Primary Audience:
* Christians who were facing persecution and doubt. This is evident from the letter's focus on the reality of Jesus Christ, the importance of living in the light, and the dangers of falling away from the faith.
* Christians who had been influenced by Gnostic teachings. These teachings emphasized a secret knowledge that was unavailable to the general public, often denying the humanity of Jesus. 1 John combats these ideas by emphasizing the importance of experiencing God through Jesus, who was both human and divine.
* A specific group of Christians who had strayed from the truth. This is implied by the author's repeated call for unity and his warnings against false teachers.
Secondary Audience:
* All believers throughout the ages. While 1 John was written to address specific problems, its message is timeless and relevant to all Christians who struggle with faith, doubt, and temptation.
Specific Groups:
* The "elect" or "beloved" (1 John 2:1, 4:1). This term suggests that the author was addressing a specific group of believers who had already been chosen by God.
* "Little children" (1 John 2:1, 12, 13). This affectionate term could indicate that the author was writing to a group of relatively new believers.
In summary, the intended audience of 1 John was likely a group of Christians in the early church who were facing challenges to their faith and needed encouragement, guidance, and a reminder of the truth. While the specific circumstances of that group are not fully known, the letter's message is universal and continues to resonate with believers today.