1 John1
World English Bible · Public Domain
1That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life
2(and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);
3that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
4And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
5This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie and don’t tell the truth.
7But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 John 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle prefaces his epistle to believers in general, with evident testimonies to Christ, for promoting their happiness and joy. (1–4). The necessity of a life of holiness, in order to communion with God, is shown. (5–10).
vv1-4
That essential Good, that uncreated Excellence, which had been from the beginning, from eternity, as equal with the Father, and which at length appeared in human nature for the salvation of sinners, was the great subject concerning which the apostle wrote to his brethren. The apostles had seen Him while they witnessed his wisdom and holiness, his miracles, and love and mercy, during some years, till they saw him crucified for sinners, and afterwards risen from the dead. They touched him, so as to have full proof of his resurrection. This Divine Person, the Word of life, the Word of God, appeared in human nature, that he might be the Author and Giver of eternal life to mankind, through the redemption of his blood, and the influence of his new-creating Spirit. The apostles declared what they had seen and heard, that believers might share their comforts and everlasting advantages. They had free access to God the Father. They had a happy experience of the truth in their souls, and showed its excellence in their lives. This communion of believers with the Father and the Son, is begun and kept up by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The benefits Christ bestows, are not like the scanty possessions of the world, causing jealousies in others; but the joy and happiness of communion with God is all-sufficient, so that any number may partake of it; and all who are warranted to say, that truly their fellowship is with the Father, will desire to lead others to partake of the same blessedness.
vv5-10
A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion. God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls. There is no truth in their profession; their practice shows its folly and falsehood. The eternal Life, the eternal Son, put on flesh and blood, and died to wash us from our sins in his own blood, and procures for us the sacred influences by which sin is to be subdued more and more, till it is quite done away. While the necessity of a holy walk is insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, the opposite error of self-righteous pride is guarded against with equal care. All who walk near to God, in holiness and righteousness, are sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin. God has given testimony to the sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient, effectual Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of believers themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to confess their sins, and to apply by faith to the blood of that Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before God, be humble, and willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy and truth through the righteousness of Christ, for a free and full forgiveness, and our deliverance from the power and practice of sin.
Key Words
ὅς (hós): the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἦν (ēn): I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
ἀπό (apó): "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
ἀρχή (archḗ): (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)
ἀκούω (akoúō): to hear (in various senses)
ὁράω (horáō): by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear
ἡμῶν (hēmōn): of (or from) us
ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós): the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance)
θεάομαι (theáomai): to look closely at, i.e. (by implication) perceive (literally or figuratively); by extension to visit
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
1 John 1Direct linguistic parallel regarding the Word's eternal existence 'from the beginning' before creation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Empirical evidence of Christ's resurrection; using the same Greek term for hands handling his physical body.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The incarnation of the Word, transitioning from eternal existence to visible, beheld glory.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Old Testament personification of Wisdom 'set up from everlasting, from the beginning' paralleling the Word.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Thomas physically touching the resurrected Christ, illustrating the ultimate sensory confirmation of the incarnate Word.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Establishes that the Word is the radical source and fountain of life and light.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts the deception of covering sins with the mercy found through honest confession.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Classic Old Testament pattern of confessing sin to receive faithful forgiveness and cleansing.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts the physical handling of Christ with pagans groping blindly after an unknown God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The apostolic mandate to bear witness because they have been eyewitnesses from the start.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Promises that entering fellowship with God results in complete, fulfilled joy.
Supported by JFB
Demonstrates the absolute ethical incompatibility between divine light and spiritual darkness.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Underscores that no living man is righteous before God, refuting claims of sinlessness.
Supported by John Calvin
Direct Old Testament confirmation that there is no man on earth who does not sin.
Supported by John Calvin