The Intended Audience of 1 John,

The Scriptural Limits of Pastoral and Church Authority

The Purpose of the New Testament Churches

A Doctrinal Statement by:

I. The Intended Audience of 1 John

The First Epistle of John is a general pastoral letter written to believers—not to a single congregation, not to seekers, and not to the world. Though the epistle contains no greeting and names no location, its internal language makes the audience unmistakably clear: John writes to those who already possess eternal life, already know Christ, and already walk in the fellowship of the saints.

He addresses them repeatedly as "little children," "fathers," and "young men," terms of spiritual relationship, not evangelistic outreach.

He writes to those whose sins are already forgiven:

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake." —1 John 2:12

He writes to those who already possess the indwelling Spirit:

"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." —1 John 2:20

He writes to those who already stand in the family of God:

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." —1 John 3:2

He writes to those who already believe on the name of the Son of God:

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." —1 John 5:13

Thus the epistle is not an evangelistic tract but a pastoral safeguard, given to stabilize the saints against false teachers, to strengthen their assurance, and to draw sharp lines between truth and error, light and darkness, love and hatred, Christ and antichrist.

John’s purpose statement confirms this:

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…" —1 John 5:13

This is not the language of testing unbelievers but of assuring believers.

The epistle also presumes a community already grounded in apostolic doctrine:

"Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father." —1 John 2:24

Only those who had already received apostolic teaching could be exhorted to let it "abide."

Historically, early Christian testimony places John in Ephesus, ministering among the churches of Asia Minor. While the epistle does not name these churches, the general nature of the letter fits a circular pastoral message intended for multiple congregations under John’s care.

II. Pastoral and Church Authority in Light of 1 John

Because 1 John is written to believers already walking in the truth, it assumes a certain kind of pastoral relationship—one rooted in teaching, not control; in shepherding, not domination; in spiritual care, not jurisdictional power. The New Testament defines pastoral authority with remarkable clarity.

Pastors are commanded to feed, guide, and watch, but never to rule as lords. Peter draws the boundary line with apostolic authority when he writes:

"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." —1 Peter 5:2–3

This prohibition is absolute. A pastor may not command the conscience, control personal decisions, bind where Scripture has not bound, or treat the flock as his possession.

The flock belongs to Christ alone, as Paul reminds the Ephesian elders:

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." —Acts 20:28

Paul reinforces the same boundary when he writes:

"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." —1 Corinthians 7:23

A believer may not surrender his liberty or conscience to human authority—not even to a pastor. Christ alone is Lord of the conscience.

Yet this limitation on pastoral lordship does not remove the church’s responsibility to teach, admonish, correct, and, when necessary, discipline. Scripture requires pastors and churches to confront sin and deviation from the Word of God.

Paul commands the church at Corinth:

"Do ye not judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." —1 Corinthians 5:12–13

The goal of such discipline is always restoration, never domination. Paul’s instruction is pastoral and redemptive:

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." —Galatians 6:1

Christ Himself outlines the process of correction and, if necessary, removal:

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." —Matthew 18:15–17

Thus the church has real authority—but it is limited, spiritual, and Scriptural, never personal or coercive. The church may correct sin, call for repentance, and, if repentance is refused, remove the unrepentant from fellowship.

But the church’s authority, though real in matters of doctrine, teaching, and correction, does not extend to claiming ownership of a believer’s spiritual path, nor to directing personal decisions, nor to binding the conscience where God has not spoken.

The church’s authority is therefore subtractive, not possessive. It may remove from fellowship those who reject the Word of God, but it may not imprison the believer within its walls or forbid him from joining another assembly.

Believers in Scripture "joined themselves" to the disciples, as when Luke records:

"And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple." —Acts 9:26

The initiative belonged to the believer, not the institution.

Pastors may counsel, warn, and admonish; they may call the erring to repentance; they may lead the church in discipline when Scripture requires it. But they may not command the conscience, control personal decisions, or exercise lordship over the flock. Their authority is real but bounded—Scriptural, not absolute; pastoral, not possessive; restorative, not controlling.

Christ alone is the Head of the Church. Believers belong to Him, walk with Him, and are accountable to Him. Pastors are overseers who have the oversight:

"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."—1 Peter 5:2,3

Pastors who feed the flock of God and take the oversight thereof.

It captures:

• their role —feeding

• their responsibility —oversight

• their posture —willing, humble, not lords

• their accountability —to Christ, the Chief Shepherd

And it is 100% KJV wording.

Pastors are not masters; churches are fellowships, not owners; and the liberty of the saints is guarded by the blood that purchased them.

Calling a church merely a fellowship is true, but it is not sufficient. Scripture gives the church a richer, deeper identity than any single word can carry.

Let me get a clear, Scripture-anchored way to express what a church truly is—more than a fellowship, but never less.

What the New Testament Says a Church Is

1. A church is a body

Not just a gathering, but an organic unity under Christ.

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."—1 Corinthians 12:27

This is far more than fellowship—it is shared life.

2. A church is a household , a family under the Father’s authority.

"The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." —1 Timothy 3:15

A household has order, care, discipline, and belonging.

3. A church is a flock, a people under Christ’s shepherding, cared for by overseers.

"Feed the flock of God which is among you…"—1 Peter 5:2

A flock needs feeding, guarding, and guidance.

A church is a temple, a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

"In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."—Ephesians 2:22

This is sacred, holy, and corporate.

5. A church is a fellowship a communion of saints sharing in Christ and in one another.

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship…"—Acts 2:42

If you want a phrase that is:

- fully Scriptural

- doctrinally rich

- and avoids reducing the church to a social gathering

then this is the strongest, most balanced expression:

"Churches are the gathered body of Christ—His household, His flock, His temple—and therefore a fellowship, but far more than a fellowship alone."

This captures:

- the organic unity —body

- the family identity —household

- the pastoral care structure —flock

- the sacred purpose —temple

- the shared life —fellowship

III. The Purpose and Mission of the Churches

The New Testament does not leave the churches to invent their own mission. Christ Himself defines their purpose, and the apostles reinforce it. Churches exist to glorify God by continuing the work of Christ on earth—through worship, doctrine, fellowship, discipline, prayer, evangelism, and edification. Each of these is rooted in explicit Scriptural command.

1. The Church Exists to Uphold and Proclaim the Truth

Paul calls the church "the pillar and ground of the truth":

"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."—1 Timothy 3:15

The church’s first mission is doctrinal fidelity—preserving, teaching, and defending the Word of God.

2. The Church Exists to Make Disciples of All Nations

Christ’s Great Commission defines the outward mission of every assembly:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…"—Matthew 28:19–20

The church is not a passive gathering but an active witness.

3. The Church Exists to Teach Sound Doctrine

Paul charges Timothy—and through him, every pastor and church:

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."—2 Timothy 4:2

Teaching is not optional; it is central to the church’s mission.

4. The Church Exists for the Edification of the Saints

The church builds up believers in holiness, unity, and maturity:

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."—Ephesians 4:11–12

[NOTE — This list is not ordinal. It does not establish a hierarchy of authority, but identifies the diverse ministries Christ gives for the edifying of His body.]

Edification is not merely encouragement—it is spiritual formation.

5. The Church Exists for Worship and Prayer

The earliest church "continued stedfastly" in worship:

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."—Acts 2:42

Worship is not entertainment; it is reverent communion with God.

6. The Church Exists to Maintain Holiness Through Discipline

Christ commands the church to guard its purity:

"If he shall neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."—Matthew 18:17

Paul reinforces this:

"Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."—1 Corinthians 5:13

Discipline is not cruelty; it is love protecting the flock.

7. The Church Exists to Display the Love of Christ

Christ gives the church its identifying mark:

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."—John 13:35

Love is not sentiment—it is sacrificial obedience.

8. The Church Exists to Glorify Christ as Head

Above all, the church exists to exalt Christ:

"And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church."—Ephesians 1:22

Every mission, every ministry, every act of obedience flows from His authority and returns to His glory.

Summary of the Church’s Mission

The churches are far more than fellowships.

They are:

- the body of Christ

- the household of God

- the flock under His care

- the temple of the Spirit

- the pillar and ground of the truth

- the witness to the nations

- the school of discipleship

- the assembly of worship

- the guardian of holiness

- the display of Christ’s love

- and the instrument of His glory

This is the purpose for which Christ founded His churches, and this is the mission they must faithfully pursue until He returns.

All my love,

Dad

aka

Bro AK Pritchard