1 John 1:1-4: The Word of Life

That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: and these things we write, that our joy may be made full (1 John 1:1-4).

John begins his first letter with no welcoming message per se; instead, he begins the letter like he began his Gospel: speaking concerning the Word of life.

John speaks regarding "that which [is] concerning the Word of life." Much is made of the Word of God as revealed in the Bible, and this is natural and understandable. But John here speaks of the incarnate Word, that which was from the beginning, with God and being God, and active in the creation (John 1:1-3). This Word becomes flesh (John 1:14). We recognize that John is speaking about Jesus, but he does so in a very powerful way.

Christianity is unique among religions because, at its heart, it is centered on a Person. Jesus is the Word. He Himself, in the flesh, is God's message to mankind. God has taken on flesh, has walked among mankind, and has provided the true light from Heaven (John 1:4-5, 14). Judaism is about the Torah; Islam is about the Qu'ran; eastern religions are often about meditation or ritual. Christianity, while having the Bible, is still about Jesus, the incarnate Word of life. This emphasis is seen constantly in John's Gospel and later in his letter (cf. John 6, 1 John 2:3-6, 4:11). Eternal life is in the Son, the Word of life (1 John 5:10-12). Everything is centered on Jesus.

And this Jesus is no mere phantasm, no "seeming" person. He was truly God in the flesh. John heard, saw, looked upon, and touched the Word of life (1 John 1:1). He did this not by touching a book or by man's work on stone or wood, but by being present with and experiencing the manifestation of "the life," Jesus in the flesh (1 John 1:2; cf. John 1:14). He testifies to Jesus as a witness of His glory and power-- testimony is a central piece to John's themes, both in his Gospel and letter. His message to Christians comes with authority-- the authority of one who saw Jesus and heard the message of God from His lips (1 John 1:1-2).

And this is why he writes-- he proclaims the message to Christians that he heard from Jesus so that Christians can have fellowship with him, as he has fellowship with the Father and the Son (1 John 1:3). Fellowship is the Greek word koinonia, and it indicates joint participation, association, a sharing. The message of Jesus is something in which we believe and then participate together in our common goal. One cannot be a believer in Jesus Christ while having no association with others who believe, as John will continue to make clear (1 John 1:7).

By writing the message and having Christians hear it and have fellowship with him and with God, John's joy is "made complete" (1 John 1:4). Let us join together in a common faith in the message of Jesus so that God's and our joy may be made complete!

Ethan R. Longhenry
evangelist@norwalkchurch.org

The Word of Life

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not (John 1:1-5).

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

Jesus therefore said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:53-54).

The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio

Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies!

Our location:

386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city limits)
Norwalk, Ohio 44857

Our assemblies:

Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am
Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm

Our Bible studies:

Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am
Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm

For More Information

If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at evangelist@norwalkchurch.org.

Please click here to return to the 2008 archive of Good News for Norwalk, or click here to return to the main page of Good News for Norwalk. Thanks!