Prologue: Our Declaration

What was from the beginning,(A)
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we have observed
and have touched with our hands,
concerning the Word(B) of life—
that life was revealed,(C)
and we have seen it
and we testify and declare to you
the eternal life that was with the Father
and was revealed to us(D)
what we have seen and heard
we also declare to you,
so that you may have fellowship(E) along with us;
and indeed our fellowship is with the Father(F)
and with His Son Jesus Christ.
We are writing these things[a]
so that our[b] joy(G) may be complete.

Fellowship with God

Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light,(H) and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.(I) If we say, “We have fellowship(J) with Him,” yet we walk in darkness,(K) we are lying and are not practicing[c] the truth.(L) But if we walk in the light(M) as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus(N) His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,”(O) we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive(P) us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word(Q) is not in us.(R)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 1:4 Other mss add to you
  2. 1 John 1:4 Other mss read your
  3. 1 John 1:6 Or not living according to

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