PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

1 John is notoriously hard to organize. Some suggest the epistle’s structure is best described as “rambling.” Believing the Holy Spirit to be behind the writing, I have a difficult time describing this letter in way that to me sounds at best disorganized and at worst derogatory. Part of the problem is John does so much repeating, which sounds like rambling. Repeating though, is a common technique used in trying to help people remember while also stressing fundamental points. Considering how many times John references the original gospel (i.e., “in the beginning”), encouraging people to remember the beginning first principles, what they already know, makes sermonic sense.

So if the construct of 1 John is not obvious, then maybe the normal way we Westerners structure and see structure is missing because it is not used. It is hard to find something that is not there. Therefore, I suggest an alternative structure that was common in John’s day and throughout the Bible might be used in 1 John. That structure is a chiasmus.

As is common within large chiasms, some segments seem to fit more obviously than others. That is true here also. It was the obvious ones (i.e., the sections on the antichrists) which helped sway my confidence that this structure was indeed there; and that my connections are close even if not perfectly correct. While some chiasms are constructed linguistically, the emphasis seems to be thematic.

ABBREVIATED CHIASM

A – PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF GOD 1:1

B – ETERNAL LIFE 1:2-4

C – LIGHT AND DARKNESS 1:5-9

D – JESUS IS ADVOCATE 2:1-2

E – LOVE IS KEEPING COMMANDS 2:3-8

F – THOSE WHO HATE THEIR BROTHER 2:9-11

G – LITTLE CHILDREN LOVE NOT 2:12-17

H – THE ANTICHRISTS 2:18-27

I – CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD 2:28-29

J – GOD’S CHILDREN 3: 3:1-6

K – DOING RIGHT OF GOD 3:7

K’ – DOING WRONG OF THE DEVIL 3:8

J’ – GOD’S CHILDREN 3:9-18

I’ – CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD 3:19-23

H’ – THE ANTICHRISTS 4:1-6

G’ – LITTLE CHILDREN DO LOVE 4:7-19

F’ – THOSE WHO HATE THEIR BROTHER 4:20-21

E’ – LOVE IS KEEPING COMMANDS 5:1-13

D’ – JESUS IS ADVOCATE 5:14-15

C’ – LIFE AND DEATH 5:16-19

B’ – ETERNAL LIFE (5:20)

A’ – PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF GODS 5:21

 

REARRANGED CHIASM

Read the corresponding parts together. When doing this, we can see how they are related and even use part to interpret the other. The chiasm is part of the context.

A – PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF GOD 1:1 (1) What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life —

A’ – PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF GODS (21) Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

• This odd ending actually started me thinking if 1 John was written chiastically. An idol was a physical manifestation of an invisible god. Chiastically this last verse would be connected to 1:1 via John arguing for the physical manifestation of the one God in the body of Jesus.
• Idols, although they cannot be heard, could be seen with the eyes, observed, and touched with the hands.

B – ETERNAL LIFE 1:2-4 (2) that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — (3) what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (4) We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

B’ – ETERNAL LIFE (5:20) (20) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One — that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

• “Eternal life” is found a phrase found throughout the letter (1:2; 2:25; 3:15; 5:11,13,20). A possible weakness in this reconstruction is that I do not have the other occurrences of “eternal life” also linked. But it must be remembered John does a lot of repeating; plus the other segments which mention “eternal life” will have other commonalities.
• Another commonality is the emphasis on the sonship of Jesus: B – “Father,” “His Son Jesus Christ” (2:2,3). B’ – “Son of God” (5:20).
• Both B and B’ use the same phrase “His Son Jesus Christ” (3:3; 5:20).
• While the term fellowship (B) is not used in B’, synonymous phrases are: “know,” “in.”

C – LIGHT AND DARKNESS 1:5-9 (5) Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. (6) If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (8) If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

C’ – LIFE AND DEATH  5:16-19 (16) If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not bring death, he should ask, and God will give life to him — to those who commit sin that doesn’t bring death. There is sin that brings death. I am not saying he should pray about that. (17) All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that does not bring death. (18) We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. (19) We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.

• Life and Death is the same thematically as Light and Darkness.
• If this chiastic arrangement is correct, then we can use C to help interpret C’ concerning the sins to death and not to death. This suggests one of the benefits of chiasms is interpretive.
• The sin that brings death (C’ – 5:16) is the sin committed but not confessed because they do not recognize God’s definition of sin. This would be committed by those who say “We have no sin” (1:8).
• The sin that does not bring death (C’ – 5:16) is the sin people confess they commit. Confessing we are sinners is walking in the light (1:7,9).

D – JESUS IS ADVOCATE 2:1-2 (1) My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ the Righteous One. (2) He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

D’ – JESUS IS ADVOCATE 5:14-15 (14) Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (15) And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.

• If this chiasm is correct, then it helps to answer the question “Can we pray to Jesus?” The pronouns His, He, and Him, are Jesus the advocate.
• Reading these back to back is comforting. Jesus is our advocate that hears us, and answers us.
• An interpretive benefit is we learn that “whatever we ask” is not so broad as to include any topic. It is confined to Jesus’ role as an Advocate.

E – LOVE IS KEEPING COMMANDS 2:3-8 (3) This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. (4) The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” yet doesn’t keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (5) But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: (6) The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked. (7) Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the message you have heard. (8) Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

E’ – LOVE IS KEEPING COMMANDS 5:1-13 (1) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him. (2) This is how we know that we love God’s children when we love God and obey His commands. (3) For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, (4) because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. (5) And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (6) Jesus Christ — He is the One who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. (7) For there are three that testify: (8) the Spirit, the water, and the blood — and these three are in agreement. (9) If we accept the testimony of men, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that He has given about His Son. (10) (The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son.) (11) And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (12) The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life. (13) I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

• The obvious connection is the emphasis on keeping the commands.
• E – “love of God” (2:5); E’ – “love for God” (5:3).
• I wondered what part, if any, 5:6-11 (E’) had to E. Not every section needs multiple connections. However there is one, just not as obvious. “Spirit, the water, and the blood” refers to the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion. All this happened of course when Jesus was walking the earth (2:6).
• In E there is reference to the old yet new command. Most think this is referencing Jesus’ command in John 13:34-35. This is hinted at in E’ – “This is how we know that we love God’s children when we love God and obey his commands” (5:2).

F – THOSE WHO HATE THEIR BROTHER 2:9-11 (9) The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother is in the darkness until now. (10) The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. (11) But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

F’ – THOSE WHO HATE THEIR BROTHER 4:20-21 (20) If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. (21) And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother.

• Hate/miseō appears five times: 2:9,11 (F); 3:13,15 (J’); 4:20 (F’). So while I have 3 of the 5 connected, a possible weakness in my arrangement is there is another section I don’t have connected which also has two usages.
• One of the strengths of this reconstructive is how smoothly these two sections read back to back.

G – LITTLE CHILDREN LOVE NOT 2:12-17 (12) I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven because of Jesus’ name. (13) I am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know the One who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have had victory over the evil one. (14) I have written to you, children, because you have come to know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have come to know the One who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, God’s word remains in you, and you have had victory over the evil one. (15) Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. (16) For everything that belongs to the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle — is not from the Father, but is from the world. (17) And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.

G’  LITTLE CHILDREN DO LOVE 4:7-19 (7) Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (8) The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (9) God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. (10) Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. (12) No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us. (13) This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given assurance to us from His Spirit. (14) And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent His Son as the world’s Savior. (15) Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God — God remains in him and he in God. (16) And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. (17) In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. (19) We love because He first loved us.

• G is one of the most poetic sections of 1 John. I believe all three groups are actually one. The little children are the young men who are the fathers. The different descriptions describe different aspects of their spiritual lives. In this section John does not use all three descriptions, but he does use “beloved” (NASB) or “dear friends” (HCSB); we are born of God which corresponds to little children.
• In G’ Jesus is called the propitiation for our sins; in G we are forgiven because of Jesus’ name.
• G and G’ are opposites in some ways. G tells us what not to love; G’ tells us to love.
• A wonderful and powerful lesson by putting these two together is that we learn to not love the world by increasing our love for God. So G presents the problem; G’ presents the solution. God’s love is the key to defeating the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life.

H – THE ANTICHRISTS 2:18-27 (18) Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, “Antichrist is coming,” even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour. (19) They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us. (20) But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. (21) I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. (22) Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. (23) No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well. (24) What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. (25) And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life. (26) I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. (27) The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him.

H’ – THE ANTICHRISTS 4:1-6 (1) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (2) This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. (3) But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now. (4) You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (5) They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. (6) We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

• This was one of the obvious connections because H and H’ are the only two sections which use the term antichrist/s. And like so many others, read back to back they make perfect sense.
• H – “antichrists have come” (2:18); H’ – “already in the world now” (2:3)
• H’ – “has the Father” (2:23); H’ – “from God.”
• Another connection is the idea of false prophets (4:1) and people not being of us (2:19). Therefore an antichrist is a false prophet.
• H – Truth” (2:21), lie” (2:21), “liar” (2:22), deceive (2L26); H’ – “false” (4:1).
• H – “They went out from us” (2:19); H’ – “They are from the world” (4:5).
• H – “confesses” (2:23); H’ – confesses (4:2).
• If this chiastic structure is correct, it helps to interpret another difficult passage. What is the anointing? It is the knowledge that comes from the witnesses.
• Evidence that these two sections are connected is one commentary, while not connecting them chiastically, suggested the anointing was the method by which the recipients were to test the spirits.

I – CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD 2:28-29 (28) So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (29) If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.

I’ CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD 3:19-23 (19) This is how we will know we belong to the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence, (20) even if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience, and He knows all things. (21) Dear friends, if our conscience doesn’t condemn us, we have confidence before God (22) and can receive whatever we ask from Him because we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight. (23) Now this is His command: that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as He commanded us. (24) The one who keeps His commands remains in Him, and He in him. And the way we know that He remains in us is from the Spirit He has given us.

• I – “when He appears”; I’ – “in His presence.”
• I – boldness/parrēsia (2:28); I’ – confidence/parrēsia (3:21). The same word is used elsewhere too (4:17; 5:14).

J – GOD’S CHILDREN 3: 3:1-6 (1) Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him. (2) Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. (3) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure. (4) Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law; sin is the breaking of law. (5) You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him. (6) Everyone who remains in Him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen Him or known Him.

J’ (9) GOD’S CHILDREN 3:9-18 (9) Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because His seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God. (10) This is how God’s children — and the Devil’s children — are made evident. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother. (11) For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, (12) unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. (13) Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. (14) We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. (15) Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. (16) This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. (17) If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need — how can God’s love reside in him? (18) Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.

• J – “God’s children” (3:1); J’ – “God’s children” (3:10).
• J – “everyone who remains in Him does not sin (3:6); J’ – “Everyone who has been born of God does not sin” (3:9).
• J – “the world does not know us” (3:1); “the world hate you” (3:13).

K – DOING RIGHT OF GOD 3:7 (7) Little children, let no one deceive you! The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous.

K’ – DOING WRONG OF THE DEVIL 3:8 (8) The one who commits sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil’s works.

• If a chiasm is reconstructed properly, the middle section contains a central point. All through 1 John, the writer has been contrasting two groups of people; and how one was trying to deceive the other. One of the main ways he has contrasted them was through their actions. In K and K’ we again have the contrasts between the two groups.
• Along with the contrasts between the two groups, K and K’ points out something about Jesus. K says Jesus is righteous (3:7). K’ states why Jesus came, “to destroy the Devil’s works (3:8).
• We also see a “what’s more” addition moving from K to K’: Jesus is righteous so that the Son of God may destroy the Devil’s works.

Tags: Chiasm

This entry was posted by PHall on Wednesday, November 18th, 2015 at 3:14 pm and is filed under I John. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.