God’s Love Lives in Us

In 1 John 4:7-16, we learn that real love comes from God. If we love one another, it shows that we know Him. God showed His love by sending Jesus to save us. He made the first move, loving us before we ever loved Him.

When we live in love, we live in God, and He lives in us. No one has seen God, but when we love each other, His love is made real in us. The Spirit helps us know this is true. If we believe in Jesus and love others, we stay close to God.

7th Sunday of Easter Year B

God Stays with Us When We Love

In 1 John 4:11-16, we are reminded that because God loved us, we should love one another. When we do this, God lives in us. His love becomes real through our actions.

We know God lives in us because He gave us His Spirit. If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and share His love with others, we stay close to Him. Loving others is a sign that we truly know and follow God.

Divine Mercy Sunday Year B

Faith, Love, and Obedience

In 1 John 5:1-6, we learn that everyone who believes in Jesus is a child of God. If we love God, we will also love His children. Loving God means keeping His commandments, and they are not too hard to follow.

Those who believe in Jesus can overcome the world. Faith gives us the strength to live for God. Jesus came through water and blood, showing He was truly human. The Spirit also tells us this is true, and the Spirit always speaks the truth.

Baptism of the Lord Year B

Faith in Jesus Brings Life

In 1 John 5:1-9, we hear that believing in Jesus makes us part of God’s family. If we love God, we also love others in His family. We show this love by keeping His commandments, which are not too hard when we live by faith.

Jesus came through water, blood, and the Spirit. These all give witness to who He is. God Himself gives testimony about His Son. If we believe people’s words, we should believe God’s even more. Faith in Jesus is the way to know we belong to God.

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Selections from the First Letter of John are also heard at weekday Masses:

• Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist –  1 John 1:1-4: Testimony and Fellowship with God
• Feast of the Holy Innocents – 1 John 1:5 – 2:2: Walking in God’s Light
• 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas –  1 John 2:3-11: True Knowledge of Jesus
• 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas – 1 John 2:12-17: Guidance Across Generations
• 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas –  1 John 2:18-21: The Last Hour
• Christmas Weekday on January 2 –  1 John 2:22-28: Faithfulness to Christ
• Christmas Weekday on January 3 –  1 John 2:29-3:6: Children of God
• Christmas Weekday on January 4 –  1 John 3:7-10: Righteousness Versus Sin
• Christmas Weekday on January 5 –  1 John 3:11-21: Love Transcends Death to Life
• Christmas Weekday on January 6 – 1 John 5:5-13: Belief in the Son Brings Life
• Christmas Weekday on January 7 –  1 John 5:14-21: Stay Close to the True God
• Monday after Epiphany – 1 John 3:22–4:6: The Spirit of Truth and Deceit
• Tuesday after Epiphany – 1 John 4:7-10: Love Comes From God
• Wednesday after Epiphany –  1 John 4:11-18: Love Perfected in Us
• Thursday after Epiphany –  1 John 4:19–5:4: Love and Faith Conquer the World
• Friday after Epiphany – 1 John 5:5-13: Faith in the Son of God Brings Life
• Saturday after Epiphany – 1 John 5:14-21: Confidence in God and Discernment of Sin

Love One Another and Stay Close to the Light

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the First Letter of John, chapters 1 through 3. He says these letters are all about love. If we belong to Jesus, then we must love one another just as he loved us. John reminds us that we cannot say we love God if we do not love the people around us.

Fr. Mike points to chapter 2, where John warns us not to love the world or the things of the world. He explains how the world often pulls our hearts away from God. Fr. Mike connects this to Genesis and how Eve was tempted by the same three things: the flesh, the eyes, and pride.

He also explains that Jesus faced these same temptations in the desert but did not give in. Where Adam and Eve failed, Jesus stayed faithful. This shows us that we too can say no to sin and stay with God.

Fr. Mike ends by focusing on chapter 3, where John says we are children of God. This is a gift. We are loved and made for more. He encourages us to live like God’s children and love each other in action, not just in words.

Love Comes First

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about the First Letter of John, chapters 4 and 5. He highlights that John keeps coming back to one message: God is love. Fr. Mike says love is not just something God does—love is who God is. Because of that, we are made for love too.

He reminds us that we love because God loved us first. That love is not just about feelings. Fr. Mike explains that we love God by obeying his commandments. And we love others by how we treat them. If we don’t love our neighbor, we can’t really say we love God.

Fr. Mike also talks about fear. He says perfect love drives out fear. If we’re afraid, it may be a sign that we aren’t trusting God’s love fully. God didn’t create us for pain—he created us for love—and we’re called to respond to that love with obedience and action.

At the end of chapter 5, John writes about deadly and non-deadly sin. Fr. Mike connects this to the Catholic teaching on mortal and venial sin. He says this is one of the places in Scripture where that idea comes from.

The Bible

The First Letter of John is just one part of the Bible, but it shares a clear message about love, truth, and faith. It helps us understand what it means to follow Jesus and live as part of God’s family. But there is so much more to discover in Scripture.

If you want to learn more about how the Bible is put together and what it means for us today, visit our page about Understanding the Bible. It’s a simple guide to help you explore God’s word and grow in your faith.

Who wrote the First Letter of John?

The letter does not name the writer, but many believe it was written by John the Apostle. He also may have written the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation.

What is the main message of 1 John?

The letter teaches that God is love, and we must love one another. It also says we should follow God’s commandments and believe in Jesus.

Why is 1 John important for Catholics?

It reminds us to live our faith in action, not just words. It also teaches about Jesus, the truth of the faith, and the need to avoid sin.

How does 1 John talk about sin?

It says we all sin, but Jesus forgives us when we are sorry. We should try to avoid sin and live in the light.

The First Letter of John teaches us how to live as children of God. It reminds us that faith in Jesus means more than words. We must show our faith by how we live and how we love others. The letter says that God is light, and there is no darkness in Him. If we follow Jesus, we should walk in the light too.

One of the main messages is that God is love. We are called to love one another, not just with words, but with actions. When we live in love, we live in God. This matches what Jesus taught during His time on earth. It also reflects what the Church teaches today about loving our neighbors.

The letter warns against false teachings. Some people were saying Jesus was not really human. But the writer makes it clear—Jesus came in the flesh. He lived among us. This is a key part of our Catholic faith. We say it every Sunday in the Creed.

1 John also speaks about sin. It tells us not to pretend we are perfect. We all make mistakes. But if we are sorry, Jesus will forgive us. He is always ready to help us return to God. This message brings comfort and peace, especially during hard times.

Have you ever read the First Letter of John? It is a short book, but it speaks clearly about love, truth, and faith in Jesus. It helps us understand what it means to follow Him and live as part of His family.

Take a few minutes to read 1 John today. After you read it, share your thoughts in the comment section. What part stood out to you? How does it speak to your life right now? We’d love to hear from you.