Many have assumed that the purpose statement of First John is to be found near the end of John’s epistle. The pertinent verse reads, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13, ESV). This is certainly a purpose statement, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is the purpose statement for the entire book. For a couple of reasons, I would argue this is not John’s overarching purpose statement.
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Ancient Paths 