69

chosen according to insights gained from the analysis of transitions, are listed on the left side
of the chart. An x identifies each occurrence of the theme-cluster or vocabulary word
within each division of the book.

4.1.3.1. CHART 1: Cosmic Battle Themes in 1 John, Grouped in 7 Clusters

This chart portrays a rhetorical word picture in which opposing forces are engaged in a
cosmic battle. This imagery will be developed in the section on ideological texture as part of
the present authors perspective on Salvation History as viewed by the Johannine community.
For now, it is sufficient to note that these clusters of themes have been chosen based on
participants in the battle, what they can be seen doing, and how they can be characterized in
terms of beliefs and behavior. The component parts of these themes will first be explained
and then listed by number and charted by their occurrences in the section divisions of 1 John,
as discussed in previous studies:
1. Participants on the Devils side
2. What the opponents are doing
3. Characteristics of opposition
4. Participants on Gods side
5. What God, Jesus, Spirit are doing
6. What believers are doing
7. Characteristics of God and his children
1. Participants on the Devils side
yeudovmeqa (lie) or yeuvsth~ (liar) yeudoprofh`tai (false prophets) 1:6; 1:10; 2:4; 2:21; 2:22; 2:27; 4:1;
4:20; 5:10
planw`men (deceive) 1:8; 2:26; 3:7; 4:6
kovsmou (world) 2:2; 2:15; 2:15; 2:15; 2:16; 2:16; 2:17; 3:1; 3:13; 3:17; 4:1; 4:3; 4:4; 4:5; 4:5; 4:5; 4:9;
4:14; 4:17; 5:4; 5:4; 5:5; 5:19
ponhrovn (evil one) 2:13; 2:14; 3:12; 3:12; 5:18; 5:19
ajntivcristo~ (antichrist) 2:18; 2:18; 2:22; 4:3
diabovlou (devil) 3:8; 3:8; 3:8
tevkna tou` diabovlou (children of the devil) 3:10
Kavi>n (Cain) 3:12
ajnqrwpoktovno~ (murderer) 3:15; 3;15
pneu`ma o{ mh; oJmologei` to;n jIhsou`n / pneu`ma th`~ plavnh~ (spirit that does not confess Jesus, or of
deception) 4:3, 4:6

2. What the opponents are doing

ejn tw`/ skovtei peripatw`men (walk in darkness) 1:6; 2:8; 2:9; 2:11; 2:11; 2:11
yeudovmeqa (lie) or yeuvsth~ (liar) yeudoprofh`tai (false prophets) 1:6; 1:10; 2:4; 2:21; 2:22; 2:27; 4:1;
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Robbins, Texture, 8.

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4:20; 5:10
aJmartiva~ (sin) 1:7; 1:8; 1:9; 1:9; 1:10; 2:1; 2:1; 2:2; 2:12; 3:4; 3:4; 3:5; 3:5; 3:6; 3:6; 3:8; 3:8; 3:9; 3:9;
4:10; 5;16; 5:16; 5:16; 5;16; 5:17; 5:17; 5:18
planw`men (deceive) 1:8; 2:26; 3:7; 4:6
misw`n (hate) 2:9; 2:11; 3:13; 3:15; 4:20
ejtuvflwsen (blinded) 2:11
e[sfaxen (slaughtering) 3:12; 3:12
ajnomivan (being unlawful) 3:4; 3:4

3. Characteristics of opposition:
paravgetai (passing) 2:8; 2:17
ejpiqumiva (desire, lust) 2:16, 2:16; 2:17
sarko;~ (flesh) 2:16
ajlazoneiva (arrogance, pride) 2:16
qanavtou (death) 3:14; 3:14; 5:16; 5:16; 5:16; 5:17

4. Participants on Gods side

patevra (father) 1:2; 1:3; 2:1; 2:15; 2:16; 2:22; 2:23; 2:23; 2:24; 3:1; 4:14
uiJou (son [of God]) 1:3; 1:7; 2:22; 2:23; 2:23; 2:24; 3:8; 3:23; 4:9; 4:10; 4:14; 4:15; 5:5; 5:9; 5:10; 5:11;
5:12; 5:12; 5:13; 5:20; 5:20
jIhsou` Cristou (Jesus Christ) or Ihsou` 1:3; 1:7; 2:1; 2:22; 3:23; 4:2; 4:3; 4:15; 5:1; 5:5; 5:6; 5:20
qeo;~ (God) 1:5b; 2:5; 2:14; 2:17; 3:1; 3:2; 3:8; 3:9; 3:9; 3:10; 3:10; 3:17; 3:20; 3:21; 4:1; 4:2; 4:2; 4:3; 4:4;
4:6; 4:6; 4:7; 4:7; 4:7; 4:8; 4:8; 4:9; 4:9; 4:10; 4:11; 4:12; 4:12; 4:15; 4;15; 4:15; 4:16; 4:16; 4:16; 4;16; 4:20;
4:20; 4:21; 5:1; 5:2; 5:2; 5:3; 5:4; 5:5; 5:9, 5:9; 5:10; 5:10; 5:10; 5:11; 5:13; 5:18; 5:18; 5:19; 5:20; 5:20
Tekniva (little children) 2:1; 2:12; 2:28; 3:7; 3:18; 4:4; 5:21
tevkna (children) 3:1; 3:2; 5:2
ejkei`no~ (that one) 2:6; 3:3; 3:5; 3:7; 3:16; 4:17; 5:16
patevre~ (fathers) 2:13, 14
neanivskoi (young men) 2:13; 2:14
gegevnnhtai (those born of [God]) 2:29; 3:9; 3:9; 4:7; 5;1; 5:1; 5:1; 5:4; 5:18
tevkna tou` qeou (children of God) 3:10
pneuvmato~ (spirit) [of truth] 3:24;4:2; 4:2; 4:6; 4:13; 5:6; 5:6
monogenh` (one and only born) 4:9
swth`ra (savior) 4:14

5. What God, the Son, and Jesus are doing

ejfanerwvqh (manifested, appeared) 1:2; 1:2; 2:19; 2:28; 3:2; 3:2; 3:5; 3:8; 3:10; 4:9
ajfh`/ (forgive) 1:9; 2:12
iJlasmov~ (propitiation, atoning sacrifice, oil on troubled waters, substitute) 2:2; 4:10
ajgavph (love) or ajgaphtoiv (Beloved) 2:5; 3:1; 3:16; 3:17; 4:7; 4:8; 4:9; 4:10; 4:10; 4:11; 4:12; 4:16; 4:16;
4:19
mevnein (remain, reside, abide, word of God, what you have heard from the beginning, the
anointing,
love of God) 2:14; 2:24; 2:27; 3:17; 3:24; 4:12; 4:13; 4:15; 4:16
divkaio~ (doing righteousness) 2:1; 2:29; 2:29; 3:7; 3:7; 3:7; 3:10; 3:12; 5:17
a[rh (take away) 3:5
luvsh/ (destroy) 3:8
e[qhken (laid down) 3:16; 3:16
joJ gennhqei;~ ejk tou` qeou` threi` aujtovn kai; oJ ponhro;~ oujc a{ptetai aujtou (keeping those born of God
from the evil one) 5:18

6. What believers are doing

walk in the fw`~ (light) 1:7; 1:7; 2:8; 2:9; 2:10
have koinwnivan (fellowship) 1:3; 1:3; 1:6; 1:7
ejntola;~ (obeying commands) 2:3; 2:8; 3:22; 3:23; 3:23; 3:24; 4:21; 5:2; 5:3; 5:3
thrw`men (keep, obey) 2:3; 2:5; 3:22; 3:24; 5:3; 5:18
ajgavph (love) or ajgaphtoiv (Beloved) 2:7; 2:10; 3:2; 3:10; 3:11; 3:14; 3:14; 3:18; 3:21; 3:23; 4:1; 4:7; 4:7;
4:7; 4:8; 4:10; 4:11; 4:11; 4:12; 4:16; 4:17; 4:18; 4:18; 4:18; 4:19; 4:20; 4:20; 4:20; 4:21; 4:21; 5:1; 5:1;
5:2; 5:2; 5:3

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mevnein (remain, reside, abide) 2:6; 2:10; 2:17; 2:24; 2:24; 2:27; 2:28; 3:6; 3:9; 3:24 4:13; 4:15; 4:16; 4:16
nenikhvkate (overcome; have victory over) 2:13; 2:14; 4:4; 5:4; 5:4; 5:4; 5:5
ijscuroi (strong) 2:14
divkaio~ (righteous) 2:1; 2:29; 2:29; 3:7; 3:7; 3:7; 3:10; 3:12; 5:17
e[qhken (laid down) 3:16; 3:16
pistov~ (faithful, believe) 3:23; 4:16; 5:4; 5:5; 5:10; 5:10; 5:10; 5:13
joJ gennhqei;~ ejk tou` qeou` threi` aujtovn kai; oJ ponhro;~ oujc a{ptetai aujtou (being kept from the evil one)
5:18

7. Characteristics of God and His Children

zwh`~ (life); zhvswmen (live) 1:1; 1:2; 1:2; 2:25; 3:14; 3:15; 4:9; 5:11; 5:11; 5:13; 5:16; 5:20
fw`~ Phos (light) 1:5b; 1:7; 1:7; 2:8; 2:9; 2:10
ajgavph (love) or ajgaphtoiv (Beloved) 2:5; 2:7; 2:10; 3:1; 3:2; 3:10; 3:11; 3:14; 3:14; 3:16; 3:17; 3:18;
3:21; 3:23; 4:1; 4:7; 4:7; 4:7; 4:7; 4:8; 4:8; 4:9; 4:10; 4:10; 4:10; 4:11; 4:11; 4:11; 4:12; 4:12; 4:16; 4:16;
4:16; 4:17; 4:18; 4:18; 4:18; 4:19; 4:19; 4:20; 4:20; 4:20; 4:21; 4:21; 5:1; 5:1; 5:2; 5:2; 5:3
mevnein (remain, reside, abide) 2:6; 2:10; 2:14; 2:17; 2:19; 2:24; 2:24; 2:24; 2:27; 2:27; 2:28; 3:6; 3:9; 3:14;
3:15; 3:17; 3:24; 3:24; 4:12; 4:13; 4:15; 4:16; 4;16; 4:16
pistov~ (faithful, believe) 1:9; 3:23; 4:16; 5:4; 5:5; 5:10; 5:10; 5:10; 5:13
divkaio~ (righteous) 1:9; 1:9; 2:1; 2:29; 2:29; 3:7; 3:7; 3:7; 3:10; 3:12; 5:17 (adikia)
ajlhvqeian (truth, truly, true) 1:6; 1:8; 2:4; 2:5; 2:8; 2:8; 2:21; 2:21; 2:27; 3:18; 3:19; 4:6; 5:6; 5:20; 5:20;
5:20

CHART 1 Cosmic Battle Themes

1. Participants on the Devils side
2. What the opponents are doing
3. Characteristics of opposition
4. Participants on Gods side
5. What God, Jesus, Spirit are doing
6. What believers are doing
7. Characteristics of God and his children
1

xxxxx
x

xx

xxxx

xxx

xxxxx
x

xxxxx
xxxx

xx

xxxxx
xxxx

xxxx

xx

xxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xx
x

xxxxx

xxx

Sections
of 1 Jn
1:1-5a

1:5b-2:2

xxxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
x

2:3-11

xxxxx
xxxx

2:12-14

xx

2:15-17a

xxxxx

xxx

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2:17b-28

xxxxx
xxx

xxxx

xxxxx
xx

xxx

xxxxx

2:28-3:10

xxxxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxx

xxxxx
xxxxx

3:11-18

xxxxx
x

xxxx

xxx

xxxxx
x

xxxxx
xx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xx

xxxxx

xxxxx
xxx

xxxxx

xx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxx

xxxxx
xx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxx

xxxx

xxxxx

xxx

xxxxx
xxx

xx

3:19-24

4:1-6

xxxxx
xxxx

xx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxx

4:7-21

xxxx

xxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
xx

5:1-5

xxx

5:6-12

5:13-21

xxx

xxxxx
xx

xxxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
x

xx

xxxxx
xxxxx
xx
xxxxx
xxxxx

4.1.3.2. Insights from Chart 1: Cosmic Battle Themes in 1 John

This chart groups the activities and characteristics of the two types of people, those on Gods
side and those on the side of the devil or evil one. Themes 4, 5 and 6 begin to be more

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concentrated beginning with pericope 2:283:10 and throughout the rest of the book, as
described below.
Theme 4, participants on Gods side, has an increased number of occurrences in 2:28
3:10. This is the pericope in which the devil comes into the picture and it is also where the
children of God are first mentioned, joining in the cosmic battle that is part of the ideological
texture of the author of 1 John.
Theme 5, what God/Jesus/the Spirit are doing, is particularly concentrated in the two
pericopes under discussion here, as well as in the pericope with the full treatment of the
theme of love in 4:7-21. The fact that demonstrating love is one of the key things God and
the Son can be seen doing seems to indicate that love has a role to play in the cosmic battle in
the Johannine worldview.
Theme 6, what believers are doing, shows even more activity charted than for what
God/Jesus/the Spirit is doing. This indicates an important role for Gods children in the
battle, including joining the Son of God in some sense to destroy the works of the devil.
Again, love is an important aspect of what believers are seen doing, further evidence of the
role of love in overcoming evil in the cosmic battle.
4.1.3.3. CHART 2: Key Vocabulary from the Pericope, 1 John 3:8-10
The key terms are listed in the order in which the words occur in 1 John:
ajp j ajrch`~ 1:1; 2:7; 2:13; 2:14; 2:24; 2:24; 3:8; 3:11
fanerovw 1:2; 1:2; 2:19; 2:28; 3:2; 3:2; 3:5; 3:8; 3:10; 4:9
aJmartiva 1:7; 1:8; 1:9; 1:9; 1:10; 2:1; 2:1; 2:2; 2:12; 3:4; 3:4; 3:5; 3:5; 3:6; 3:6; 3:8; 3:8; 3:9; 3:9; 4:10;
5;16; 5:16; 5:16; 5;16; 5:17; 5:17; 5:18
dikaiosuvnhn 1:9; 1:9; 2:1; 2:29; 2:29; 3:7; 3:7; 3:7; 3:10; 3:12; 5:17
ajgavph 2:5; 2:7; 2:10; 2:15; 2:15; 2:15; 3:1; 3:2; 3:10; 3:11; 3:14; 3:14; 3:16; 3:17; 3:18; 3:21; 3:23; 4:1;
4:7; 4:7; 4:7; 4:7; 4:8; 4:8; 4:9; 4:10; 4:10; 4:10; 4:11; 4:11; 4:11; 4:12; 4:12; 4:16; 4:16; 4:16; 4:17;
4:18; 4:18; 4:18; 4:19; 4:19; 4:20; 4:20; 4:20; 4:21; 4:21; 5:1; 5:1; 5:2; 5:2; 5:3
ponhrovn 2:13; 2:14; 3:12; 3:12; 5:18; 5:19
gegevnnhtai 2:29; 3:9; 3:9; 4:7; 5;1; 5:1; 5:1; 5:4; 5:18; 5:18;
tevkna (tou` qeou / diabovlou) 3:1; 3:2; 3:10; 5:2
diabovlou 3:8; 3:8; 3:8; 3:10
luvsh/ 3:8 (possibly 4:3)
e[rga 3:8; 3:12; 3:18

ajp j ajrch`~ fanerovw

aJmartiva dikaiosujnhn avgajph tejkna

diabovlou lujsh/

ejvrga