Letter of John, 1, 2 and 3

Book Written:  For all three letters, HC places the date at 100 A.D., Baker at 90 A.D.

Time Period/Setting:  HC believes these three letters to have been written in Ephesus.  For the audience, the "little children," see below.  The "elect lady" of  2 John is a particular church, though which one is not known. 3 John is addressed to Gaius whom Baker identifies simply as an important person in the church to which the letter is addressed.

Title:  Once again and no surprise, HC calls into question John the apostle and author of the fourth gospel as the writer of these chapters.  He identifies the author as perhaps the "elder" in letter 2 or a member of the same early Christian community of the fourth gospel.  Baker has no such qualms and identifies the apostle as author of all three letters.   Both Baker and HC agree that 1 John is not an actual letter but 2, 3 John are. 

Concerning 1 John, HC explains that this speech or sermon may have been written to counter those in the Christian community who were claiming that Jesus was pure spirit and not a physical human being.  Baker says the theme in 2 John is remaining faithful to the early teachings of the apostles.  The theme of 3 John, a very short letter,  discusses administrative matters.  All three letters echo the language of the fourth gospel.