1 John 1:1
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.
That which was from the beginning
This phrase echoes the opening of the Gospel of John, "In the beginning was the Word" (John 1:1, BSB). The Greek word for "beginning" is "archē," which signifies not just a point in time but the source or origin. It emphasizes the eternal nature of Christ, affirming His pre-existence before creation. This is foundational to the Christian faith, underscoring the divinity of Jesus and His role in the Godhead. Historically, this assertion counters early heresies that denied Christ's eternal nature, reinforcing the truth that Jesus is uncreated and co-eternal with the Father.

which we have heard
The Greek word "akouō" means to hear or listen. This phrase emphasizes the apostolic witness and the firsthand experience of the disciples. They did not rely on secondhand accounts but were direct recipients of Jesus' teachings. This personal testimony is crucial for the authenticity and authority of the message they proclaim. In a historical context, this counters Gnostic claims that spiritual knowledge was esoteric and only accessible to a select few. Instead, the apostles declare that the truth of Christ is accessible and has been openly shared.

which we have seen with our eyes
The verb "horaō" in Greek means to see or perceive. This phrase underscores the physical reality of Jesus' incarnation. The apostles were eyewitnesses to His life, ministry, death, and resurrection. This tangible experience is vital in affirming the truth of the Gospel against any docetic views that denied Jesus' physical body. The historical and archaeological evidence of Jesus' life and the early church's rapid growth further support the credibility of these eyewitness accounts.

which we have looked upon
The Greek word "theaomai" means to behold or contemplate. This suggests more than a casual glance; it implies a deep, reflective observation. The apostles not only saw Jesus but also contemplated His actions and teachings, gaining a profound understanding of His divine nature and mission. This depth of insight is what they share with the believers, encouraging them to also contemplate and understand the significance of Christ in their lives.

and our hands have touched
The Greek word "psēlaphaō" means to handle or touch. This phrase highlights the physical interaction with Jesus, particularly after His resurrection, as seen in Luke 24:39 where Jesus invites His disciples to touch Him to verify His physical resurrection. This tangible evidence is crucial in affirming the reality of the resurrection, a cornerstone of Christian faith. It assures believers of the truth of the resurrection and the hope of eternal life.

this we proclaim
The Greek word "apaggellō" means to announce or declare. The apostles are not merely sharing information; they are proclaiming a life-transforming truth. This proclamation is authoritative and carries the weight of their firsthand experience and divine commission. It is a call to faith and fellowship with God through Jesus Christ.

concerning the Word of life
The term "Word" (Greek "Logos") is rich in meaning, signifying Jesus as the divine reason and creative order. "Life" (Greek "Zōē") refers to eternal life, the divine life that Jesus imparts to believers. This phrase encapsulates the essence of the Gospel: Jesus, the eternal Word, is the source of true life. Historically, this counters any teachings that separate Jesus from the source of life, affirming that in Him alone is found the fullness of life and salvation. This message is central to the Christian proclamation, offering hope and assurance to all who believe.

Persons / Places / Events
1. John the Apostle
Traditionally believed to be the author of 1 John, he was one of Jesus' closest disciples and an eyewitness to His ministry.

2. Jesus Christ
Referred to as the "Word of life," Jesus is central to this passage as the incarnate Word who was from the beginning.

3. The Early Church
The recipients of this letter, likely a community of believers facing challenges to their faith, including false teachings.
Teaching Points
The Eternal Nature of Christ
Jesus is not a created being but has existed from the beginning, affirming His divinity and eternal nature.

The Incarnation
The tangible experiences of hearing, seeing, and touching emphasize the reality of the Incarnation. Jesus was fully God and fully man.

Eyewitness Testimony
The apostle's firsthand experiences provide a reliable foundation for faith, countering false teachings and affirming the truth of the Gospel.

The Word of Life
Jesus as the "Word of life" signifies that He is the source of both physical and eternal life, offering hope and salvation to all who believe.

Faith and Fellowship
Understanding the reality of who Jesus is strengthens our faith and deepens our fellowship with God and other believers.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding Jesus as "from the beginning" impact your view of His authority and divinity?

2. In what ways can the tangible experiences of the apostles (hearing, seeing, touching) strengthen your faith today?

3. How does the concept of Jesus as the "Word of life" influence your understanding of eternal life?

4. What are some modern-day challenges to the truth of the Incarnation, and how can you address them using this passage?

5. How can the assurance of the apostles' eyewitness testimony encourage you in sharing your faith with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
John 1:1-14
This passage parallels 1 John 1:1 in its emphasis on the Word being with God from the beginning and becoming flesh.

Genesis 1:1
The phrase "from the beginning" echoes the creation account, highlighting the eternal nature of Christ.

Luke 24:39
Jesus invites His disciples to touch Him after His resurrection, affirming His physical reality, similar to the tangible experiences described in 1 John 1:1.
Appropiating FaithAnon.1 John 1:1-4
Christ the Revealer of GodS. E. Pierce.1 John 1:1-4
Contemplative FaithA. R. Fausset, M. A.1 John 1:1-4
Fellowship with the FatherJ. M. Gibbon.1 John 1:1-4
IntroductionR. Finlayson 1 John 1:1-4
John's Testimony to ChristT. M. Herbert, M. A.1 John 1:1-4
Obedient Hearing1 John 1:1-4
The Apostle's Aim and MethodW. Jones 1 John 1:1-4
The Apostles' DoctrineC. Stanford, D. D.1 John 1:1-4
The Divine and Human in Christ1 John 1:1-4
The Incarnation of Christ, Before and AfterNewman Smyth, D. D.1 John 1:1-4
The Mystery of the Holy IncarnationMorgan Dix, D. D.1 John 1:1-4
The Perfect SaviourD. C. Hughes, M. A.1 John 1:1-4
The Preface to the First Epistle of JohnGeorge G. Findlay, B. A.1 John 1:1-4
The Realisation of FaithDean Goulburn.1 John 1:1-4
Witnesses of the Word of LifeN. Hardy, D. D.1 John 1:1-4
People
John
Places
Ephesus
Topics
Beginning, Beheld, Behold, Contemplated, Ears, Handle, Handled, Hands, Life-, Listened, Proclaim, Touched, Touching
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 John 1:1

     1690   word of God
     2018   Christ, divinity
     2033   Christ, humanity
     2203   Christ, titles of
     4909   beginning
     5159   hearing
     5194   touch
     5624   witnesses, to Christ
     9110   after-life

1 John 1:1-2

     2421   gospel, historical foundation
     2422   gospel, confirmation
     2424   gospel, promises
     2595   incarnation
     5627   word
     6645   eternal life, nature of

1 John 1:1-3

     1436   reality
     4945   history
     5441   philosophy
     5472   proof, evidence
     5548   speech, divine
     5624   witnesses, to Christ
     5854   experience, of God
     7032   unity, God's people
     7726   evangelists, ministry
     8427   evangelism, kinds of
     8496   witnessing, importance

1 John 1:1-4

     2427   gospel, transmission

Library
Walking in the Light
'If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.'--1 John i. 7. John was the Apostle of love, but he was also a 'son of thunder.' His intense moral earnestness and his very love made him hate evil, and sternly condemn it; and his words flash and roll as no other words in Scripture, except the words of the Lord of love. In the immediate context he has been laying down what is to him the very heart
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Message and Its Practical Results
'This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare 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 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 Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 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
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

June the Twenty-Seventh God is Light!
"In Him is no darkness at all." --1 JOHN i. That wonderful mansion of God's Being is gloriously radiant in every room! In the house of my life there are dark chambers, and rooms which are only partially illumined, the other parts being in the possession of night. Some of my faculties and powers are dark ministers, and some of my moods are far from being "homes of light." But "God is light," and everything is glorious as the meridian sun! His holiness, His grace, His love, His mercy: there are
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

On Working Out Our Own Salvation
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2:12-13. 1. Some great truths, as the being and attributes of God, and the difference between moral good and evil, were known, in some measure, to the heathen world. The traces of them are to be found in all nations; So that, in some sense, it may be said to every child of man, "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; even to do justly, to love mercy, and to
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Good Man Useful in Life and Happy in Death.
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For the end of that man is peace." * * Preached at the funeral of Asa Witter, Esq. Oct. 9th, 1792. The subject of this psalm is the way and end of the righteous and the wicked. It is designed to calm the minds of good people when tried with adversity, and to reconcile them to the divine administration in the unequal distributions of Providence, and the apparent disregard of character, in those distributions. With these views, the writer, after glancing
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

Fellowship with God
And now, my brethren and sisters in the common faith of our Lord Jesus, this morning I trust that many of us can say, "Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." Did the apostle John need to say, "Truly"--as much as though some doubted or denied it? We, too, have sometimes an occasion to make as solemn an affirmation as he has done. There are certain sectaries who exalt the form of their church government into a sine qua non of piety, and they say of us that it is impossible
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

The Life of God
1 JOHN i. 2. For the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us! What do we mean, when we speak of the Life everlasting? Do we mean that men's souls are immortal, and will live for ever after death, either in happiness or misery? We must mean more than that. At least we ought to mean more than that, if we be Christian men. For the Bible tells us, that Christ brought life and immortality to
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

Acts 17:26 "One Blood. "
[6] THIS is a very short and simple text, and even a child knows the meaning of its words. But simple as it is, it supplies food for much thought, and it forms part of a speech delivered by a great man on a great occasion. The speaker is the Apostle of the Gentiles, St. Paul. The hearers are the cultivated men of Athens, and specially the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. The place is Mars' Hill at Athens, in full view of religious buildings and statues, of which even the shattered remains are a
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son in the Likeness of Sinful Flesh,
Rom. viii. 3.--"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh." The greatest design that ever God had in the world, is certainly the sending of his own Son into the world. And it must needs be some great business, that drew so excellent and glorious a person out of heaven. The plot and contrivance of the world was a profound piece of wisdom and goodness, the making of men after
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Union and Communion with God the End and Design of the Gospel
Psalm lxxiii. 24-28.--"Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, &c. Whom have I in heaven but thee? &c. It is good for me to draw near to God."--1 John i. 3. "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."--John xvii. 21-23. "That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, &c." It is a matter of great consolation that God's
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all These Things Shall be Added unto You. "
Matth. vi. 33.--"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." The perfection even of the most upright creature, speaks always some imperfection in comparison of God, who is most perfect. The heavens, the sun and moon, in respect of lower things here, how glorious do they appear, and without spot! But behold, they are not clean in God's sight! How far are the angels above us who dwell in clay! They appear to be a pure mass of light and
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Light.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.--1 John i. 5. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light; because their deeds were evil.--John iii. 19. We call the story of Jesus, told so differently, yet to my mind so consistently, by four narrators, the gospel. What makes this tale the good news? Is everything in the story of Christ's life on earth
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

Synopsis. --Biblical Miracles the Effluence of Extraordinary Lives.
V SYNOPSIS.--Biblical miracles the effluence of extraordinary lives.--Life the world's magician and miracle worker; its miracles now termed prodigies.--Miracle the natural product of an extraordinary endowment of life.--Life the ultimate reality.--What any man can achieve is conditioned by the psychical quality of his life.--Nothing more natural, more supernatural, than life.--The derived life of the world filial to the self-existent life of God, "begotten, not made."--Miracle, as the product of
James Morris Whiton—Miracles and Supernatural Religion

The Next Petition Is, Forgive us Our Debts. ...
The next petition is, FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS. In this and the following petition our Saviour has briefly comprehended whatever is conducive to the heavenly life, as these two members contain the spiritual covenant which God made for the salvation of his Church, "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts." "I will pardon all their iniquities" (Jer. 31:33; 33:8). Here our Saviour begins with the forgiveness of sins, and then adds the subsequent blessing, viz., that God would
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

Divine Fellowship
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.'. (1 John i. 3.) My mind and heart have been dwelling upon that sweet word 'fellowship'. We all know what it means in ordinary social intercourse--it means acquaintance, friendship, communion of spirit, interchange of thought and feeling. But I want you to see that all this marks the fellowship prevailing between the Lord
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

The Way of Fellowship
When man fell and chose to make himself, rather than God, the centre of his life, the effect was not only to put man out of fellowship with God, but also out of fellowship with his fellow man. The story of man's first quarrel with God in the third chapter of Genesis is closely followed, in the fourth chapter, by the story of man's first quarrel with his fellow, Cain's murder of Abel. The Fall is simply, "we have turned every one to his own way."[footnote1: Is. 53: 6] If I want my own way rather than
Roy Hession and Revel Hession—The Calvary Road

Sanctification.
In the last chapter we showed that the doctrine of justification deals with the sinner's change of relation, or change of state. We also learned that faith is the instrumental or applying cause of justification. In another place we showed that true faith presupposes penitence, and this again presupposes a sense and knowledge of sin. Again we showed that penitence and faith are the two essential elements of conversion; that where these elements are found there is a change of heart, and the beginning
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

The Apostolate.
"That ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."--1 John i. 3. The apostolate bears the character of an extraordinary manifestation, not seen before or after it, in which we discover a proper work of the Holy Spirit. The apostles were ambassadors extraordinary -- different from the prophets, different from the present ministers of the Word. In the history of the Church and the world they occupy a unique position and have a peculiar
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Character of the New Testament Scripture.
"And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."--1 John i. 4. From the two preceding articles it is evident that the New Testament Scripture was not intended to bear the character of a notarial document. If this had been the Lord's intention we should have received something entirely different. It would have required a twofold legal evidence: In the first place, the proof that the events narrated in the New Testament actually occurred as related. Secondly, that the revelations received
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Communion of Goods.
"If we walk in the light, we have fellowship one with another."-- 1 John i. 7. The communion of saints is in the Light. In heaven alone, in the halls of the eternal Light, it shall shine with undimmed brightness. Even on earth its delights are known only inasmuch as the saints walk in the light. This communion of saints is a holy confederacy; a bond of shareholders in the same holy enterprise; a partnership of all God's children; an essential union for the enjoyment of a common good; a firm not of
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The External History of the Pelagian Controversy.
Pelagius seems to have been already somewhat softened by increasing age when he came to Rome about the opening of the fifth century. He was also constitutionally averse to controversy; and although in his zeal for Christian morals, and in his conviction that no man would attempt to do what he was not persuaded he had natural power to perform, he diligently propagated his doctrines privately, he was careful to rouse no opposition, and was content to make what progress he could quietly and without
St. Augustine—Anti-Pelagian Writings

By the Same Author.
THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. COLOSSIAN STUDIES. EPHESIAN STUDIES. TO MY YOUNGER BRETHREN ON PASTORAL LIFE AND WORK. OUTLINES OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. (In the Theological Educator Series.) VENI CREATOR: THOUGHTS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. Third Edition. LIFE IN CHRIST AND FOR CHRIST. "NEED AND FULNESS." "PATIENCE AND COMFORT." THOUGHTS ON CHRISTIAN SANCTITY. THOUGHTS ON UNION WITH CHRIST. THOUGHTS ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. SECRET PRAYER. "AT THE HOLY COMMUNION." Thoughts for Preparation and Communion.
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

Reception Christ Met With.
JOHN i. 1-18. In describing the Word of God, John mentions two attributes of His by which His relation to men becomes apparent: "All things were made by Him," and "the life was the light of men." By whom were all things made? what is the originating force which has produced the world? how are we to account for the existence, the harmony, and the progress of the universe?--these are questions which must always be put. Everywhere in nature force and intelligence appear; the supply of life and power
Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I

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