"Concerning the Word of Life"

The first sentence of John's first epistle actually covers the first four verses. There are great similarities between these verses and the first fourteen verses of John's gospel. The expression "that which was" refers to the Word of life and the characteristics exhibited by Him. The word "beginning" has a number of meanings in John and can only be understood by careful examination of the context (1 John 2:7; 1 John 3:8; 1 John 2:14). The great parallels to John's gospel account make us believe the beginning referred to here is that of creation. The "we" of this verse would seem to be the apostles, who certainly heard and saw Jesus (Acts 4:2; Matthew 13:16-17; Luke 10:23-24).

The A.S.V. has "that which we beheld" instead of "which we have looked upon." Both were trying to make us realize the meaning here involves more intense investigation than mere looking. Certainly their eye-witness account was not made from the viewpoint of a casual observer but of those who actually were able to touch the resurrected Lord (Luke 24:39; John 20:24-29). Jesus' whole purpose in coming to earth was to open up the way of life to man by paying the price of salvation (1 John 1:1; Luke 19:10; John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; 2 Corinthians 6:1; John 1:4).

The second verse of 1 John 1:1-10 is actually a parenthetical statement expanding upon the thoughts of the previous verse. From all eternity, the Life had dwelt with the Father (John 1:1-3). Then, that Life was made known, or revealed, in the flesh (John 1:14; 1 Peter 2:4-7). John and the other apostles had seen Jesus and could testify as eyewitnesses (John 14:8-11). To truly understand Jesus the Life, He must be seen as eternal in nature, having been with God in creation, then having taken the form of man and now seated on the throne ruling with the Father (Acts 2:25-36).

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