Keraia
1 John 1

1 John 1:4

The Word of Life · 1 John 1:1–4
Read 1 John 1

Translations

Modern
We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
Traditional
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Literal
And these things we write so that our joy may be full.
Latin
Et hæc scribimus vobis ut gaudeatis, et gaudium vestrum sit plenum.

Original

Greek
English
We write these things so that our joy may be complete.

Notes

1 John 1:4

so that our joy may be complete: The joy that the apostles have comes from their fellowship with God the Father and the Son (1:3). Those John is writing to will share this joy when they also enter into this close relationship with God.

1 John 1:1–4

  • This opening section, written in the form of a poem, is similar to the message of the beginning of John’s Gospel (John 1:1–18).

  • The we language in the introduction refers to John and the other apostles, and perhaps to other Christians who had seen and touched Jesus Christ. The apostles personally saw Jesus and had personal fellowship with God through him. John, representing the apostles, now invites those he is writing to join in that fellowship.

Theme notes and profiles

The Written Word

Parallels

Luke 24:36–49 John 20:19–23

Glossary

First Letter of John Inspiration of the Bible Resurrection Second Letter of John Writer

Topics

Grace: Manifestation of, in Others, a Cause of Gladness Joining Church Joy of Saints, Made Full by Communion of Saints Testimony: Religious, Exemplified Word of God: Inspiration of