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1 John 1 · a question people ask

"concerning the Word of life" (1:1). What is it?

In the text

Here are the verses as the WEB has them: "That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life" (1:1) "(and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);" (1:2) "that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." (1:3). These notes don't explain it further, and they set no other verse beside it.

The verses

“That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us); that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
1 John 1:1-3 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 John 1

1 John 1: That you also may have fellowship

1:3 says why the letter declares what it does, "that you also may have fellowship with us", and says with whom that fellowship is: "Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." (1:3).

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Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions