This event is said to have occurred around ten to twenty years after the gospel had been produced. Although not directly after it, it is still known to be historically significant and important to our understanding of the effects of the Bible. It can best be described as the division of the Johannine community. This split into two groups was brought about by the conflict and factionalism of a new controversy. However, there was also strife because of those who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah that had been prophesized. Was Jesus divine or was he simply one of us? In the textbook, Erhman brings about the questions that faced this community. We read that one group believed that whoever did not see Jesus as Christ,” had rejected the community’s confession that the man Jesus was the Christ in his view, they were antichrists.” (Erhman 121) This best describes John’s groups’ view. Those who opposed Jesus as Christ were opposing John. To John’s group, Jesus was the Messiah, he was devine and in fact the son of God.

The letters are shown to be simple yet powerful. John writes that they are antichrist[s] (4:3) and false prophets (4:1).  It seems rather fitting with a way to describe one’s opponent yet still being just. I believe it is important to note that the epistles were  believed to have been written by an author who deeply believed in Christ in the flesh. Overall the scripture is written in a way the tells people that these “antichrists” should be avoided. On the other hand it portrays John’s group in the best light and as the people who are on the correct and virtuous path. In John 2:18, it is written essentially saying that every person who thinks that jesus comes in the flesh comes from God. Also in John 1:14. “and the Word became flesh and lived among us”.