1 That which G3739 was G2258 from G575 the beginning, G746 which G3739 we have heard, G191 which G3739 we have seen G3708 with our G2257 eyes, G3788 which G3739 we have looked upon, G2300 and G2532 our G2257 hands G5495 have handled, G5584 of G4012 the Word G3056 of life; G2222
Then G1534 saith he G3004 to Thomas, G2381 Reach G5342 hither G5602 thy G4675 finger, G1147 and G2532 behold G1492 my G3450 hands; G5495 and G2532 reach hither G5342 thy G4675 hand, G5495 and G2532 thrust G906 it into G1519 my G3450 side: G4125 and G2532 be G1096 not G3361 faithless, G571 but G235 believing. G4103
Behold G1492 my G3450 hands G5495 and G2532 my G3450 feet, G4228 that G3754 it is G1510 I G1473 myself: G846 handle G5584 me, G3165 and G2532 see; G1492 for G3754 a spirit G4151 hath G2192 not G3756 flesh G4561 and G2532 bones, G3747 as G2531 ye see G2334 me G1691 have. G2192
For G1063 as G5618 the Father G3962 hath G2192 life G2222 in G1722 himself; G1438 so G2532 G3779 hath he given G1325 to the Son G5207 to have G2192 life G2222 in G1722 himself; G1438
For G1063 we have G1811 not G3756 followed G1811 cunningly devised G4679 fables, G3454 when we made known G1107 unto you G5213 the power G1411 and G2532 coming G3952 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 but G235 were G1096 eyewitnesses G2030 of his G1565 majesty. G3168 For G1063 he received G2983 from G3844 God G2316 the Father G3962 honour G5092 and G2532 glory, G1391 when there came G5342 such G5107 a voice G5456 to him G846 from G5259 the excellent G3169 glory, G1391 This G3778 is G2076 my G3450 beloved G27 Son, G5207 in G1519 whom G3739 I G1473 am well pleased. G2106 And G2532 this G5026 voice G5456 which came G5342 from G1537 heaven G3772 we G2249 heard, G191 when we were G5607 with G4862 him G846 in G1722 the holy G40 mount. G3735
And G2532 he was clothed G4016 with a vesture G2440 dipped G911 in blood: G129 and G2532 his G846 name G3686 is called G2564 The Word G3056 of God. G2316
(For G2532 the life G2222 was manifested, G5319 and G2532 we have seen G3708 it, and G2532 bear witness, G3140 and G2532 shew G518 unto you G5213 that eternal G166 life, G2222 which G3748 was G2258 with G4314 the Father, G3962 and G2532 was manifested G5319 unto us;) G2254 That which G3739 we have seen G3708 and G2532 heard G191 declare we G518 unto you, G5213 that G2443 ye G5210 also G2532 may have G2192 fellowship G2842 with G3326 us: G2257 and G2532 truly our G2251 fellowship G2842 G1161 is with G3326 the Father, G3962 and G2532 with G3326 his G846 Son G5207 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547
Saying, G3004 I G1473 am G1510 Alpha G1 and G2532 Omega, G5598 the first G4413 and G2532 the last: G2078 and, G2532 What G3739 thou seest, G991 write G1125 in G1519 a book, G975 and G2532 send G3992 it unto the seven G2033 churches G1577 which G3588 are in G1722 Asia; G773 unto G1519 Ephesus, G2181 and G2532 unto G1519 Smyrna, G4667 and G2532 unto G1519 Pergamos, G4010 and G2532 unto G1519 Thyatira, G2363 and G2532 unto G1519 Sardis, G4554 and G2532 unto G1519 Philadelphia, G5359 and G2532 unto G1519 Laodicea. G2993
And G2532 when G3753 I saw G1492 him, G846 I fell G4098 at G4314 his G846 feet G4228 as G5613 dead. G3498 And G2532 he laid G2007 his G846 right G1188 hand G5495 upon G1909 me, G1691 saying G3004 unto me, G3427 Fear G5399 not; G3361 I G1473 am G1510 the first G4413 and G2532 the last: G2078 G2532 I am he that liveth, G2198 and G2532 was G1096 dead; G3498 and, G2532 behold, G2400 I am G1510 alive G2198 for G1519 evermore, G165 G165 Amen; G281 and G2532 have G2192 the keys G2807 of hell G86 and G2532 of death. G2288
For G3754 there are G1526 three G5140 that bear record G3140 in G1722 heaven, G3772 the Father, G3962 the Word, G3056 and G2532 the Holy G40 Ghost: G4151 and G2532 these G3778 three G5140 are G1526 one. G1520
I write G1125 unto you, G5213 fathers, G3962 because G3754 ye have known G1097 him that is from G575 the beginning. G746 I write G1125 unto you, G5213 young men, G3495 because G3754 ye have overcome G3528 the wicked one. G4190 I write G1125 unto you, G5213 little children, G3813 because G3754 ye have known G1097 the Father. G3962 I have written G1125 unto you, G5213 fathers, G3962 because G3754 ye have known G1097 him that is from G575 the beginning. G746 I have written G1125 unto you, G5213 young men, G3495 because G3754 ye are G2075 strong, G2478 and G2532 the word G3056 of God G2316 abideth G3306 in G1722 you, G5213 and G2532 ye have overcome G3528 the wicked one. G4190
To whom G3739 also G2532 he shewed G3936 himself G1438 alive G2198 after G3326 his G846 passion G3958 by G1722 many G4183 infallible proofs, G5039 being seen G3700 of them G846 G1223 forty G5062 days, G2250 and G2532 speaking G3004 of the things pertaining G4012 to the kingdom G932 of God: G2316
And G2532 he that saw G3708 it bare record, G3140 and G2532 his G846 record G3141 is G2076 true: G228 and he G2548 knoweth G1492 that G3754 he saith G3004 true, G227 that G2443 ye G5210 might believe. G4100
Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Before G4250 Abraham G11 was, G1096 I G1473 am. G1510
In G1722 the beginning G746 was G2258 the Word, G3056 and G2532 the Word G3056 was G2258 with G4314 God, G2316 and G2532 the Word G3056 was G2258 God. G2316 The same G3778 was G2258 in G1722 the beginning G746 with G4314 God. G2316 All things G3956 were made G1096 by G1223 him; G846 and G2532 without G5565 him G846 was G1096 not G3761 any thing G1520 made G1096 that G3739 was made. G1096 In G1722 him G846 was G2258 life; G2222 and G2532 the life G2222 was G2258 the light G5457 of men. G444 And G2532 the light G5457 shineth G5316 in G1722 darkness; G4653 and G2532 the darkness G4653 comprehended G2638 it G846 not. G3756 There was G1096 a man G444 sent G649 from G3844 God, G2316 whose G846 name G3686 was John. G2491 The same G3778 came G2064 for G1519 a witness, G3141 to G2443 bear witness G3140 of G4012 the Light, G5457 that G2443 all G3956 men through G1223 him G846 might believe. G4100 He was G2258 not G3756 that G1565 Light, G5457 but G235 was sent to G2443 bear witness G3140 of G4012 that Light. G5457 That was G2258 the true G228 Light, G5457 which G3739 lighteth G5461 every man G3956 G444 that cometh G2064 into G1519 the world. G2889 He was G2258 in G1722 the world, G2889 and G2532 the world G2889 was made G1096 by G1223 him, G846 and G2532 the world G2889 knew G1097 him G846 not. G3756 He came G2064 unto G1519 his own, G2398 and G2532 his own G2398 received G3880 him G846 not. G3756 But G1161 as many as G3745 received G2983 him, G846 to them G846 gave he G1325 power G1849 to become G1096 the sons G5043 of God, G2316 even to them that believe G4100 on G1519 his G846 name: G3686 Which G3739 were born, G1080 not G3756 of G1537 blood, G129 nor G3761 of G1537 the will G2307 of the flesh, G4561 nor G3761 of G1537 the will G2307 of man, G435 but G235 of G1537 God. G2316 And G2532 the Word G3056 was made G1096 flesh, G4561 and G2532 dwelt G4637 among G1722 us, G2254 (and G2532 we beheld G2300 his G846 glory, G1391 the glory G1391 as G5613 of the only begotten G3439 of G3844 the Father,) G3962 full G4134 of grace G5485 and G2532 truth. G225 John G2491 bare witness G3140 of G4012 him, G846 and G2532 cried, G2896 saying, G3004 This G3778 was he G2258 of whom G3739 I spake, G2036 He that cometh G2064 after G3694 me G3450 is preferred G1096 before G1715 me: G3450 for G3754 he was G2258 before G4413 me. G3450 And G2532 of G1537 his G846 fulness G4138 have G2983 all G3956 we G2249 received, G2983 and G2532 grace G5485 for G473 grace. G5485 For G3754 the law G3551 was given G1325 by G1223 Moses, G3475 but grace G5485 and G2532 truth G225 came G1096 by G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547 No man G3762 hath seen G3708 God G2316 at any time; G4455 the only begotten G3439 Son, G5207 which G3588 is G5607 in G1519 the bosom G2859 of the Father, G3962 he G1565 hath declared G1834 him.
Even G2531 as they delivered G3860 them unto us, G2254 which G3588 from G575 the beginning G746 were G1096 eyewitnesses, G845 and G2532 ministers G5257 of the word; G3056
But thou, Bethlehem H1035 Ephratah, H672 though thou be little H6810 among the thousands H505 of Judah, H3063 yet out of thee shall he come forth H3318 unto me that is to be ruler H4910 in Israel; H3478 whose goings forth H4163 have been from of old, H6924 from everlasting. H3117 H5769
The LORD H3068 possessed H7069 me in the beginning H7225 of his way, H1870 before H6924 his works H4659 of old. I was set up H5258 from everlasting, H5769 from the beginning, H7218 or ever H6924 the earth H776 was. When there were no depths, H8415 I was brought forth; H2342 when there were no fountains H4599 abounding H3513 with water. H4325 Before the mountains H2022 were settled, H2883 before H6440 the hills H1389 was I brought forth: H2342 While as yet he had not made H6213 the earth, H776 nor the fields, H2351 nor the highest part H7218 of the dust H6083 of the world. H8398 When he prepared H3559 the heavens, H8064 I was there: when he set H2710 a compass H2329 upon the face H6440 of the depth: H8415 When he established H553 the clouds H7834 above: H4605 when he strengthened H5810 the fountains H5869 of the deep: H8415 When he gave H7760 to the sea H3220 his decree, H2706 that the waters H4325 should not pass H5674 his commandment: H6310 when he appointed H2710 the foundations H4144 of the earth: H776 Then I was by him, H681 as one brought up H525 with him: and I was daily H3117 H3117 his delight, H8191 rejoicing H7832 always H6256 before H6440 him; Rejoicing H7832 in the habitable part H8398 of his earth; H776 and my delights H8191 were with the sons H1121 of men. H120
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 John 1
Commentary on 1 John 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
1Jo 1:1-10. The Writer's Authority as an Eyewitness to the Gospel Facts, Having Seen, Heard, and Handled Him Who Was from the Beginning: His Object in Writing: His Message. If We Would Have Fellowship with Him, We Must Walk in Light, as He Is Light.
1. Instead of a formal, John adopts a virtual address (compare 1Jo 1:4). To wish joy to the reader was the ancient customary address. The sentence begun in 1Jo 1:1 is broken off by the parenthetic 1Jo 1:2, and is resumed at 1Jo 1:3 with the repetition of some words from 1Jo 1:1.
That which was—not "began to be," but was essentially (Greek, "een," not "egeneto") before He was manifested (1Jo 1:2); answering to "Him that is from the beginning" (1Jo 2:13); so John's Gospel, Joh 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word." Pr 8:23, "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was."
we—apostles.
heard … seen … looked upon … handled—a series rising in gradation. Seeing is a more convincing proof than hearing of; handling, than even seeing. "Have heard … have seen" (perfect tenses), as a possession still abiding with us; but in Greek (not as English Version "have," but simply) "looked upon" (not perfect tense, as of a continuing thing, but aorist, past time) while Christ the incarnate Word was still with us. "Seen," namely, His glory, as revealed in the Transfiguration and in His miracles; and His passion and death in a real body of flesh and blood. "Looked upon" as a wondrous spectacle steadfastly, deeply, contemplatively; so the Greek. Appropriate to John's contemplative character.
hands … handled—Thomas and the other disciples on distinct occasions after the resurrection. John himself had leaned on Jesus' breast at the last supper. Contrast the wisest of the heathen feeling after (the same Greek as here; groping after WITH THE HANDS") if haply they might find God (see Ac 17:27). This proves against Socinians he is here speaking of the personal incarnate Word, not of Christ's teaching from the beginning of His official life.
of—"concerning"; following "heard." "Heard" is the verb most applying to the purpose of the Epistle, namely the truth which John had heard concerning the Word of life, that is, (Christ) the Word who is the life. "Heard," namely, from Christ Himself, including all Christ's teachings about Himself. Therefore he puts "of," or "concerning," before "the word of life," which is inapplicable to any of the verbs except "heard"; also "heard" is the only one of the verbs which he resumes at 1Jo 1:5.
2. the life—Jesus, "the Word of life."
was manifested—who had previously been "with the Father."
show—Translate as in 1Jo 1:3, "declare" (compare 1Jo 1:5). Declare is the general term; write is the particular (1Jo 1:4).
that eternal life—Greek, "the life which is eternal." As the Epistle begins, so it ends with "eternal life," which we shall ever enjoy with, and in, Him who is "the life eternal."
which—Greek, "the which." the before-mentioned (1Jo 1:1) life which was with the Father "from the beginning" (compare Joh 1:1). This proves the distinctness of the First and Second Persons in the one Godhead.
3. That which we have seen and heard—resumed from 1Jo 1:1, wherein the sentence, being interrupted by 1Jo 1:2, parenthesis, was left incomplete.
declare we unto you—Oldest manuscripts add also; unto you also who have not seen or heard Him.
that ye also may have fellowship with us—that ye also who have not seen, may have the fellowship with us which we who have seen enjoy; what that fellowship consists in he proceeds to state, "Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son." Faith realizes what we have not seen as spiritually visible; not till by faith we too have seen, do we know all the excellency of the true Solomon. He Himself is ours; He in us and we in Him. We are "partakers of the divine nature." We know God only by having fellowship with Him; He may thus be known, but not comprehended. The repetition of "with" before the "Son," distinguishes the persons, while the fellowship or communion with both Father and Son, implies their unity. It is not added "and with the Holy Ghost"; for it is by the Holy Ghost or Spirit of the Father and Son in us, that we are enabled to have fellowship with the Father and Son (compare 1Jo 3:24). Believers enjoy the fellowship OF, but not WITH, the Holy Ghost. "Through Christ God closes up the chasm that separated Him from the human race, and imparts Himself to them in the communion of the divine life" [Neander].
4. these things—and none other, namely, this whole Epistle.
write we unto you—Some oldest manuscripts omit "unto you," and emphasize "we." Thus the antithesis is between "we" (apostles and eye-witnesses) and "your." We write thus that your joy may be full. Other oldest manuscripts and versions read "OUR joy," namely, that our joy may be filled full by bringing you also into fellowship with the Father and Son. (Compare Joh 4:36, end; Php 2:2, "Fulfil ye my joy," Php 2:16; 4:1; 2Jo 8). It is possible that "your" may be a correction of transcribers to make this verse harmonize with Joh 15:11; 16:24; however, as John often repeats favorite phrases, he may do so here, so "your" may be from himself. So 2Jo 12, "your" in oldest manuscripts. The authority of manuscripts and versions on both sides here is almost evenly balanced. Christ Himself is the source, object, and center of His people's joy (compare 1Jo 1:3, end); it is in fellowship with Him that we have joy, the fruit of faith.
5. First division of the body of the Epistle (compare Introduction).
declare—Greek, "announce"; report in turn; a different Greek word from 1Jo 1:3. As the Son announced the message heard from the Father as His apostle, so the Son's apostles announce what they have heard from the Son. John nowhere uses the term "Gospel"; but the witness or testimony, the word, the truth, and here the message.
God is light—What light is in the natural world, that God, the source of even material light, is in the spiritual, the fountain of wisdom, purity, beauty, joy, and glory. As all material life and growth depends on light, so all spiritual life and growth depends on God. As God here, so Christ, in 1Jo 2:8, is called "the true light."
no darkness at all—strong negation; Greek, "No, not even one speck of darkness"; no ignorance, error, untruthfulness, sin, or death. John heard this from Christ, not only in express words, but in His acted words, namely, His is whole manifestation in the flesh as "the brightness of the Father's glory." Christ Himself was the embodiment of "the message," representing fully in all His sayings, doings, and sufferings, Him who is LIGHT.
6. say—profess.
have fellowship with him—(1Jo 1:3). The essence of the Christian life.
walk—in inward and outward action, whithersoever we turn ourselves [Bengel].
in darkness—Greek, "in the darkness"; opposed to "the light" (compare 1Jo 2:8, 11).
lie—(1Jo 2:4).
do not—in practice, whatever we say.
the truth—(Eph 4:21; Joh 3:21).
7. Compare Eph 5:8, 11-14. "We walk"; "God is (essentially in His very nature as 'the light,' 1Jo 1:5) in the light." Walking in the light, the element in which God Himself is, constitutes the test of fellowship with Him. Christ, like us, walked in the light (1Jo 2:6). Alford notices, Walking in the light as He is in the light, is no mere imitation of God, but an identity in the essential element of our daily walk with the essential element of God's eternal being.
we have fellowship one with another—and of course with God (to be understood from 1Jo 1:6). Without having fellowship with God there can be no true and Christian fellowship one with another (compare 1Jo 1:3).
and—as the result of "walking in the light, as He is in the light."
the blood of Jesus … cleanseth us from all sin—daily contracted through the sinful weakness of the flesh, and the power of Satan and the world. He is speaking not of justification through His blood once for all, but of the present sanctification ("cleanseth" is present tense) which the believer, walking in the light and having fellowship with God and the saints, enjoys as His privilege. Compare Joh 13:10, Greek, "He that has been bathed, needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." Compare 1Jo 1:9, "cleanse us from all unrighteousness," a further step besides "forgiving us our sins." Christ's blood is the cleansing mean, whereby gradually, being already justified and in fellowship with God, we become clean from all sin which would mar our fellowship with God. Faith applies the cleansing, purifying blood. Some oldest manuscripts omit "Christ"; others retain it.
8. The confession of sins is a necessary consequence of "walking in the light" (1Jo 1:7). "If thou shalt confess thyself a sinner, the truth is in thee; for the truth is itself light. Not yet has thy life become perfectly light, as sins are still in thee, but yet thou hast already begun to be illuminated, because there is in thee confession of sins" [Augustine].
that we have no sin—"Have," not "have had," must refer not to the past sinful life while unconverted, but to the present state wherein believers have sin even still. Observe, "sin" is in the singular; "(confess our) sins" (1Jo 1:9) in the plural. Sin refers to the corruption of the old man still present in us, and the stain created by the actual sins flowing from that old nature in us. To confess our need of cleansing from present sin is essential to "walking in the light"; so far is the presence of some sin incompatible with our in the main "walking in light." But the believer hates, confesses, and longs to be delivered from all sin, which is darkness. "They who defend their sins, will see in the great day whether their sins can defend them."
deceive ourselves—We cannot deceive God; we only make ourselves to err from the right path.
the truth—(1Jo 2:4). True faith. "The truth respecting God's holiness and our sinfulness, which is the very first spark of light in us, has no place in us" [Alford].
9. confess—with the lips, speaking from a contrite heart; involving also confession to our fellow men of offenses committed against them.
he—God.
faithful—to His own promises; "true" to His word.
just—Not merely the mercy, but the justice or righteousness of God is set forth in the redemption of the penitent believer in Christ. God's promises of mercy, to which He is faithful, are in accordance with His justice.
to—Greek, "in order that." His forgiving us our sins and cleansing us, &c., is in furtherance of the ends of His eternal faithfulness and justice.
forgive—remitting the guilt.
cleanse—purify from all filthiness, so that henceforth we more and more become free from the presence of sin through the Spirit of sanctification (compare Heb 9:14; and above, see on 1Jo 1:7).
unrighteousness—offensive to Him who "is just" or righteous; called "sin," 1Jo 1:7, because "sin is the transgression of the law," and the law is the expression of God's righteousness, so that sin is unrighteousness.
10. Parallel to 1Jo 1:8.
we have not sinned—referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in 1Jo 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have … sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion.
we make him a liar—a gradation; 1Jo 1:6, "we lie"; 1Jo 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of all, "we make Him a liar," by denying His word that all men are sinners (compare 1Jo 5:10).
his word is not in us—"His word," which is "the truth" (1Jo 1:8), accuses us truly; by denying it we drive it from our hearts (compare Joh 5:38). Our rejection of "His word" in respect to our being sinners, implies as the consequence our rejection of His word and will revealed in the law and Gospel as a whole; for these throughout rest on the fact that we have sinned, and have sin.