Book of 1 John — New World Translation Study Guide

Section: Christian Greek Scriptures · Chapters: 5 · Written by: John (apostle) · Approximate date: c. AD 85–95 · Theme: Love, Light & Fellowship with Jehovah

Summary of the Book of 1 John

John writes to counter early false teaching by affirming that Jesus truly came in the flesh, and testing genuine faith by its fruit: obedience to Jehovah's commandments, love for fellow believers, and belief that Jesus is the Son of God.

Why the Book of 1 John Matters Today

First John is the warmest of the apostolic letters — written by 'the apostle of love' to assure believers of their relationship with Jehovah and to expose early gnostic-style false teachings about Christ. The book repeatedly affirms tests of genuine faith: walking in the light, loving fellow believers, obeying Jehovah's commandments. The famous statement that 'God is love' (1 John 4:8, 16) is foundational to the JW understanding of Jehovah's character. For Witnesses today wondering whether they are truly in good standing with Jehovah, 1 John provides assurance tied to observable Christian conduct.

Key Verses in 1 John

• 1 John 1:9
• 1 John 4:8
• 1 John 5:13

Notable Passages in 1 John

Study Questions for 1 John

As you read the book of 1 John, reflect on these questions to deepen your understanding and appreciation of Jehovah's Word:

1. How does John define genuine fellowship with Jehovah — 'walking in the light' (1:5–7) — and what does this mean practically for our daily conduct?
2. What three tests does John provide to identify genuine Christians — obedience, love for brothers, and belief in Jesus as the Christ — and how do they work together?
3. How does John's statement 'God is love' (4:8, 16) form the basis for understanding all of Jehovah's dealings with humans?
4. What does John teach about 'the world' — its ruler, the lust of the flesh and eyes, and the showy display of one's means of life (2:15–17) — and how should this affect our choices?
5. How does 1 John 5:13 — 'I write these things to you so that you may know that you have life' — describe the assurance Jehovah wants his servants to have about everlasting life?

Frequently Asked Questions About 1 John

Who wrote the book of 1 John?

John the apostle, the last surviving apostle, wrote 1 John around 98 CE in Ephesus near the end of his life.

When was the book of 1 John written?

First John was written approximately 98 CE in Ephesus, addressing congregations in Asia Minor that were being troubled by early gnostic-style false teachings about Christ.

What is the main theme of 1 John?

First John affirms genuine Christian fellowship through walking in the light, loving fellow believers, and confessing Jesus as the Christ come in the flesh. It famously declares that 'God is love.'

How to Study 1 John with JW Study

Track your progress through all 5 chapters of 1 John in the New World Translation, mark completed chapters as you read, save personal notes on key passages, and build a consistent daily Bible reading habit. Use it alongside JW Library and the publications available at wol.jw.org to deepen your understanding of Jehovah's Word.

Reading Plans That Include 1 John

The book of 1 John is covered in the following structured reading plans on NWT Progress. Each plan divides the reading evenly across a set number of days to help you stay consistent.

• NWT in 1 Year — Read the entire New World Translation, all 66 books, in 365 days. (365 days, 1189 chapters)
• Christian Greek Scriptures in 90 Days — Read all 27 books of the Christian Greek Scriptures in just 90 days. (90 days, 260 chapters)
• Intensive: Bible in 90 Days — Cover all 66 books in 90 days with a steady, focused schedule. (90 days, 1189 chapters)
• Acts & the Letters in 60 Days — Follow the early Christian congregation through Acts, then study every letter through Revelation in 60 days. (60 days, 171 chapters)

Related Bible Study Topics

Deepen your study of the Bible with these related topics from JW Study:

• Is Jesus God? — Understanding Jesus' identity as the Son of God — distinct from Jehovah
• Jesus and Michael the Archangel — Scriptural evidence that Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel
• Holy Spirit — Person or Force? — The Bible shows the holy spirit is God's active force, not a third person
• Holy Spirit Is Not a Person — Key Verses — Scriptural proof that the holy spirit is God's active force, not a person
• The Trinity Is Not Biblical — Key Verses — Scripture consistently distinguishes the Father from the Son — the Trinity doctrine has no Bible basis
• The Angel of the Lord Is Michael — Key Verses — Scriptural evidence connecting the angel of Jehovah, Michael the archangel, and Jesus Christ
• What Is the Soul? — The Bible defines the soul as a living being — not an immortal inner entity
• What Happens When We Die? — Death is a state of unconscious sleep — not heaven, hell, or purgatory
• God's Kingdom — What Is It? — A real government in heaven that will rule over a paradise earth
• Why Does God Allow Suffering? — Understanding the issue of universal sovereignty and why Jehovah permits evil for now
• The Sanctity of Blood — Why Jehovah commands us to abstain from blood — and what this means today

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