Applied expository guide to the letters of John, who wrote to give us joyful certainty in our faith. Use as a daily reading, teaching or preaching resource.
Part of the God's Word For You series.
John's first letter was written not to help readers believe but to help them know they believe. It's a message many of us need as we struggle to be sure that we really are saved or that we really are loved by God. When we need assurance, John's letters are the place to turn to.
Unpacking these three short books verse by verse, pastor Sam Allberry helps readers to face the letters' challenges and grow stronger in their faith, in the joyful certainty that they will always be God's beloved children.
This expository guide is less academic than a traditional commentary and includes lots of application. It can be read from cover to cover, used in personal devotions or referred to as a resource for leading small groups or preparing sermons.
1. The Real Jesus 1 John 1:1-4
2. The Real Problem 1 John 1:5 – 2:2
3. True and False 1 John 2:3-17
4. This Is How We Know 1 John 2:12-14, 18-27
5. Born of God 1 John 2:28 – 3:10
6. Living Like Jesus 1 John 3:11 – 4:6
7. God Is Love 1 John 4:7 – 5:5
8. Childlike Confidence 1 John 5:6-21
9. Walking Together 2 John and 3 John
| Contributors | Sam Allberry |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781784982867 |
| Format | eBook |
| First published | June 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Good Book Company |
In 1, 2, & 3 John For You, Sam Allberry invites readers into a deeper understanding of the apostle John’s letters, showing how they offer joyful certainty in our relationship with God. With clarity and warmth, Allberry unpacks John’s message, helping us see Jesus as John did—fully human, yet fully divine.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is Allberry’s ability to connect profound theological truths with everyday life. His tone is personal and pastoral, reflecting his experience as a church leader. He weaves in relevant pop culture references and illustrations without feeling forced, making the ancient text feel fresh and accessible for modern readers.
Share in Joy
This book doesn’t shy away from hard truths. It reminds us of the seriousness of sin, the necessity of obedience, and the call to radical love for one another. Yet it consistently points back to the unshakable assurance we have in God’s faithfulness to forgive and restore.
A key takeaway for me was how closely our joy in Jesus is tied to our spiritual health. Joy isn’t just a feeling—it’s a reflection of walking in truth, love, and obedience. This book is a great way to share in that joy and grow deeper in it.
I received a media copy of 1, 2, & 3 John For You and this is my honest review.
This commentary begins with an introduction which helps sets the stage a bit for context.
In regards to the format of the book:
There are then 9 chapters which walk through all 3 letters in detail. Each chapter has 2 parts, sometimes 3, with questions at the end of each section. Words in gray are defined in a glossary in the back of the book which can be especially helpful. While the Scripture is included throughout the chapter and is marked with bold verse numbers, I do wish the entirety of the chapter’s verses were at the beginning of the chapter to read all together before jumping into the chapter.
The premise of this series is to help its readers to read, feed, and lead (the Word) and I think it greatly accomplishes that. It includes thoughtful points, Biblical wisdom, and practical application. As the back cover states, it’s written for people of every age and stage. There’s a study guide that is sold separately that can be used along with this if desired.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book is the ease in which it’s read and the level of focus on Jesus and Biblical truth. It’s not a book that I have to reread the sentences multiple times to fully digest, but flows almost effortlessly to make reading and feeding on God’s Word a true delight.
This is my first book from the “God’s Word for You” and I look forward to reading more.
I’ve seen the “God’s Word for You” series for a while and I’m amazed by how helpful and accessible it is! Read on for my review.
The cover of this commentary on 1-3 John by Sam Allberry invites us in no matter our place as a believer:
“This is for you to read, so you can have joyful certainty. This is for you to feed, helping you meditate on God’s Word day by day. This is for you to lead, equipping you to teach the bible to others.”
This resource consists of nine short chapters covering different sections of John’s letters and a glossary at the back. Verse numbers are in bold throughout so you can more easily find them. Each chapter also ends with three questions for reflection to enhance your study.
This is such a practical Bible study tool for anyone. I know I will wholeheartedly enjoy this resourceful commentary. I’m already looking forward to utilizing this series’ other commentaries! I highly recommend!
Thank you to TheGoodBookCo for gifting me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
The Good Book Company “God’s Word For You” series has become one of my favourite starting points for studying a biblical passage whilst preparing a sermon, or just for helping me to understand the passage and apply it in a practical way.
The latest offering is “1,2, & 3 John For You” where the author Sam Allberry carefully unpacks John’s three epistles, expertly drawing out the main themes whilst using some excellent accessible illustrations to apply the biblical text to the reader. There are also some helpful and challenging questions at the end of each chapter to explore and consider.
What I really appreciated about this particular commentary study guide was the way in which the author really focused in on the person of Christ and how we relate to the Saviour.
One helpful example of this is where the author reflects on 1 John 2:5-6 and asks the question: “Do I love Jesus more than I did a year ago? Do I hate sin more than I did a year ago?” (p44) It is this kind of meaningful application and self-reflection that makes this book so much more than just a study guide.
Whilst I will often tend to use this series of commentaries for starting out with preparing sermons and Bible studies, I particularly enjoyed using this commentary guide on John’s epistles in my own devotional time and using the questions at the end of each section to help me to reflect and journal on what I had just read.
In closing, “1,2, & 3 John For You” is so much more than a commentary study guide on John’s epistles, it also serves very well as a devotional book, as there is a directness and gentle challenge that really gets to the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
*Disclaimer: The TGBC very kindly provided me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Good Book Company has done a great job of publishing some awesome commentaries. Their series is called God's Word For You. We have had the privilege of reading several others in the series and they all have been great additions to our library and biblical study time.
According to The Good Book Company's description of the series' purpose: "They are designed to be read devotionally or to help with teaching or preaching a passage." Often times, commentaries can be very intimidating and difficult for most non-seminary believers. This series provides the same depth of those scholarly commentaries but presented in a digestible way. Ironically, Allberry notes that the book is not a commentary. The book is written for believers at any stage of knowledge of God's Word.
Allberry structures the commentary into nine chapters. The first eight chapters cover 1 John while the last chapter covers both 2 & 3 John. Each chapter is split into two parts and each part is concluded with a Questions for Reflection section.
This book remains biblically accurate in historical and cultural context. Yet, it provides such a clear and concise view of the first, second and third books of John. It will convict and encourage at the same time.
You know a publisher is authentic when their premise is the following: Our prayer is that as you read, you'll be struck not by the contents of this book, but by the book it's helping you open up; and that you'll praise not the author of this book, but the one he is pointing you to."
This book, along with its entire series, would be a wonderful option for further study on the books of the Bible.
I received a copy of this book from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.
The God's Word For You Series is an excellent addition to my bookcase (I have the majority of them now!) and I would really rate them for pastor and church member alike. They're an excellent level of theology for any Christian as they combine easy to understand concepts with some deeper biblical and theological thought for those who are leading bible studies, preaching, or just who want to dig deeper into a book of the bible, without the weight of some of the more academic commentaries. This volume on John's letters is all about joy, reassuring us that our faith is certain and sure. Definitely would recommend!
