1 Johnchapter 1
10 verses · BSB1 John book hub →
A.What We Heard, Saw, and Handled: The Word of Lifevv. 1-4
1 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. 2 And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
B.God Is Light: Walking in It, and Confessing Sinvv. 5-10
5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.
Chapter summary
The letter begins without a name, in the cadence of John's Gospel prologue but with hands in it: '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' (1:1): a deliberate blow against anyone teaching that the Christ only seemed to have flesh.
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Chapter summary
The letter begins without a name, in the cadence of John's Gospel prologue but with hands in it: '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' (1:1): a deliberate blow against anyone teaching that the Christ only seemed to have flesh.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
The letter begins without a name, in the cadence of John's Gospel prologue but with hands in it: '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' (1:1): a deliberate blow against anyone teaching that the Christ only seemed to have flesh. Then the message: 'God is light, and in him is no darkness at all' (1:5). Three false claims are answered in turn, and the last answer is the one the church has memorized: 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1:9).
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.
Context
Epistle · John — 1 John overview
- A. 1–4 What We Heard, Saw, and Handled: The Word of Life
- B. 5–10 God Is Light: Walking in It, and Confessing Sin
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
1 John 42 verses
- 1 John 4:14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
- 1 John 4:20If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
- Read 1 John 4 →
John 172 verses
- John 17:3Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
- John 17:21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
- Read John 17 →
Acts 41 verse
- Acts 4:20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
- Read Acts 4 →
John 201 verse
- John 20:27Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”
- Read John 20 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
John 11 verse
- John 1:4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
- Read John 1 →
1 John 51 verse
- 1 John 5:20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
- Read 1 John 5 →
1 Timothy 31 verse
- 1 Timothy 3:16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
- Read 1 Timothy 3 →
1 Corinthians 11 verse
- 1 Corinthians 1:9God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
- Read 1 Corinthians 1 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.