The author identifies himself as John, historically considered to be the [[Apostle John]], who also wrote the [[Gospel of John]] along with [[I John]], [[II John]], and the [[Book of Revelation]]. Liberal theologians disagree, some contending that only that all three Epistles shared authorship by the same individual. | The author identifies himself as John, historically considered to be the [[Apostle John]], who also wrote the [[Gospel of John]] along with [[I John]], [[II John]], and the [[Book of Revelation]]. Liberal theologians disagree, some contending that only that all three Epistles shared authorship by the same individual. |