It is remarkable how many different topics are introduced into this brief letter, so that we are almost justified in saying with J. Morgan, "The whole realm of evangelical truth is traversed by the apostle." Blessed it is to see how the balance of Truth is preserved there. No one would regard it as a theological treatise, yet most of the fundamentals of our faith are briefly set forth in it. The Divine incarnation (1:1-3), the nature of God (1:5; 4:8), the atonement and advocacy of Christ (2:1,2), the person and work of the Holy Spirit (3:24), regeneration (2:29), the Trinity (5:7), etc. The epistle is far from being an appeal to emotionalism, yet it bids believers, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon them" (3:1), and while affording no encouragement to rest upon feelings (as its repeated dogmatic "we know" shows), yet it is written that "our joy may be full." While it is not a discourse on humanitarianism, it stresses practical altruism (3:17,18). Though not a discussion of eschatology, yet the return of Christ (2:28) and, "the day of judgment" (4:17) are mentioned. Thus this epistle supplies an admirable corrective to one-sided views of the Christian life.
