1 John
Chapter 1
Overview
The writer speaks as someone who personally heard, saw, and touched Jesus, and now invites his readers into the shared life that comes through him. The chapter moves from this firsthand experience to a clear picture of God as light, completely untouched by darkness. That image becomes a test of honesty: claiming closeness with God means little if our lives remain hidden in wrongdoing. Yet the chapter is not gloomy. It offers an open door—admitting our wrongs brings forgiveness, cleansing, and restored closeness with God and one another.
1We are telling you about the Word who gives life. He existed from the beginning. We have heard him, seen him with our own eyes, looked closely at him, and touched him with our own hands.
2This life appeared, and we have seen it. We speak from firsthand knowledge and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.
3We announce to you what we have seen and heard so that you too may share life with us. The life we share is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus the Messiah.
4We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5This is the message we heard from Jesus and now announce to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.
6If we say that we share life with God while continuing to live in darkness, we are lying and are not living according to the truth.
7But if we live in the light, just as God is in the light, we share life with one another, and the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we openly admit our sins, God is faithful and just. He will forgive our sins and cleanse us from everything we have done wrong.
10If we say that we have not sinned, we make God out to be a liar, and his message has no place in us.