1 JOHN - CHAPTER 1
Verses 1-4, The Incarnation of the Word of Life
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
Commentary
Incarnation means God became flesh, He assumed human nature and became a man in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity. Jesus was truly God and truly man.
Verse 1
"From the beginning" means in the past. Three senses are in this verse: heard, seen, and touched.
Verses 2 and 3
Notice John used the word "proclaim" twice. Know what he proclaimed. Also, notice that he used the word "we" to indicate that he was not alone in the proclamation. He uses that plural pronoun throughout this letter. "We" includes all Christians and not only the one present with the writer. He also uses "our'' which also relates to inclusivity.
Verse 4
Do you recognize a fruit of the spirit in this verse?
Verses 5-7, Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out 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, purifies us from all sin.
Commentary
Verses 5-7
Notice the opposites of light and darkness and sin and forgiveness. Also, notice what the message is that John says we have heard. John uses the word "if" continually. "If" means suppose something happens.
Verse 8-10
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Commentary
Verses 8-10
John continues to use "if" as a supposition. Pay attention to the big "if" in Verse 9 which is a popular scripture among Christians.
|
|
