1 John 1-10
1:1 The word of life: is what we (those of apostolic rank) proclaim to you (fellow believers): that which was from the beginning (Christ and our apostolic testimony of his life), what we have heard (his words), what we have seen with our eyes (miracles), what we have gazed upon and our hands have touched (the resurrected Christ)
[Observation: note here there are the first generation/eyewitnesses, and the second generation, as in Heb 2.3,4]
…concerning the word of life (The message of Christ can be summed up in one word: life)
1:2 For it was life which appeared before us: and we have seen and testify and announce to you this eternal life (in all the apostolic writings) who/which was with the Father (in eternity past), who/which actually became visible in person to us mortal men (God became man, who can take that in?)
1:3 What we have seen and heard (from Christ) we announce to you, so that you may have fellowship (first-hand knowledge) with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ).
1:4 Thus we are writing these things so that your joy and our joy may be complete (because the more that fellowship extends the greater the joy it brings us).
1:5 Now this is the gospel message (apostolic witness of the message of Christ) we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light (He is morally holy and metaphysically evident), and in him there is no darkness (sin or secrecy) at all (absolutely none).
1:6 (Therefore) If we claim we have fellowship with him (spiritual intimacy) and walk (go about our day to day lives) in the darkness (areas clearly incompatible with his holy nature), we are lying and not practicing the truth (we violate the fundamental clarity of his message and legacy).
1:7 But if we walk in the light (reflect his character) as he himself is in the light (God is holy), we have fellowship (Christ-like fellowship) with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son (work of Christ on the cross) cleanses us from all sin (even unknown sin).
1:8 If we claim we do not bear any guilt for sin (deny the fundamental clarity of our fallen condition), we live in a world of illusion and truth becomes a stranger to us (and we aren’t fooling anyone)
1:9 But if we simply acknowledge our sins, we find God faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
1:10 (Finally,) If we claim we have not sinned (as bizarre as that is), we make him a liar (since he is on record as saying we all sin) and his word is foreign to us.
1:1 The word of life: is what we (those of apostolic rank) proclaim to you (fellow believers): that which was from the beginning (Christ and our apostolic testimony of his life), what we have heard (his words), what we have seen with our eyes (miracles), what we have gazed upon and our hands have touched (the resurrected Christ)
[Observation: note here there are the first generation/eyewitnesses, and the second generation, as in Heb 2.3,4]
…concerning the word of life (The message of Christ can be summed up in one word: life)
1:2 For it was life which appeared before us: and we have seen and testify and announce to you this eternal life (in all the apostolic writings) who/which was with the Father (in eternity past), who/which actually became visible in person to us mortal men (God became man, who can take that in?)
1:3 What we have seen and heard (from Christ) we announce to you, so that you may have fellowship (first-hand knowledge) with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ).
1:4 Thus we are writing these things so that your joy and our joy may be complete (because the more that fellowship extends the greater the joy it brings us).
1:5 Now this is the gospel message (apostolic witness of the message of Christ) we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light (He is morally holy and metaphysically evident), and in him there is no darkness (sin or secrecy) at all (absolutely none).
1:6 (Therefore) If we claim we have fellowship with him (spiritual intimacy) and walk (go about our day to day lives) in the darkness (areas clearly incompatible with his holy nature), we are lying and not practicing the truth (we violate the fundamental clarity of his message and legacy).
1:7 But if we walk in the light (reflect his character) as he himself is in the light (God is holy), we have fellowship (Christ-like fellowship) with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son (work of Christ on the cross) cleanses us from all sin (even unknown sin).
1:8 If we claim we do not bear any guilt for sin (deny the fundamental clarity of our fallen condition), we live in a world of illusion and truth becomes a stranger to us (and we aren’t fooling anyone)
1:9 But if we simply acknowledge our sins, we find God faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
1:10 (Finally,) If we claim we have not sinned (as bizarre as that is), we make him a liar (since he is on record as saying we all sin) and his word is foreign to us.
