The apostle John is really a man for our times. He wrote his three New Testament letters in a bold, direct, even dogmatic style, more so perhaps than any other New Testament writer. Although renowned traditionally as the apostle of love (and he was), he was an authoritative, uncompromising teacher and an exclusive-style instructor with a crucial message of truth versus error, which the church much needs to hear in the twenty-first century.This commentary considers John's clear, simple, unambiguous words from his three brief but profound letters. His themes, some of them reiterated more than once, emerge powerfully, such as the first letter's stress on doctrinal certainty, moral clarity, and the preeminence of biblical love, along with the second letter's emphasis on living the truth and the third's on discerning friends and foes in the local church.
Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four grown children and fourteen grandchildren.
John's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in seven countries. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly 2,000 English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, audiotapes, and CDs by John MacArthur.
John is president of The Master's College and Seminary and has written hundreds of books and study guides, each one biblical and practical. Best-selling titles include The Gospel According to Jesus, Truth War, The Murder of Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Twelve Extraordinary Women, and The MacArthur Study Bible, a 1998 ECPA Gold Medallion recipient.
