1 John
Chapter 1
Prologue
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands concerning the Word of life.
This life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.
So, we tell you what we have seen and heard so that you may share in our fellowship; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.
Light and Sin
We received his message and announced it to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not live in the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we are in fellowship with one another; and the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, cleanses us from all sin.
If we claim, ‘We have no sin,’ we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his word is not in us.
Commentaries
Prologue.
The letter explores the relationships among Christ, the apostles, and Christians. Three main themes stand out: 1. The incarnation of the Word is a historical fact that forms the foundation of Christian preaching. 2. The personal experience of John and the other apostles is rooted in real, physical contact with Jesus, which is emphasized multiple times (at least seven). 3. Communion among Christians, based on the experiences of the first witnesses, establishes a living tradition that continues in the Church: “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you” (1:3). The goal of this proclamation is to fill the hearts of both the giver and the receiver with joy (1:4) and to foster communion in the ecclesial community, sharing in communion with God the Father and Jesus, the Son. With this good news, we Christians are filled with great joy.
Light and Sin.
The image of light, to which the fourth Gospel refers Jesus (cf. Jn 8:12), is now applied to God, the source of revelation and holiness. Each of the expressions introduced by this phrase: “If we say” (6:8, 10) reflects the sentiment of the Gnostic opponents, whose teachings St. John opposes. Truth is the Word of God, proclaimed by Jesus (8:10), which penetrates the believer until it transforms his life. “Acting sincerely” points the way to a vital encounter with Jesus.
The apostle insists with healthy realism: we are sinners. Sin exists (8:10). The heartfelt awareness of our sin should not lead us to despair but to renew our faith in Christ. He is notably emphasized with three salvific roles. He is our “Advocate”—Parakletos. In the Gospel, this refers to the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 14:16, 26), but here it pertains to Jesus Christ, who intercedes for us in God’s court. He is “Just,” more in the manifestation of his salvation work than in his essence, since he forgives and justifies sinners. He is the “Victim” of atonement (cf. Ex 29:36ff), pointing to Christ’s voluntary sacrifice on the cross (cf. Rev 5:9ff), which has everlasting and universal effectiveness.