Includes bibliographical references (p. [xiii]-xx) and indexes.

The First, Second, and Third letters of John -- John -- Letters -- The setting of the Letters -- Author and audience -- Situation -- The structure, background, and thought of the letters -- Argument and style -- Johannine tradition -- The thought of the letters -- Background -- The reception of the letters and their importance in recent study -- Reception and text -- The importance of the letters -- Translation and language -- Commentary -- 1 John -- 1:1-4 the prologue -- 1:1-3 the opening -- 1:4 the purpose in writing -- 1:5-2:2 living in the light of God -- 1:5 God is light -- 1:6-10 saying and doing -- 2:1-2 the assurance of forgiveness -- 2:3-11 from knowledge of God to love of a fellow believer -- 2:3-6 knowledge and obedience -- 2:7-11 hearing the command and loving a fellow believer -- 2:12-17 encouragement to persevere -- 2:12-14 children, fathers, and youths -- 2:15-17 do not love the world -- 2:18-28 standing firm against deceit -- 2:18-23 the appearance of the antichrists -- 2:24-28 the call to remain faithful -- 2:29; 3:12 the identity of those who are (or are not) children of God -- 2:29; 3:3 the confidence of the children of God -- 3:4-10a the two ways -- 3:10b-12 justice and love as the marks of the children of God -- 3:13-24 love within the community and confidence before God -- 3:13-18 the bonds of love -- 3:19-24 confidence before God -- 4:1-6 testing the spirits -- 4:7-5:4 the love that is God's -- 4:7-10 in celebration of God's love -- 4:11-16 God's love as the source of our love -- 4:17-19 confidence in love -- 4:20-5:4 obedience to God and love for others -- 5:4-13 belief in the Son of God -- 5:4-8 Jesus, the Son of God -- 5:9-12 God's own testimony to the Son of God -- 5:13 "this is why I have written" -- 5:14-21 exercising the privileges of life -- 5:14-17 seeking life -- 5:18-21 the ultimate confidence -- 2 John -- 1-3 the greeting -- 4-8 encouragement to steadfastness -- 9-13 holding on to the teaching -- 3 John -- 1-4 opening pleasantries -- 5-12 the test of loyalty -- 13-15 closing formalities.