1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— (Lu 24:39; Joh 1:1; Joh 1:14; Joh 19:35; Joh 20:27; Ac 4:20; 2Pe 1:16; 1Jo 2:13; 1Jo 4:14)2the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— (Joh 1:4; Joh 11:25; Joh 14:6; Joh 15:27; Ro 16:26; 1Ti 3:16; 1Jo 1:1; 1Jo 3:5; 1Jo 3:8)3that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (Joh 17:21; 1Co 1:9; 1Jo 1:1; 1Jo 2:24)4And we are writing these things so that our[1] joy may be complete. (Joh 15:11; Joh 16:24)
Walking in the Light
5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (Joh 4:24; Jas 1:17; 1Jo 3:11; 1Jo 4:8)6If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (Joh 3:21; Joh 12:35; 2Co 6:14; 1Jo 2:11)7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (Ps 104:2; Isa 2:5; Eph 1:7; 1Ti 6:16; Heb 9:14; 1Pe 1:19; Re 5:9; Re 7:14; Re 12:11)8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (Job 15:14; Jer 2:35; Jas 3:2; 1Jo 2:4)9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Ps 32:5; Ps 51:3; Ps 143:1; Pr 28:13; Ro 3:26; 1Jo 1:7)10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (Joh 5:38; Joh 8:37; 1Jo 5:10)
1 John 1
New International Version
The incarnation of the Word of life
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.4We write this to make our[1] joy complete.
Light and darkness, sin and forgiveness
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.6If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[2] sin.8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1 John 1
King James Version
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1
New International Reader’s Version
The Word of life became a human being
1Here is what we announce to everyone about the Word of life. The Word was already here from the beginning. We have heard him. We have seen him with our eyes. We have looked at him. Our hands have touched him.2This life has appeared. We have seen him. We are witnesses about him. And we announce to you this same eternal life. He was already with the Father. He has appeared to us.3We announce to you what we have seen and heard. We do it so you can share life together with us. And we share life with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.4We are writing this to make our joy complete.
Walking in the light
5Here is the message we have heard from him and announce to you. God is light. There is no darkness in him at all.6Suppose we say that we share life with God but still walk in the darkness. Then we are lying. We are not living out the truth.7But suppose we walk in the light, just as he is in the light. Then we share life with one another. And the blood of Jesus, his Son, makes us pure from all sin.8Suppose we claim we are without sin. Then we are fooling ourselves. The truth is not in us.9But God is faithful and fair. If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure.10If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar. His word is not in us.