The Skeptics Annotated Bible (987 page)

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

(3.8)
“One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

(3.9)
“The Lord is … not willing that any should perish.”
311 Does God want some people to go to hell?

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

(3.10)
“The earth … shall be burned up.”
When Jesus finally comes, the heavens will “pass away with a great noise” and the earth will “be burnt up.”
147 Will the earth last forever?

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

(3.13)
“We … look for new heavens and a new earth.”
147 Will the earth last forever?
314 What’s new?

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

15 And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

(3.16) “In all his epistles … are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” Paul’s epistles are hard to understand. And that those who try to understand them, as with the other scriptures, do so “unto their own destruction.”

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

It is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
—
1 John 2.18

The three Johannine epistles are all anonymously written, as was the gospel of John. No one knows who any of these “Johns” were, but none of them was who believers have always believed him to be: the apostle John, “the beloved disciple.” The three epistles and the Gospel of John share enough features, however, that they are thought to have been written by members of the same community, and the three Johannine epistles may have been written by the same non-John.

Here are some things you should know from First John:

Whoever says she is without sin is a liar (
1.8
) and Christians don’t sin (
3.6
). So a Christian lies if he says he doesn’t sin (since everyone sins) and he lies if he says that he sins (since Christians don’t sin). Which means, I guess, that all true Christians are liars.

The “John” of First John knew he was living in the last days since there were so many antichrists around at that time (2.18). But since antichrists are people that don’t believe that Jesus is the Christ (
2.22
), all non-Christians are antichrists. So there must be somewhere around five billion antichrists alive today (depending on whether you count Catholics or not), which is a heck of a lot more than there were in “John’s” day. Which means we are living in the latter day last days. Or something like that.

Here are some more highlights:

• Whoever says he is without sin is a liar.
  1.8
  
• Christians don’t sin; whoever sins is of the devil.
  3.6-10
  
• Those who love others are in the light; those who hate are in darkness.
  2.9-11
  
• Don’t love the world or anything in it.
  2.15
  
• The author knows he is living in the last days because there are so many antichrists around.
  2.18
  
• Antichrists are people who don’t believe Jesus is the Christ.
  2.22
  ,
  4.3
  
• Get ready because Jesus is coming soon.
  2.28
  
• When Jesus returns, he’ll be just like “John”.
  3.2
  
• Whatever you ask Jesus for, Jesus will give you.
  3.22
  
• “God is love.”
  4.8
  ,
  4.16
  
• You’re not living unless you’ve got Jesus.
  5.12
  
• There is a sin unto death.” (But no one knows what it is.)
  5.16-17
  
• Christians are of God; everyone else is wicked.
  5.19
  

1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son
cleanseth us from all sin.