1 John 1

1 That which was from the beginning [from the very start, before all time], which we have heard [listened to and understood], which we have seen [perceived and witnessed] with our own eyes [with our physical and spiritual sight], which we have gazed upon [looked closely at] and touched [felt and experienced] with our own hands [with our physical and spiritual grasp]—this is the Word [Logos, the divine Expression] of life [eternal and spiritual existence]. word study 2 And this is the life [eternal existence, spiritual being] that was revealed [made manifest, clearly shown]; we have seen [perceived, experienced] it and testified [borne witness, given evidence] to it, and we proclaim [declare, announce] to you the eternal [age-during, forever] life [spiritual existence, divine nature] that was with [in the presence of, alongside] the Father [the supreme Parent, God] and was revealed [made known, manifested] to us. word study 3 We proclaim [declare, announce] to you what we have seen [perceived, experienced] and heard [listened to, understood], so that you also may have [possess, enjoy] fellowship [partnership, communion] with us. And this fellowship [communion, participation] of ours is with the Father [God, the supreme Parent] and with His Son [the Messiah], Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, the Savior]. word study 4 We write [record, set forth] these things [these words, this message] so that [in order that, to the end that] our [belonging to us, shared among us] joy [deep and lasting happiness] may be [become, be fulfilled] complete [full, made perfect]. word study 5 And this is the message [declaration, announcement] we have heard from Him [Christ, the Messiah] and announce to you: God [the one true deity, Creator] is light [pure, holy, radiant], and in Him there is no darkness [sin, evil, ignorance] at all [none, absolutely none]. word study 6 If we say [claim, profess] we have fellowship [partnership, communion] with Him [the Father, God] yet walk [live, conduct ourselves] in the darkness [spiritual ignorance, evil], we lie [deceive, speak falsely] and do not practice [live out, obey] the truth [reality, God’s word]. word study 7 But if we walk [live, conduct our lives] in the light [divine illumination, purity] as He [God, the Father] is in the light [holiness, righteousness], we have fellowship [close relationship, communion] with one another [mutually, among believers], and the blood [atoning sacrifice, life] of Jesus [God’s Son, the Messiah] His Son [the Christ, Savior] cleanses [purifies, forgives] us from all [every, complete] sin [missing the mark, rebellion against God]. word study 8 If [in the event that, supposing] we say [claim, profess] we have [possess, hold] no [none, not any] sin [missing the mark, falling short], we deceive [lead astray, mislead] ourselves [our own minds, hearts], and the truth [reality, fact] is [exists, abides] not [none, nothing] in [within, among] us. word study 9 If [in the event that, if we acknowledge] we confess [admit, acknowledge openly] our sins [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards], He is faithful [trustworthy, reliable] and just [fair, righteous] to forgive [pardon, release from guilt] us our sins [transgressions, wrongdoings] and to cleanse [purify, make clean] us from all [every, complete] unrighteousness [wickedness, moral wrong]. word study 10 If [in the event that, supposing] we say [claim, profess] we have not [never, at no time] sinned [missed the mark, fallen short], we make [render, cause to be] Him [God, the Father] out to be [appear as, seem to be] a liar [one who intentionally deceives], and His word [Logos, divine message] is not [does not exist, is absent] in [within, among] us. word study