Church Hopping

John begins his letter by stating his purpose. Not just the purpose of this letter, but the purpose of his life. He is proclaiming what he has seen and experienced to others. He says his purpose is not just to make converts to what He believes, but rather that the people who hear this would have fellowship with them (which is fellowship with Christ). And then his end goal in this is that our joy may be complete.

There is an interesting note in the text because apparently translators are not sure whether it should be “our joy” or “your joy”. Some early, reliable manuscripts have “your” while several other early, reliable ones have “our”. I don’t think it is a huge issue either way. By saying “our” he could be referring to all of us or he could be referring to just himself and those who are proclaiming with him. In this case it would go well with the idea of proclaiming the gospel because it is good news and you can’t help buy sharing. Plus there is the anticipation of God saying well-done, good and faithful servant. So there is joy in the proclamation of the Gospel.

By saying your joy may be complete, he is referring to the joy that comes from salvation which he has already mostly received. I think this is obvious when we see the excitement of a new believer. So there is also joy that comes from salvation.

I think the most difficult to grasp verse here will be verse 6. It could easily be taken that if we sin, we are not saved. But a more careful read shows that this cannot be what he is saying for the following reasons:

• He specifically says fellowship instead of salvation. Salvation could replace “fellowship with Him” but it doesn’t.
• If no sin is a qualification for salvation through Christ, then it is impossible according to verse 8.