Reassurance and Presence

Last fall, I helped facilitate a Bible study that worked its way through the books of 1, 2, and 3 John. We had a crowd of anywhere from six to twelve women early in the mornings, eager to settle in with a hot drink in hand and their Bibles and notebooks open on their laps.

I was struck as we went through the text at how pastoral these letters are. While the same man (John the Beloved) wrote our fourth gospel “that you may believe,” (John 20:30-31), this book is written to those who are already believers, so that they may know that they have eternal life (I John 5:13). The primary goal here is not convincing those who don’t believe, but reassuring those who do (I John 2:22).

A group has entered the church—most scholars agree that it was likely Gnostic teachers—who are making people question (I John 2:26). The congregation is afraid that the gospel John shared with them is not enough. The false teachers are causing them to feel nervous.

And how does John respond? He reminds them of some things. One, he says, “I was there.” John was one of the closest three disciples (along with James and Peter), and he saw Jesus’ ministry from a front-row seat. He was on the mountain when Christ was transfigured. He was at the base of the cross as Christ hung there, even being tasked with caring for Jesus’ mother, Mary. John uses a good many sensory words (“seen” and “heard” most often) to remind his readers that he spent time with a real, physical Jesus. (I John 1:2-4)

Second, he says, “Remember what I told you.” John has been with this church in person. He has spent time with them, caring for them and telling them what he saw and heard. Though it feels risky, those things are all the young church needs. They don’t need to fulfill the extras that the false teachers are giving them. Belief is enough.

In the middle of the letter, John provides three standards by which the congregants can evaluate the new teaching they are hearing. These tests are (1) love for God’s people (I John 2:10-11) ; (2) obedience to the teaching of the apostles (I John 2:3); and (3) belief in Jesus Christ (I John 2:22-23). These are good tests to apply to ourselves, but again, this is not John’s purpose. His purpose is to arm young believers with good standards by which they can evaluate teachers who might be leading them astray or causing them fear. “John’s purpose is to make us alert, not unsettled.” (Allberry, p. 60)

Too often, I’ve heard this letter applied harshly to those young believers, as though John was writing to them to make them question themselves. But he states his purpose obviously: he wants to reassure them. If the teaching of “extras” to the Gospel was making them nervous, his reminders should set them at ease and give them discernment as they evaluate what they’re hearing.

John reminds us to be careful that we remind people of the truth, not in a way that says “watch out! You might be falling away!” all the time, but rather in a way that says, “Remember the strength of the grace and testimony that brought you here! Don’t be afraid!” Naturally, a good old-fashioned parental warning is called for at times, but most of the time, people need solid Gospel-centered encouragement, not more incitement to fear. Remember I John 2:22: “I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.”

John’s kind reassurance here is also mixed with a desire to be with his brothers and sisters in the faith. His pastoral heart is oriented towards the people; he longs to be with them:

• 2 John 1: “whom I love in truth.”
• 2 John 5: “dear lady.”
• 2 John 12 “I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”
• 3 John 1 “whom I love in truth.”
• 3 John 14 “I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”

Again, here we have experiential, sensory words. No amount of letter-writing would do for John. He knows the value of living alongside his people and growing together. This is the kind of hospitality we ought to offer one another, and it tempers any warning that might be given by John. He sees the people; he knows the people, and he loves the people. In modern terms, they hang out together. They can trust him. This is another reason not to give in to fear.

I loved tracing the themes through these books, and it’s wonderful to think of John—that same John beside Peter and James—growing, changing, leaning on Jesus, and eventually teaching others to do the same.