Johnisms

    My seminary students and I found some distinctive language in the Epistles of John. We called them Johnisms. The pattern follows the thought, if you say this and do that, then this is the outcome. But, if you say this and do that, then this is the outcome.

  1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 

But ......if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

  (but)...If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

   But .....whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

  1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

    (but)....He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

  These literary devices help us remember messages for a long time. Certainly, I will remember John's vivid descriptions of hypocrisy. He makes me want to be true to what I say and believe.