The debate on the structure of 1 John

Abstract

The lack of consensus concerning the structure of 1 John applies to the division in main sections and the subdivisions of each main section, as well as to the proposed themes for the various sections. In this paper the opinions of some of the most prominent scholars are shortly discussed and assessed. In this procedure the scholar’s proposals for the different transitions of the main sections and subsections are critically scrutinised. In the new proposal that follows, the view is expressed that, if certain literary features such as chiasms and parallelisms are duly taken in consideration, it can be asserted that 1 John does display a coherent structure of some sort.