1 John Bible Study is “A General Epistle.” That is, it is not written to a specific church, but rather it is written to all Christian believers. John also wrote to defend the faith and to strengthen the church against false teachers and heretical doctrine. Each local church can look upon First John as though the letter has been personally written to it. Tradition says that all three epistles were written from Ephesus where John pastored during the latter years of his life. Each Christian gives attention to the spiritual only as he wishes, only as much as he feels is necessary to keep his spirit in touch with God. But his concentration is the body and its pleasure, whether the pleasure is the exhibition of discipline and control or the stimulating of the flesh. John had a fiery disposition—the Lord Jesus nicknamed him “son of thunder” Mark 3:17. But his fiery disposition had been greatly mellowed by the passing of time and by his growth in grace and in the knowledge of God.