What It Takes to Make Buddies: Exposition of 1 John 1:5-8

Abstract

By using a spiral writing style, the Jewish author of the letter sought to give the reader a deep understanding of the main idea of the letter and its application in daily life, which is about the light and love that Jesus taught and practiced. This research prioritizes a literary approach in terms of hermeneutics. This is what distinguishes the research from previous studies. The researcher implemented two methods. First, the interpretation of the epistles, particularly the text of 1 John 1:5-8. Second, literature study in preparing the article. including intensive textual investigation. Although the text is the introduction to describe God's identity as light, it also mentions that love is an attribute of God's identity that believers slowly but surely come to possess and be able to demonstrate through their social relationship. Like the cross of Christ, which has one upright side and one straight side. By highlighting the use of a spiral writing style in the passage, the narrative style of the writer of 1 John is different from the Hellenistic cultural style of making his point in order the original audiences gain the depth of meaning.