Polycarp provides reliable evidence that John may have written against Cerinthus or at least those connected to him in 1 and 2 John. John's Gospel may also counter Cerinthus and other heretics too.
Have you considered Matthew Jensen's argument for re-thinking the opponents? It can sound a bit hard to swallow at first, but he's done some pretty careful exegetical work:
Affirming the Resurrection of the Incarnate Christ: A Reading of 1 John (SNTS monograph).
The Structure and Argument of 1 John (JSNT article)
Matthias Bible Guides - The Letters of John (Matthias Media)
Well, I believe many people today divide the divine Son of God from the man Jesus Christ. They deny his divine origin. I think of Islam, Mormonism, etc. Within the church, I suspect we have some need to equip people to understand it means for Christ to come in the flesh as well.
Have you considered Matthew Jensen's argument for re-thinking the opponents? It can sound a bit hard to swallow at first, but he's done some pretty careful exegetical work:
Affirming the Resurrection of the Incarnate Christ: A Reading of 1 John (SNTS monograph).
The Structure and Argument of 1 John (JSNT article)
Matthias Bible Guides - The Letters of John (Matthias Media)
Well, I believe many people today divide the divine Son of God from the man Jesus Christ. They deny his divine origin. I think of Islam, Mormonism, etc. Within the church, I suspect we have some need to equip people to understand it means for Christ to come in the flesh as well.