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1 John 1

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The Eyewitness Testimony of the Word of Life 1–4

1
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 ​
2
(and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); ​
3
that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: ​
4
and these things we write, that our joy may be made full. ​

God Is Light: The Test of Fellowship 5–7

5
And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ​
6
If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: ​
7
but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ​

Confession and Christ Our Advocate 8–10

8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ​
9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ​
10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for 1 John 1

Verse 1

our hands have handled — Psēlaphaō, to feel or touch, the sense of the risen Lord's invitation, 'handle me, and see' (Luke 24:39). Hearing, seeing, looking and touching are all claimed of 'the Word of life', whom John's Gospel opens by placing 'in the beginning' (John 1:1).

Verse 2

the life was manifested — Phaneroō, to make visible; the same verb is used in 'God was manifest in the flesh' (1 Tim 3:16) and 'the Son of God was manifested' (1 John 3:8). The 'eternal life' that was 'with the Father' appeared, and the apostles 'bear witness' (martyreō) to it.

Verse 3

fellowship — Koinōnia, partnership, a sharing in common. Believers are 'called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord' (1 Cor 1:9). The apostles' declaration of what they saw and heard brings the readers into the same partnership with the Father and the Son.

Verse 4

that your joy may be full — Plēroō, to fill up, the verb of Christ's words, 'that your joy might be full' (John 15:11). Writing is the apostles' means of passing on the witness of vv.1–3, so that readers share it in full.

Verse 5

God is light — The 'message' is what was heard from Christ, who said 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:12). Phōs (light) is set against skotia (darkness), and the denial is total: 'no darkness at all'. James says the same of the 'Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning' (Jas 1:17).

Verse 6

walk in darkness — Peripateō, to walk about, the verb of a way of life, not a single step. A claim of fellowship with the God who is light (v.5) contradicts such a walk: 'we lie, and do not the truth'. Compare 'he that doeth truth cometh to the light' (John 3:21).

Verse 7

the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us — Katharizō, to make clean, is in the present tense: the cleansing continues for those who walk in the light. It rests on the blood in which believers 'have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins' (Eph 1:7). The result runs two ways: fellowship 'one with another', and cleansing 'from all sin'.

Verse 8

we deceive ourselves — Planaō, to cause to wander, so the self-deceiver leads himself astray. 'Sin' (hamartia) is the principle or state, as against the acts of v.10. 'There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not' (Eccl 7:20).

Verse 9

If we confess our sins — Homologeō, literally to say the same: to agree with God about the sin. The promise rests on his being 'faithful and just', not on the worth of the confession. 'Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy' (Prov 28:13); David said, 'I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD' (Ps 32:5).

Verse 10

we make him a liar — Verse 8 denied having 'sin'; this denies having 'sinned' (hamartanō, to miss the mark), a claim about past acts. God has pronounced all guilty, so the denial contradicts him: 'he that believeth not God hath made him a liar' (1 John 5:10). 'His word is not in us.'