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All questions are based on how the New King James Version reads.

This bible study has 3 different studies, I John, II John, and III John. It is assumed that these three books in the bible were written by the disciple John. 1 2 3 John bible study will contain anywhere from 1 to 3 lessons each and the author’s answers. The authors answers for each lesson will be at the end of each lesson, under a drop down box. These answers are here to guide you if you need help, they are not the only answers to the questions. God will guide each person to see what He wants them to see.  

I JOHN

Lesson 1

I JOHN 1:1-2:2
JOY OF GOD

QUESTIONS

1. Read verses 1:1-4. The author is talking about Jesus Christ and what He did. It is clear that Jesus had a profound impact on him. How did John’s experience with Jesus impact him? How has Jesus impacted you?
2. What attributes of God can you experience today, through hearing, sight, touch, etc.?
3. Explain why I John was written. (verses 1:4 and 2:1)
4. Read verses 1:5-2:2. Explain the message that the author is relaying to us from Jesus Christ.
5. Explain how we know if we have fellowship with God.
6. What is written in verses 1:1-2:2 that can make your joy full?

Author’s answers

1. John: He wants to share the message of Jesus Christ with everyone. He wants everyone to be filled with the joy that only Jesus Christ can give us. Me: After being preserved in Christ I realized I had a purpose that is bigger than me or this world.
2. Heard: The word, reading scripture, listening to Christian music and sermons and fellowshipping.  Seen: Seeing the works of God in nature like the sunrise, moonlight, stars and feeling the wind. Also, seeing God work in the lives of those around me. Touch: God plays an important part in our lives and provides us with all we have. 
3. I John was written to make sure we have a joy that is full and comes from Jesus Christ, the light who has no darkness in Him at all.
4. He is relaying the message of Salvation from Jesus Christ, which only He can give us. We can have fellowship with Jesus because He died on the cross for our sins. We are forgiven and saved so we can fellowship with Him now and forever!
5. We have fellowship with God if we are walking in the light and saved by Jesus Christ. We confess our sins for forgiveness.
6. Knowing Jesus Christ saved me and the fellowship I have with Him has NO darkness! Also, knowing that Jesus is on our side and that someone who saw, heard, and touched Jesus is witnessing to us in this letter.

Lesson 2

JOHN 2:3-29
LOVE, TRUTH & LIGHT

QUESTIONS

1. Truth and liar are found in verses 3-6, light and darkness are in found in verses 9-11. How do you know you are in truth and light and not a liar in darkness?
2. What do you think the old and new commandments are from verses 7 & 8?
3. Why do you think verses 12 – 14 are broken down into 3 sections, children, men and young men? In what ways is this encouraging and/or convicting for you?
4. Referencing verses 15-17, do you live in a way that proves the love of the Father is in you as opposed to the love of the world? Example, putting the will of God before worldly desires.
5. After reading verses 18-19, who is considered an anti-christ?
6. Referencing verses 20-25, explain why you consider yourself to be anointed or not anointed?
7. Read 2:26-29. So far in this letter, John has written about a lot of things for believers to know & remember.  What are some of them?

Author’s answers

1. I know I am in truth and light because I know God is in me. I try my best to keep His commandments. Even though I cannot walk like Jesus did, it’s my goal. Also, I try to love (being willing to listen, be polite, don’t refuse help when you are able) and not hate, despite the temptation to do otherwise sometimes.
2. The old commandment is from the beginning, which I think is referring to the Old Testament, the law of Moses, the Ten Commandments. The new commandment is from the New Testament, love like Jesus, walk like Jesus, abide in the light of Jesus.
3. I think it represents the stages of the Christian faith. God is there every step of the way, present and active in our lives if we keep following Him! Later in chapter 2 verses 28-29 the intended audience is referred to as “little children”. Maybe these were the encouraging words that the little children, young men and fathers each needed to hear at that time.
4. I try to put God before worldly desires (key word, TRY). I don’t go out drinking with co-workers (when invited). I try to put time with God before spending time with TV & sports. Because the love of God is in me, I can see Him using the things in this world to show His love. Everything does fade except for God’s love for us.
5. Those that are not followers of God and walking in the light. They have gone a different path.
6. Anointed, because I know the Truth, which is Jesus!
7. Be aware of the anti-Christ (deceivers), God abides in us, He who abides in us is Truth and teaches us, and lastly, we need to abide in Him.

Lesson 3

I JOHN 3
CHILD OF GOD   

QUESTIONS

Verses 3:1-7 This is a summary about being a child of God.

1. List things that will be seen in the life of a child of God.
2. List things that will be seen in the life of a sinner and not a child of God..

Verses 3:4-17 It’s safe to say that we know sin equals the devil, and righteousness equals Jesus.

3. After looking at verses 4-9, explain why Jesus was manifested.
4. In verses 10-15 what are the 3 ways John describes someone who hates their brother?

Verses 3:16-17 Jesus died on the cross for us, for me, and for YOU, so everyone can have the chance to live for eternity with God.

5. Using verses 16-17, explain how we show this same kind of love in this world.

Verses 3:18-24 The heart doesn’t lie, and we can’t hide our heart from God.

6. Why would our heart condemn us?
7. Explain in detail why our heart does NOT condemn us.

Author’s answers

1. You will see Jesus. You will also see hope in Jesus, a purified soul and righteousness. Lastly, you will notice the world will not know the child the God.
2. You will see sin and lawlessness. Some nonbelievers seem to be better Christians than Christians, but the difference is that Jesus is not in those “good” people and removing their sins.
3. To destroy the works of the Devil, sin.
4.  Unrighteousness, evil, murderer.
5. We help those in need, brothers in Christ, and the unsaved. We were unsaved when Christ showed His love to us. Just being aware of the needs to those around us, and not being closed to the idea of helping people. We need to lay down our lives for our brothers in Christ.
6. Our heart condemns us when we are only showing love by what we say and not what we do, and when we are not as close to God as we should be. Also, the temptations of our heart are creeping in, and before we realize it, it’s replacing God.
7. If we are showing love by things we do as oppose to just saying we have love for the brethren then our heart does not condemn us. Simply because God is greater than our hearts, and He knows what’s in there even when we don’t. That is why we need to keep looking to Him.

Lesson 4

I JOHN 4
ABIDE IN CHRIST

QUESTIONS

1. Verse 4 tells us to test the spirits. Why do we test the spirits and how? (verse 1-3)
2. If the Spirit of God is in you, you have already overcome the spirit of the Antichrist. (Verse 4) What sets the Spirit of Truth apart from the spirit of error? (verse 5-6)
3. What is the impact of NOT surrounding yourself with people of God? (verses 1-11)
4. Give some reasons why God is abiding in us. (verses 12-16)
5. Give some reasons why we are abiding in God. (verses 12-16) 
6. How should the love of God change us? Refer to verses 11-19. 
7. What is the commandment that God gives us in vs 21? Verses 20-21 are here for a reason. Explain how these verses impact you, or why they should impact you, in your everyday life.

Aurthor’s answers

1. We test the spirits to know if they are of God or the anti-Christ. We need to find out what they believe, and if they believe Jesus came in the flesh they are of God.
2. The spirit of error doesn’t understand or even hear the truth that is in us and that we speak. Also, the spirit of error speaks of the world and not of God. Anyone with the spirit of truth wants to hear from others with the spirit of truth.
3. We are going to soak up the words of the spirit of error if we don’t have Christian fellowship. It is hard to stay faithful when you don’t have true Christian fellowship around you. Remember, we always need to be in fellowship with God. Without God, you will be influenced by the world. 
4. We love one another, have the Holy Spirit in us, we know God sent Jesus into this world, and if we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in us.
5. We abide in Christ because God is abiding in us, and it starts with the fact that we follow His command to love one another. Also, God is love.
6. Love cast out fear. Love should bring boldness into each of us, and we should not be able to be tormented by fear, because of love.
7. If we love God, we MUST love our brother. A question comes to mind; Do I really show enough love? Probably not. If you’re not loving your brothers (every single one), then these verses show how much growing you need in Christ.

Lesson 5

I JOHN 5
ETERNAL LIFE AND TRUTH 

QUESTIONS

Verses 1-5

1. Verse 4 mentions our faith.
   a. What is your faith in? Do people see this in you?
   b. How has our faithfulness overcome the world?

Verses 6-8

2. Jesus came by water and blood, and the Holy Spirit is a witness to this (according to 5:6).
   a. What two events had to happen to Jesus in order to fulfill the reason behind our faith.
   b. Explain: Water – John 1:31-34 & Blood – Colossians 1:20

Verses 9-13

3. This section focuses on God being a witness and testifying about His Son.
   a. What is this testimony of God? (verse 11)
   b. How do believers and non-believers react to His testimony? (verse 10,13)

Verses 14-21

4. When you pray according to His will do you pray with faith and confidence that God hears you?
5. Verse 17 says that ALL unrighteousness is sin. With this being true, how can there be sin NOT leading to death? (Hint: Read verse 18. We have read in chapter 5 that the Holy Spirit is in us.)
6. Why is it important to remember that God is literally in us every moment of every day?

Author’s answers

1. A. My faith is in Jesus, who He is and what He did for sinners. I think others can see my faith, but because I don’t mention it as often as I should, maybe not? Faith can be seen by things we say and don’t say, how we spend our time and if we love our brothers in Christ. B. Our faith overcomes the world because of its foundation! Believing in Jesus, what He did and what He will do makes us a part of that.
2. Jesus coming by water and blood. Water – Jesus got baptized with water and this was the moment that John the Baptist heard God the Father call Jesus the Son of God! Jesus set an example for all believers when he got baptized by water. Blood – Jesus bled on the cross for all sinners, and it’s what had to happen in order to fulfill why He came to earth in the flesh.
3. A. God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. B. Believers accept the testimony of God and want to share it. Non-believers basically call God a liar because they don’t believe it.
4. I do. But I don’t always have the confidence in God’s answers. This area is a constant work in progress for me.
5. Our sin doesn’t lead to death because God is in us and there is NO sin where God resides. So we sin, but we don’t sin thanks to God.
6. It’s encouraging. God is with us in every struggle and every praise and blessing! He knows what we are going through! We need God in us because the whole world is under the influence of the devil.

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II JOHN

LESSON 1

II JOHN 1-3
There are two views of who the intended audience of John’s second letter is. View 1: Literal: A specific lady in the church and her children. View 2: Figurative: The church, because God refers to the church as His bride.

QUESTIONS

1. After reading II John, who do you think the intended audience is? Is it important that we know with certainty who it is?
2. How does John and the others feel about the elect lady and her children? 
3. When he says in his greeting “whom I love in truth” what does this mean? Can you say that you love other believers in this same way? 
4. Is it ok to walk in the truth and not love? 
5. Why do you think John is willing to proclaim that grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ WILL be with her? 

Author’s answers

1. Depending on what I am going through when I read it determines how I see it. Sometimes I read it as addressed to a specific lady, and other times as a church. There is a lot of scripture applied to specific individuals, which all ultimately applies to everyone. So, no it’s not important to me that I know exactly who the intended audience is, because God will show me what HE wants me to see and learn.
2. John is saying that he and the others that believe in Christ will always have a love for each other because they have a common love.
3. They have a common love that is Christ, to “love in truth”, and that love resides in all of them. They love each other because of that common love, and it’s a powerful common bond. It’s exciting to be with others that love Jesus. When other believers are walking in the truth, I do have a love for them that does feel different and more powerful. Unfortunately, because I don’t always feel that love in return, I shy away from expressing it. This is something that I need to work on so I can truly walk in truth.
4.  No, it’s not. We need to do both because that is the example that Christ has set for us, which is why in my answer from question 3 says that I have to work on it.
5. He is confident in this because she is a fellow believer! If you believe that God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for your sins, admitting that you are a sinner, and you have repented from your sins, then you are saved and the truth (Holy Spirit) is in you. If that is you, then God’s grace, mercy, and peace will be with you!

LESSON 2

II JOHN 4-13
Two main topics. Firstly, he rejoices that some of the children are walking in truth. Secondly, love one another, as God has commanded.

QUESTIONS

Verses 4-6.

1. Verse 4: John rejoices to know the children are walking in the truth!  Do you have any response when you see a person that really stands out as walking in the truth or is it really no big deal for you?
2. He is pleading with her about loving one another because he wants her to learn something. What have you learned about love, that you can apply to your life?

Verses 7-11

3. We know that we are a child of God if we are walking in truth, and John rejoices for those children that are doing just that. What does John warn us about when it comes to those NOT walking in the truth?
4. Verse 7: Is it hard to think of unsaved friends and family as deceivers?
5. Verse 8-11:  What is the only doctrine that should be shared? Why shouldn’t any other doctrine be received?
6. Give examples of verse 10 happening in the world today.

Verse 12-13 This letter might not exist if John was able to speak face to face when he wanted to.

7. What was the benefit of John not being able to meet face to face with his intended audience at this particular time? 

Author’s answers

1. In this day and age, I think it really does stand out. I am amazed and encourage when I see someone walking in the truth. It’s exciting to see that they don’t have to be entertained with sin or put the world first.
2. I need to love everyone, not just believers, but at the same time to be cautious of false teachers. Loving everyone means to love those that trigger those unloving feelings.
3. They are a deceiver and an antichrist because they do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. Also, he warns us not to let them talk to you about their wrong doctrine.
4. It is very hard to think of them that way when they are not trying to persuade me against my faith. This insight does make me want to witness to them a little more, but it is so hard to witness to family.
5. Jesus coming in the flesh is the only true doctrine that leads to salvation, which is when we start walking in the truth. We shouldn’t receive any other doctrine because it’s not true. In the old testament, when they received false doctrine they were led astray and they went further and further away from God. Essentially, they were taking part in evil by doing this.
6. Jehovah Witnesses coming to your door or your car in parking lots. Taking their pamphlets, letting them into your house, engaging in conversation about their false doctrine is a modern-day example. Another example is entertaining the idea of evolution…man evolved from apes, dinosaurs lived millions of years ago…
7. The benefit was that this letter was written. If he met face to face when he was hoping to, we would not have the benefit of this letter.

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III JOHN

LESSON 1

I John
John describes the importance of showing Christian love.

QUESTIONS

VERSES 1-4

1. John has a lot of encouraging things to say in the first 4 verses. What are some ways that John encouraged Gauis? Do you encourage those you love? 
2. What words do you say to fellow believers that lets them know you love them in the truth (Love them with a Christian Love)? 
3. In verse 4 John rejoices that “his children” are walking in the truth. What spiritual reasons might God, your pastor, or other Christians, have to rejoice over your life as a follower of Christ?

VERSES 5-8

4. John compliments Gaius, gives him advice, and then say’s something that they can learn from, because of what Gaius’ has been doing. Talk about a ministry that you support and encourage. 

VERSES 9-12

5. Why do you think John immediately mentions Diotrephes right after instructions from verses 5-8?
6. Starting in verse 9 John has a perfect example of what a church member or leader should NOT be like. In verse 11 he tells us not to imitate evil, but good. First describe how we should not be, then, describe how we should be. 
7. Is Diotrephes (vs.9) or Demetrius (vs.12) imitating what is evil?  Do you think it made people feel uncomfortable that John is going to confront Diotrephes?

VERSES 1-14 APPLICATION

8. How can you use III John to help you and encourage you in your Christian life?

Author’s answers

1. It’s always encouraging when someone says they are praying for you. This is even more encouraging because John is praying for him when he was not asked to do so. He is praying not just for his spiritual life, but for his whole life! He also tells him why he is proud of him, telling him the good things that other people see him doing. All of this is encouraging. I try, but I don’t do it this good. I do try to encourage people when they are in bad situations, and I now realize I need to do this in good situations also.
2. Honestly, I have no idea. This is obviously an area I need to work at.
   I give minor compliments from time to time.
3.  I try to do my best to read the Bible, have true fellowship and follow God’s will. This takes me out of my comfort zone, is making me learn new things, and is making me depend on God to be able to encourage others in their faith.
4. Local Pastor, food pantry, and I pray and encourage my children to follow God so they can be involved in their own ministry. This is a hard question to answer because I haven’t found with certainty the “place” I belong.
5. To show the difference between the love of Gaius and the lack of love of Diotrephes. I think the answer is in verse 11. We needed an example of good and evil in the church and we need to see what it looks like to follow God.
6. We should not be seeking attention or recognition for our own personal gain or pride, which Diotrephes did to the extent that he was picking and choosing what Christians were allowed to come to the church he was at. We should be loving and encouraging, and our words should build up not tear down. We should be concerned for others, and wanting to do God’s will to better others and not with selfish desires.
7. Diotrephes – evil. Demetrius – good. It’s always uncomfortable confronting someone for doing wrong. But it’s not about us it’s about doing God’s will.

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