Author:  John, the brother of James and the son of Zebedee.  Matthew 4:19-22, Luke 5:9-11.  He
is sometimes referred to as the beloved apostle.  He is not John the Baptist.  John the Baptist was
the cousin of Jesus and Jesus had a different brother named James.  James the Lord's earthly
brother is the one who wrote the book of James.  Interesting side note James did not believe on
the Lord until after the death and burial of Christ.  James son of Zebedee did believe on Christ
while He was alive and was one of the twelve apostles.  John's brother James was martyred for
Christ.  John was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos, where the book of Revelations was written.

Approximate Time Written:  Near the end of the first century.  The final book written by John
was the book of Revelations.

Purposes:
1.     To add to the Christian's Joy  I John 1:4
2.     To guard us against sin.  I John 2:1
3.     To warn us against false teachers.  I John 2:26
4.     To strengthen our faith in Christ and assure us of eternal life.  I John 5:13

Themes:  Love, Knowledge, and Fellowship.  “God is life, light, and righteous love.  His
character calls for holy living and brotherly love on the part of believers.” Schofield.

Other Background Items:
1.     John personally knew Jesus both physically and spiritually.  As was shown above John was
one of the disciples.  He was there at the mount of transfiguration  Matthew 17:1.  John wasn't
perfect.  Mark 14:32-40.  John sometimes thought in human terms even as we do today,  Luke
9:48-50, 54-56.  John was a sinner saved by grace through faith even as we are.  John was just the
messenger God used to reveal His Word.

2.     John had personal experience with the redeeming work of Christ.  John was there when
Christ was crucified.  John 19:25, 26.  John was entrusted with care of Mary Jesus earthly mother.
John also was there when Jesus was resurrected John 20:19-31, 21:7, 20.  John saw Jesus ascend
into heaven.  Acts 1:7-14.  From these personal experiences come the introduction to the book of
I John in the first four verses.

3.     John was a leader of the early church.  Acts 3:1.  John was one of the ones who gave Paul
the right hand of fellowship Galations 2:9.

4.     John wrote five books of the Bible.  The book of John, I John, II John, III John, and
Revelations.  God inspired those books.  They are the divine Word of God.

John was called out by Jesus.  He did not self appoint himself to the office of apostle.  He followed Christ when Jesus did the calling.  He forsook all and followed Christ.  John had been a fisherman which was a very profitable business in his day one of silver & gold.  When John left a very profitable business to spread God's word the average person would've thought him crazy, but was he?  He laid for himself treasures up in heaven.  John's brother James was killed for following Christ and John was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos.  He could have just stayed in the family business and built enormous fortunes, but he followed Christ instead.  Which is more important earthly riches of heavenly riches?

He went from being a fisherman to a fisher for souls.  In fishing how does a fisherman catch fish?  There is some acquired skills that help, but then all the acquired skills do not do any good if you don't go to the water where the fish are.  In the search for souls the same is true.  We can learn all we want about how to evangelize, but if we do not go out and invite the lost we will never see any souls brought to the Lord.  We cannot bring them to God.  We have to allow God to work in and through us.  He is the one who draws souls out to salvation.  A commercial fisherman cannot be idle in his search for fish otherwise he'd starve.  Proverbs 14:23 The fisherman would never get any money if he didn't catch any fish.  Even so we cannot gain any heavenly riches if  we don't go out and fish for souls.

Inviting people to church is a numbers game, eventually someone will come.  Even the worst fisherman will eventually catch a fish if they are persistent.  For example I went fishing with a man  who used shrimp heads as bait.  Anyone who knows anything about fishing, knows that shrimp heads just aren't what you use.  Yet he did catch some fish.  I used the shrimp body & tail and caught more fish.  The point is that even without using the correct set up, he still caught fish.  When we are out telling others about Christ, we still will catch them even if we are not polished and using all of the different soul winning things.  I believe that telling people straight from our heart what God puts there is more effective than ever using the gimmicks.

Salespeople who use gimmicks have a high cancellation rate.  Why? Because you can force someone into a decision and they will tell you what they think you want to hear.  When you leave thinking they bought into it, they are really thinking how glad they are to have got the pushy salesperson off of their back.  The same is when we tell others about Christ if we push someone into a decision, then their decision is mere mental assent and we have led them to hell.  God must do the drawing and saving.  For it is with the heart man believes unto righteousness.  With head knowledge people are no better than the demons who believe and tremble.  We need to let God do the work and just be the vessels He uses.  No amount of pressure will ever lead someone to true salvation.  God has to do the work.

John went from a fisherman to a soul winner.  Proverbs 11:30  Not everyone has the same calling, but we all can be soul winners by allowing the Lord to use us in the areas where He has called us.

 Until his death he continued in the vocation that he was called to.  John wasn't perfect (Point #1 of other Background.)  But he was willing to allow God to use him to spread the word.