of the word are found here in vv. 3, 6, 7, where the author is concerned to bring his readers into fellowship with those who (truly) proclaim “the Word of life,” which also involves fellowship with the Father and the Son.13 The author does this against the background of what he believes is the false claim of the secessionists to have fellowship with God, and their attempt to lead his readers astray and presumably to incorporate them into their fellowship. The context of the introduction of the term
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