1
WhatὋwasἦνfromἀπ’the beginning,ἀρχῆςwhatὃwe have heard,ἀκηκόαμενwhatὃwe have seenἑωράκαμενwith our eyes,τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶνwhatὃwe looked atἐθεασάμεθαandκαὶour handsαἱ χεῖρες ἡμῶνtouched,ἐψηλάφησανconcerningπερὶthe Wordτοῦ λόγουof lifeτῆς ζωῆς
1 John 1:1
Study it in the app“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked at and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life”
With the Greek beneath
1 John 1:1, word by word
- wasἦνēn
exist
To have existence, to be alive.
Where else “ēn” appears- the beginningἀρχῆςarchēs
beginning
The point where something starts: its first moment.
Where else “archēs” appears- we have heardἀκηκόαμενakēkoamen
hear
To perceive a sound, a voice or words with the ears.
Where else “akēkoamen” appears- we have seenἑωράκαμενheōrakamen
see
To perceive with sight, to look and notice what is in front.
Where else “heōrakamen” appears- with our eyesὀφθαλμοῖςophthalmois
eye
The organ of sight, in the face.
Where else “ophthalmois” appears- we looked atἐθεασάμεθαetheasametha
see, behold
See, look at closely, behold.
Where else “etheasametha” appears- our handsχεῖρεςcheires
hand
The part of the body at the end of the arm, used to hold and touch.
Where else “cheires” appears- touchedἐψηλάφησανepsēlaphēsan
touch, handle
To touch, to handle.
Where else “epsēlaphēsan” appears- the Wordλόγουlogou
the Word
Jesus, the Word, at the start of John.
Where else “logou” appears- of lifeζωῆςzōēs
eternal life
What God gives to live with him without end.
Where else “zōēs” appears
Translation note
“The Word”: as in John 1:1; it can also be understood as “the message of life.”
The context
1 · This verse (above)
2(and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was revealed to us),
To study 1 John 1 in a group
1. What it says
What do the writers say they have heard, seen, and touched, and why do they announce it (v. 1-4)?
2. What it means
The text contrasts walking in the light and in darkness (v. 5-7). What does it say happens if we walk in the light?
3. How I live it
John speaks of acknowledging our sins (v. 8-9). What is hard or easy about being honest about them, without hiding?