Van der Merwe, D.J.2008-11-262008-11-262005Van der Merwe, DJ 2005, 'Understanding "sin" in the Johannine epistles', Verbum et Ecclesia, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 527-542. [http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_verbum.html]1609-9982http://hdl.handle.net/2263/8085The author of the Johannine Epistles has a good deal to say about sin. He abhors sin, seeing it as incompatible with God's character (oJ qeo;" fw`" ejstin, 1:5; [oJ qeo;"] divkaiov" ejstin, 2:29; and oJ qeo;" ajgavph ejstivn, 4:8) and with the status of believers as God's children. In this article attention is given to the following relevant aspects for understanding 'hamartiology' in the Johannine epistles from a 'family perspective': (1) the 'family of God' metaphor is used as the setting in which the author describes his symbolic narrative; (2) a differentiation is made between sin inside and sin outside the family; (3) sin outside the family is also described in terms of reciprocals to emphasize its condemnation; (4) finally, he focuses on the 'forgiveness of sin'. This investigation is done against the socio-religious circumstances of the Johannine community in order to understand the Elder's ethical and doctrinal definitions of sin.enFaculty of Theology, University of PretoriaBible -- N.T. -- Epistles of John -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.Sin -- Biblical teachingChildren of GodArticle