1 John 1:1

¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

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};

The Word, which gives life!
He existed from the beginning.
We have heard him,
we have seen him with our eyes,
we have contemplated him,
we have touched him with our hands!

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.

That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life

Commentary

1 John 1:1 serves as the powerful opening statement of the Apostle John's first epistle, immediately establishing the tangible reality and divine nature of Jesus Christ. It lays the groundwork for the letter's central themes: the truth of the Gospel message and the call to genuine fellowship with God and one another.

Context

Written by the Apostle John, likely in his old age, this epistle addresses early Christian communities facing various challenges, particularly the rise of proto-Gnosticism. These false teachings often denied the true humanity of Christ, asserting that He was a spirit and not truly flesh and blood. John's emphatic declaration of what he and the other apostles "heard," "seen," "looked upon," and "handled" directly counters such erroneous claims, emphasizing the historical and physical reality of Jesus's earthly ministry. The book's primary purpose is to assure believers of their salvation and to guide them into a deeper, authentic relationship with God, built upon truth rather than speculative philosophy.

Key Themes

  • Eyewitness Testimony: John stresses the direct, sensory experience of the apostles with Jesus. This wasn't a spiritual vision or a philosophical concept, but a verifiable encounter with a physical person. This emphasis on personal observation provides an irrefutable foundation for the Christian faith, as seen in how Jesus invited His disciples to touch Him after His resurrection to prove His bodily presence.
  • The "Word of Life": This phrase unequivocally refers to Jesus Christ. John uses "the Word" (Greek: Logos) as he did in his Gospel, where he declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The addition "of life" highlights that Jesus is not merely a messenger but the very source and embodiment of eternal life itself. He is the living manifestation of God's truth and salvation.
  • Authenticity and Foundation: The verse establishes the absolute authenticity of the Gospel message. The apostles were not peddling myths or cleverly devised fables, but proclaiming what they themselves had witnessed concerning the Son of God. This tangible reality of Christ is the bedrock upon which all Christian doctrine and experience are built.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Word" is a translation of the Greek word Logos. In ancient Greek philosophy, Logos could refer to reason, logic, or the divine principle underlying the universe. However, in John's writings, it takes on a profoundly theological meaning, identifying Jesus as the pre-existent, divine Son of God through whom all things were created and through whom God reveals Himself to humanity. The progression of sensory verbs ("heard," "seen," "looked upon," "handled") powerfully conveys the concrete, undeniable nature of their interaction with the Logos made flesh.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 John 1:1 reaffirms that our faith is grounded in historical fact, not mere speculation. It invites us to trust the apostolic witness and to seek a real, tangible relationship with Jesus, the "Word of life." This verse reminds us that true fellowship with God is based on acknowledging and embracing the full reality of who Jesus is – both fully God and fully man – and living according to the truth revealed through Him. It encourages us to hold fast to the foundational truths of the Gospel, especially in a world where truth claims are often challenged.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 4:20 (27 votes)

    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

  • John 20:27 (27 votes)

    Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

  • 1 John 4:14 (23 votes)

    ¶ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.

  • John 1:1 (17 votes)

    ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

  • John 1:18 (17 votes)

    No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

  • John 5:26 (16 votes)

    For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

  • Luke 24:39 (16 votes)

    Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.