King James Version
1 John 1
10 verses with commentary
The Word of Life
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.</strong> John opens with a majestic declaration of Christ's eternality and incarnation. The phrase "from the beginning" (<em>ap' archēs</em>, ἀπ' ἀρχῆς) echoes John 1:1, affirming Christ's pre-existence before creation—not mer...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
[**1.The Exordium** (1John 1:1-4)*.*
(1)OBJECT AND PURPOSE OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING: The setting forth of the historical Christ for the spread of human fellowship with the Father and the Son (1John 1:1-3).
(2)DESIGN OF THE EPISTLE: Fulness of joy for those who should read it (1John 1:4).]
(1) **That which was from the beginning.**—The profound emotion, the hearty sympathy, the tender anxiety whi...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
7. "Is it not they that blaspheme?" &c. as in Jas 2:6 [Alford]. Rich heathen must here chiefly be meant; for none others would directly blaspheme the name of Christ. Only indirectly rich Christians can be meant, who, by their inconsistency, caused His name to be blasphemed; so Eze 36:21, 22; Ro 2:24. Besides, there were few rich Jewish Christians at Jerusalem (Ro 15:26). They who dishonor God'...
Read full commentary →(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
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<strong>(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)</strong> This parenthetical statement elaborates on "the Word of life" from verse 1. The verb "manifested" (<em>ephanerōthē</em>, ἐφανερώθη) means to make visible or reveal what was previously hidden. Eternal life existed with the...
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8. The Greek may be translated, "If, however, ye fulfil," &c., that is, as Alford, after Estius, explains, "Still I do not say, hate the rich (for their oppressions) and drive them from your assemblies; if you choose to observe the royal law ... well and good; but respect of persons is a breach of that law." I think the translation is, "If in very deed (or 'indeed on the one hand') ye fulfil t...
Read full commentary →That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
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<strong>That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.</strong> John states the purpose of apostolic proclamation: to bring believers into fellowship (<em>koinōnia</em>, κοινωνία) with the apostles and, through them, with the Father and Son. This word denotes partnership, c...
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9. Respect of persons violates the command to love all alike "as thyself."
**ye commit sin--**literally, "ye work sin," Mt 7:23, to which the reference here is probably, as in Jas 1:22. Your works are sin, whatever boast of the law ye make in words (see on Jas 2:8).
**convinced--**Old English for "convicted."
**as transgressors--**not merely of this or that particular command, but of the who...
Read full commentary →And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
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<strong>And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.</strong> John's purpose in writing is the completion or fulfillment of joy. The verb "may be full" (<em>peplērōmenē</em>, πεπληρωμένη) is in the perfect passive periphrastic, indicating a completed state of fullness that continues. True joy is found not in circumstances but in fellowship with God through Christ.<br><br>This joy...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
10. The best manuscripts read, "Whosoever shall have kept the whole law, and yet shall have offended (literally, 'stumbled'; not so strong as 'fall,' Ro 11:11) in one (point; here, the respecting of persons), is (hereby) become guilty of all." The law is one seamless garment which is rent if you but rend a part; or a musical harmony which is spoiled if there be one discordant note [Tirinus]; or a ...
Read full commentary →God Is Light
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
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<strong>This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.</strong> John presents the foundational revelation received from Christ: God is light. This is not metaphor but essential nature—light defines God's very being. In Scripture, light represents holiness, truth, purity, knowledge, and life. "In him is no darkness at ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
[2.First Half. God is Light (1John 1:5 to 1John 2:28).
(1)STATEMENT OF THE LEADING THOUGHT (1John 1:5).
(2)FIRST INFERENCE: The true fellowship (1John 1:6-7); the Christian must not sin.
(3)SECOND INFERENCE: Confession of sins (1John 1:8-10); the Christian must not conceal his sin.
(4)THIRD INFERENCE: Remedy for sins (1John 2:1-2).
(5)OBEDIENCE THE SIGN OF WALKING IN LIGHT (1John 2:3-8).
(6)ESPECI...
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11. He is One who gave the whole law; therefore, they who violate His will in one point, violate it all [Bengel]. The law and its Author alike have a complete unity.
**adultery ... kill--**selected as being the most glaring cases of violation of duty towards one's neighbor.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.</strong> John introduces the first of several conditional statements testing claims to know God. "If we say" addresses professions of faith that may be false. The contrast is stark: claiming fellowship with God (who is light) while "walking in darkness" is an impossibility—to claim otherwise is ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
12. Summing up of the previous reasonings.
**speak--**referring back to Jas 1:19, 26; the fuller discussion of the topic is given Jas 3:5-12.
**judged by the law of liberty--**(Jas 1:25); that is, the Gospel law of love, which is not a law of external constraint, but of internal, free, instinctive inclination. The law of liberty, through God's mercy, frees us from the curse of the law, that he...
Read full commentary →But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another , and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
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<strong>But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.</strong> This verse presents the positive counterpart to verse 6's warning. Walking in light is not sinless perfection but living in transparency, truth, and submission to God's revealed will. The phrase "as he is in the light" (<em>hōs a...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13. The converse of, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mt 5:7). Translate, "The judgment (which is coming on all of us) shall be without mercy to him who hath showed no mercy." It shall be such toward every one as every one shall have been [Bengel]. "Mercy" here corresponds to "love," Jas 2:8.
**mercy rejoiceth against judgment--**Mercy, so far from fearing judgment in the...
Read full commentary →If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
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<strong>If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.</strong> This verse addresses a different error than verse 6—not claiming fellowship while walking in darkness, but claiming to be without sin entirely. "Have no sin" uses the present tense, indicating a claim to possess no sin nature or principle of sin. Some interpret this as denying indwelling sin; others s...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
14. James here, passing from the particular case of "mercy" or "love" violated by "respect of persons," notwithstanding profession of the "faith of our Lord Jesus" (Jas 2:1), combats the Jewish tendency (transplanted into their Christianity) to substitute a lifeless, inoperative acquaintance with the letter of the law, for change of heart to practical holiness, as if justification could be thereby...
Read full commentary →If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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<strong>If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.</strong> This verse provides assurance of God's forgiveness while establishing the means (confession) and ground (God's faithfulness and justice) of that forgiveness.<br><br>"If we confess" (ἐὰν ὁμολογῶμεν/<em>ean homologōmen</em>) uses a third-class conditional—a condition t...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
15. The Greek is, "But if," &c.: the "But" taking up the argument against such a one as "said he had faith, and yet had not works," which are its fruits.
**a brother, &c.--**a fellow Christian, to whom we are specially bound to give help, independent of our general obligation to help all our fellow creatures.
**be--**The Greek implies, "be found, on your access to them."
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
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<strong>If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.</strong> John concludes the chapter with the most serious form of denial: claiming we have not sinned at all. This differs from verse 8 (denying we have sin/sin nature); this denies any sinful acts. The present perfect tense "have not sinned" (<em>ouch hēmartēkamen</em>, οὐχ ἡμαρτήκαμεν) suggests denying a hi...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
16. The habit of receiving passively sentimental impressions from sights of woe without carrying them out into active habits only hardens the heart.
**one of you--**James brings home the case to his hearers individually.
**Depart in peace--**as if all their wants were satisfied by the mere words addressed to them. The same words in the mouth of Christ, whose faith they said they had, were acco...
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