Impeccability in 1 John: an Evaluation

Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1986 Impeccability in 1 John: an Evaluation Leon Eloy Wade Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Wade, Leon Eloy, "Impeccability in 1 John: an Evaluation" (1986). Dissertations. 162. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/162 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary IMPECCABILITY IN 1 JOHN AN EVALUATION A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Leon Eloy Wade August 1986 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. IMPECCABILITY IN 1 JOHN AN EVALUATION A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Leon Eloy Wade APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE Ivan T. Blazen, Chairman e^rhard F. Hasel, Dean Professor of New Testament A Theological Seminary and Biblical Theology Robert M. Johnston Professor of New Testament and Chri.s-ti.an Origins Abraham Terlan,Professor of Intertestamental and Early QJSristian Literatures HansUJ. LaRondelle Professor of Theoloc CL ~s.G. Eliz6beth G .<Edwards ved Assistant Professor of Mev Testament Princeton Theological Seminary Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright (c) 1986 by Leon Eloy Wade All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT IMPECCABILITY IN 1 JOHN AN EVALUATION by Leon Eloy Wade Chairman: Ivan T. Blazen Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: IMPECCABILITY IN 1 JOHN: AN EVALUATION Name of researcher: Leon Eloy Wade Name and degree of faculty adviser: Ivan T. Blazen, Ph.D. Date completed: August 1986 The First Epistle of John confronts us with a dilemma which, since its inception, has challenged many students of the Bible. On one hand, the Christian must not deny his sinfulness — for which, however, there is a ready solution in the expiation wrought by Jesus Christ. On the other hand, the one who abides in God and is born of him does not sin and, indead, cannot sin. Many solutions, discussed and evaluated in chapter 1 have been attempted to harmonize this apparent con tradiction. Though some are more satisfying than others, a common weakness exhibited among them all is a lack of 1 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. comprehensiveness which does not do justice to the categorical language of the epistle. The background study of the document, examined in chapter 2, aims to discover the nature and character of the opponents reflected in the epistle, and their possible relationship to the statements of impeccability. A nega tive answer is found in that the problem of the epistle is not directly related to the opponents of the community. An examination of the structure of the document (chapter 3) confirms the finding that such statements are rather paraenetic in nature and addressed to the members of the writer's own community. A more fruitful enterprise is found in the examination of the Johannine terminology for sin (chapter 4), where the concept of anomia provides a useful clarification for the categorical statement of impec cability in 1 John 3. Anomia— as a sin concept referring to opposition to God with eschatological overtones— becomes relevant. The last and major section of this study (chapter 5) is devoted to exegeting the three blocks of material related to the problematic statements of the document. As a result, it becomes apparent that four concepts should qualify the statements of impeccability: (1) The concept of anomia which epitomizes rejection of and apostasy from Christ. (2) The concept of "abiding." (3) The idea of "being born of God." (4) The "sin-unto- death" terminology. A multiple approach which combines Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 3 these concepts is a reasonable solution to the problem of why. at the same time, a Christian can and cannot sin. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. With Profound Gratitude to My Dear Wife Ruth and My Beloved Children Cloy Saul Ariadna Carlos iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................... x INTRODUCTION ............................................. 1 Statement of the Problem .............................. 1 Objectives and Methodology ............................ 5 Limits of the Study ................................... 6 Chapter I. DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF PROPOSED SOLUTIONS .................................. 7 Introduction ............................. 7 The Redactioral Approach ............... 8 The Situational Approach ............... 12 Controversial Language ............... 12 Two Different Groups of Adversaries .. 15 Two Types of Perfectionism ........... 16 The Grammatical Approach ............... 18 The Theological Approach ............... 29 Two Types of Christians .............. 29 Two Different Standards for Sin ..... 31 Two Different Natures in the Christian 32 Community Perfectionism .............. 35 Statements of Status .................. 36 Ethical Exhortation ................... 38 4. ff V Doronor fi'woq— - •*•••••••••■••••••••.......... ........... 39 Eschatological and Dualistic Tension . 42 The Concept of "Abiding" ............. 49 Specific Sins .........*............... 55 Summary .................................. 60 II. THE BACKGROUND OF THE EPISTLE ............ 62 Occasion and Purpose .................... 62 Nature and Character of the Opponents .. 72 Heretics in the New Testament ........ 73 Number and Provenance of the Opponents 77 Teaching of the Opponents ............ 81 Explicit Statements ................ O O Implicit Statements ................. 90 Identity of the Opponents .............. 106 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Greek Philosophers ................ 108 Gnosticism.................................. 109 Cerinthianism ............................. Ill Docetism........... ....................... 115 Basilides ................................. 118 Nicolaitans ............................... 120 Jewish Opponents ............... •........... 121 Jewish-Christian-Gnostic Syncretism ....... 123 Summary .......................................

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