For centuries, Christians believed that the biblical letters of 1, 2, and 3 John were penned by a disciple of Jesus. Today, scholars speculate that the three are artifacts of a lost 'Johannine Community.' In this groundbreaking study, however, Hugo Méndez challenges both paradigms, meticulously laying out the evidence that the Epistles are, instead, a series of falsely authored works. The texts position themselves as works by a single author. In reality, they were penned by three different writers in a chain of imitation, creative adaptation, and invention. Through incisive, close readings of the Epistles, Méndez clarifies their meaning and purpose, demystifying their most challenging sections. And by placing these works in dialogue with Greco-Roman pseudo-historical writing, he uncovers surprising links between Classical and early Christian literature. Bold, comprehensive, and deeply original, this book dismantles older scholarly views while proposing new and exciting approaches to these enigmatic texts.

‘This bold, original, and courageous reappraisal of the Johannine Epistles will forever change how we read these texts.'

Candida Moss - Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology, University of Birmingham, UK

‘Combining meticulous attention to textual details, reception history, and ancient pseudepigraphy, Hugo Méndez persuasively argues that the Johannine epistles are not works of any known early Christian, but literary creations with distinctive interpretations of John and its mysterious author. A provocative and engaging read!'

Harold Attridge - Sterling Professor of Divinity Emeritus, Yale University

‘Rejecting the notion of a Johannine community, Méndez argues that John's Epistles represent a lineage of falsely attributed works, each with its own authorial aims. As he canvasses the ancient evidence, Méndez mounts an argument with tremendous substance and explanatory power. A work of rare scholarly imagination and importance.'

Christopher Skinner - Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Loyola University Chicago