view Jesus as simply a sage or a miracle worker who deserved to be followed and emulated? I agree with Trebilco that it would appear that the reason for all the emphasis in 1 John on the atoning or salvific death of Jesus is perhaps because these secessionists were denying that significance to the crucified Jesus.18 So if they were denying that Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh and that his death is salvific, it is perhaps worth noticing that both of these denials are things that Paul associates