"1 That 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— 2 the 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— 3 that 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. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." ESV (Text copied from BibleGateway.com)
John is write this letter to different churches. John starts his letter is a similar fashion as the start of his part of the Gospel. "That which is from the beginning" (1 John 1:1) is close to "In the beginning was the Word." (John 1:1) John starts out to say that what is from the beginning that he and others have heard, seen, touched was concerning the word of life. The word of life is Christ. In the Gospel of John, John writes that Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1 & 14). This Word is the bread of life (John 6:48). So John is telling the Christians reading this, that he (John) has heard, seen, and touched Jesus. John would continue to tell us that "life was made manifest." (1 John 1:2) Manifest is translated from the Ancient Greek word phaneroo (fä-ne-ro'-ō). Phaneroo means "to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way." ( BlueLetterBible.com)
This life that was manifested to us through Christ, John used it to proclaim Christ so you can have fellowship. The Greek word John would use is koinōnia. Koinōnia means "fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse." ( BlueLetterBible.com) So fellowship is like a club which everyone would have something in common. This fellowship that John is talking about is a Christian fellowship that the God the Father and his son Jesus Christ are part of. So this fellowship would have the things of God on our mind, which is what Jesus talked about and John proclaimed to these Christians(and us). That everything that John learned from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, he told these Christians so they would have a common believe of the Lord. John is telling this to us because fellowship in the Lord and other Christians would complete our joy in the Lord (1 John 1:4). Jesus talks about joy in God and that if the Disciples would obey God they would receive the joy (John 15:10-11). John also writes in his third letter verse 14 that he has no better joy then know that some he should Christ to is walking in the light. Paul even told the Philippians, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." (Philippians 2:1-2) Paul had joy knowing that the Philippians had the same mind as him.
These first four verses in John are about sharing the Bread of Life (John 6:48) that was made know to us so we can have fellowship with other Christians, with God, and his son Jesus. Doing this would complete our joy in God.
O gracious Lord of all, I want to thank you for the great word you have put on this sinful world. Your word will stand forever and ever. Lord, I pray that we as Christians can continue to share the Gospel and with your power, help heal some wounds that have hurt the growth of Your Church, turn more people to your word. Let our joy be complete but living in obedience to your commandments and following your way. I pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, you son. Amen.
