New Testament
1 John 1
Overview
John opens not with a greeting but with a thunderous testimony to the incarnation: "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, concerning the Word of life" (1:1). The eternal life that was with the Father has been manifested, and the apostles proclaim it so that readers may have fellowship with them, the Father, and the Son, and so that joy may be made full. John then states his central theme: "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1:5). From this he draws practical tests of genuine fellowship: walking in darkness while claiming fellowship is a lie, but walking in the light brings fellowship with one another and cleansing by the blood of Jesus. The chapter closes by exposing the self-deception of denying sin and offering the great promise that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us.
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.