1 John 1:4

Contextual Overview

¹ 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 ¹That 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. ¹ The Word that gives life was from the beginning, and this is the one our message is about. Our ears have heard, our own eyes have seen, and our hands touched this Word. ¹ The Word, which gives life! He existed from the beginning. We have heard him, we have seen him with our eyes, we have contemplated him, we have touched him with our hands! ¹ That which was from [the] beginning, that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes; that which we contemplated, and our hands handled, concerning the word of life; ¹ We want to tell you about the Word that gives life—the one who existed before the world began. This is the one we have heard and have seen with our own eyes. We saw what he did, and our hands touched him. ¹ 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 That which was from the first, which has come to our ears, and which we have seen with our eyes, looking on it and touching it with our hands, about the Word of life ¹ That which was from the beginning, which wee haue heard, which wee haue seene with these our eyes, which wee haue looked vpon, and these handes of ours haue handled of that Word of life, ¹ HE who was from the beginning, the one whom we have heard and seen with our eyes, looked upon and handled with our hands, we declare to you that he is the word of life.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that: Isaiah 61:10, Habakkuk 3:17, Habakkuk 3:18, John 15:11, John 16:24, 2 Corinthians 1:24, Ephesians 3:19, Philippians 1:25, Philippians 1:26, 2 John 1:12

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 12:12 - And ye Proverbs 29:6 - but Song of Solomon 2:3 - I sat Matthew 10:2 - John John 17:13 - that John 20:30 - General Philippians 2:2 - Fulfil Philippians 2:28 - and that 2 Timothy 1:4 - filled 1 John 2:1 - these 1 John 2:12 - write 1 John 5:13 - have I

Cross-References

Genesis 1:10
God called the dry land "earth," and the gathering of waters He called "seas." And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:10
And God called the drie land, Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called hee, Seas: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:10
God named the dry ground "Land," and he named the water "Ocean." God looked at what he had done and saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:10
God called the dry land Earth, the gathering together of the water he called Seas, and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:10
And God called the dry [land] Earth, and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:10
God named the dry land "earth," and he named the water that was gathered together "seas." And God saw that this was good.

Genesis 1:10
God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:10
And God gave the dry land the name of Earth; and the waters together in their place were named Seas: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:10
And God called the drie lande ye earth, and the gatheryng together of waters called he the seas: and God sawe that it was good.

Genesis 1:10
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas; and God saw that it was good.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And these things write we unto you,.... Concerning the deity and eternity of Christ, the Word and concerning the truth of his humanity, and the manifestation of him in the flesh; and concerning that eternal life and salvation which is declared in the Gospel to be in him; and concerning the saints' fellowship one with another, and with God the Father, and with Jesus Christ:

that your joy may be full; meaning either their spiritual joy in this life, which has Christ for its object, and is increased by the consideration of his proper deity, his incarnation and mediation by a view of free justification by his righteousness, and atonement by his blood; by a sight of his glorious person by faith, and by intimate communion with him, and a discovery of his love, which passeth knowledge: and which joy, when it is large, and very great, may, in a comparative sense, be said to be full, though not absolutely so, and being as much as can well be enjoyed in this state; and nothing can more contribute to it than a declaration of the above things in the Gospel, and an experimental acquaintance with them, and enjoyment of them: or else it may intend the joy of the saints in the world to come, in the presence of Christ, where are fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore; and so may express the ultimate glory and happiness of God's people, which is the chief end, as of his purposes, promises, and covenant, so of the Gospel, and the declaration of it. The Syriac version renders it, "that our joy, which is in you, may be full"; it is the joy of the ministers of the word, when the saints are established in the faith of Christ's person and offices, and have communion with him, with which view they declare him, and bear record of him. Some copies read, our joy.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And these things write we unto you - These things respecting him who was manifested in the flesh, and respecting the results which flow from that.

That your joy may be full - This is almost the same language which the Saviour used when addressing his disciples as he was about to leave them, John 15:11; and there can be little doubt that John had that declaration in remembrance when he uttered this remark. See the notes at that passage. The sense here is, that full and clear views of the Lord Jesus, and the fellowship with him and with each other, which would follow from that, would be a source of happiness. Their joy would be complete if they had that; for their real happiness was to be found in their Saviour. The best editions of the Greek Testament now read “your joy,” instead of the common reading “our joy.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 John 1:4. That your joy may be full. — Ye have already tasted that the Lord is good; but I am now going to show you the height of your Christian calling, that your happiness may be complete, being thoroughly cleansed from all sin, and filled with the fulness of God.