1 John 1 (BHT-ATN)

“The Message concerning the Word of Life”

1 The message concerning the Word of life, who always existed,+ whom we have heard, whom we have seen with our own eyes, whom we have looked at and whom our own hands have touched—this we proclaim.+ 2 Indeed, the life appeared; we have seen him,+ and so as firsthand witnesses bring ᵖyou+ news+ about the source+ of the life of the coming age,+ who was with the Father and appeared to us. 3 What we have seen and heard we pass on likewise to you, so that you, too, may share+ in the very fellowship that we ourselves know.+ And this fellowship, moreover, that we ourselves enjoy,+ is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus the Messiah. 4 Indeed, these things we are writing so that we may all be filled with the greatest of joy.+

5 This is the message that we have received+ from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is in him no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to be in fellowship with him, and yet live in the darkness, we are lying and not living our lives in accordance with the truth.+ 7 If it is the light, however, in which we are living our lives, just as he himself is in the light, then it is close fellowship that we have with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, continually cleanses us from every sin.+ 8 If we claim that we are of sin not guilty,+ we are our own selves merely deceiving, and the truth is not in us.+ 9 If we are willing to confess our sins, however, God is indeed faithful+ and true to his good and merciful will,+ and so will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from every kind of wickedness.+ 10 If we say, “we aren’t guilty of sin,”+ we are making God+ out to be a liar, and his word does not dwell in us.+

+1:1Or That which was from the outset, or That which was from the beginning. Lit That which was from eternity. For a summary of the interpretation of ἀρχή ( archē) represented in the text, see NAC (1, 2, 3 Jn), 51-2. Cf also TDNT, 1:481; NCV.+1:1Lit That which was from eternity/the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we saw and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life. ME (see ESS [1, 2, 3 Jn], 11; NAC [1, 2, 3 Jn], 51; UBSHS [1 Jn], 11; TDNT, 1:481). Cf NET, NCV, NIV, NLT, NRSV, TEV. The neuter gender is used in the relative clauses here, but the primary focus is the Word, ie, Christ himself. For other examples of the neuter being used for personal referents in John’s writings, see translation and notes at Jn 4:22, 6:37, and 17:10.+1:2Or it. The direct object is implied here from the context.+1:2Unless otherwise marked (through superscript—ˢyou), all second person pronouns are the in the second person plural.+1:2Lit and we testify and announce/bring news.+1:2Since Jesus/the Word is the one being referred to here, “life” here is metonymical for the source of life (cf translation and notes at Jn 1:4 and 5:26), referring to “what causes people to live eternally” ( UBSHS [1 Jn], 15). Cf NCV, NLT, and TEV here and at Jn 1:4 and 5:26.+1:2This is a more literal rendering of ζωὴν αἰώνιον ( zōēn aiōnion), which most English translations render as “eternal life.” See UBSHS (Jn), 88.+1:3Lit have. ME (see note at Jn 3:15).+1:3Lit may have fellowship with us. ME (see UBSHS [1 Jn], 17; translation and note at Jn 3:15). Cf TEV.+1:3Lit And the fellowship that is ours. ME (see UBSHS [1 Jn], 17). Cf TEV.+1:4Lit so that our joy may be made complete. ME (see translation and notes at Jn 15:11). ἡμῶν ( hēmōn) here is interpreted as an inclusive first person plural. This is reflected in the translation.+1:5Or heard. Cf BSL, 1 Jn 1:5, sv ἀκούω; L-N, 33.212.+1:6Lit not doing the truth. ME (see translation and notes at Jn 3:21).+1:7Or from all sin, or from every kind of sin.+1:8Lit If we say that we do not have sin. ME (see translation and notes at Jn 9:41 and 15:22-24).+1:8Cf Jn 3:16-21 and 9:35-41.+1:9Or trustworthy, or reliable.+1:9Lit and righteous/upright/just. ME(OTB) (see translation and notes at Mt 5:48; UBSHS [1 Jn], 31; v 2:12 below). Cf Ex 34:6-7.+1:9Or from all wickedness. Cf Rm 1; Ga 5:16-26; Eph 4:17-24; Col 3:5-8.+1:10Lit we have not sinned. The perfect tense is used here, and therefore “guilty of sin” has been used in translation to signal the ongoing effects at the time of the speaker. Cf HCSB.+1:10Lit him.+1:10Cf Jn 5:38, 15:7; Col 3:16; 1 Jn 2:14.