Study Desk

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

That which was from the beginning,^(a) which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,^(b) which we have looked at and our hands have touched^(c)—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

The life appeared;^(d) we have seen it and testify to it,^(e) and we proclaim to you the eternal life,^(f) which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,^(g) so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.^(h)

We write this⁽ⁱ⁾ to make our^[a] joy complete.^(j)

This is the message we have heard^(k) from him and declare to you: God is light;^(l) in him there is no darkness at all.

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,^(m) we lie and do not live out the truth.⁽ⁿ⁾

But if we walk in the light,^(o) as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[b] sin.^(p)

If we claim to be without sin,^(q) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.^(r)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins^(s) and purify us from all unrighteousness.^(t)

If we claim we have not sinned,^(u) we make him out to be a liar^(v) and his word is not in us.^(w)