Letters from an Elder (Fall 2021 Sermon Series)

 

As has long been noted, at least since the church historian Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History, VII.25.11), the writer of the letters of I-III John is anonymous, referring to himself only as ‘ὁ πρεσβύτερος’ (presbyteros), "The Elder."  The latter two letters are personal, addressed to an individual, hardly a page of papyrus for each.  They are a post script and a p.p.s. to the longer and more general first letter, which reads more like a treatise than a letter (like Romans or Ephesians).  It has none of the usual features of a letter, opening with a poem-like section and ending abruptly.  There is no salutation or greetings, no indication of sender or recipient.  Taken together, the three letters contain a full explanation of Christian life and doctrine in somewhat symphonic form, like a piece of music that returns to themes and notes with variations: light and darkness, love and hate, truth and lie, sin and righteousness.

Join us this fall in reading these letters from an ancient Presbyter-ian, telling us about the three things that are most necessary and characteristic of the Christian life:  faith, hope, and love...especially love!