The First Epistle General of John

1 He testifieth that he bringeth the eternal word, wherein is life, 5 and light. 9 God will be merciful unto the faithful, if groaning under the burden of their sins, they learn to flee unto his mercy.

That [a]which was from the beginning, which we have [b]heard, which we have seen with these our eyes, which we have looked upon, and these hands of ours have handled of that [c]word of life,

(For that life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and [d]show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was made manifest unto us.)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 1:1 He beginneth with the description of the person of Christ, whom he maketh one and not two: and him both God from everlasting (for he was with the Father from the beginning, and is that eternal life) and also made true man, whom John himself and his companions, both heard and beheld, and handled.
  2. 1 John 1:1 I heard him speak, I saw him myself with mine eyes, I handled with mine hands him that is very God, being made very man, and not I alone, but others also that were with me.
  3. 1 John 1:1 That same everlasting word, by whom all things are made, and in whom only there is life.
  4. 1 John 1:2 Being sent by him: and that doctrine is rightly said to be showed, for no man could so much as have thought of it, if it had not been thus showed.

We ·write [announce/proclaim to] you now about what ·has always existed [was from the beginning; Gen. 1:1; John 1:1], which we have heard, [L which] we have seen with our own eyes, [L which] we have looked at, and we have touched with our hands. We ·write [announce/proclaim] to you about the ·Word that gives life [Word of life; C associating the logos or “word” with Jesus suggests he is God’s communication with humanity; John 1:4; 11:25; 14:6]. ·He who gives life [L The life] ·was shown [appeared; was revealed] to us. We saw him and can ·give proof about [testify/witness to] it. And now we ·announce [proclaim; declare] to you ·that he has life that continues forever [L the eternal life]. He was with ·God the Father [L the Father] and ·was shown [appeared; was revealed] to us.

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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.

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