The same vein of divine love and charity towards our neighbour, which
runs throughout the Gospel written by the beloved disciple and
Evangelist, St. John, is found also in his Epistles. He confirms the
two principal mysteries of faith: The mystery of the Trinity and the
mystery of the incarnation of Jesus Christ the Son of God. The
sublimity and excellence of the evangelical doctrine he declares: And
this commandment we have from God, that he, who loveth God, love also
his brother (chap. 4,21). And again: For this is the charity of God,
that we keep his commandments, and: His commandments are not heavy
(chap. 5,3). He shews how to distinguish the children of God from those
of the devil: marks out those who should be called Antichrists:
describes the turpitude and gravity of sin. Finally, he shews how the
sinner may hope for pardon. It was written, according to Baronius’
account, sixty-six years after our Lord’s Ascension.