1That 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 2(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); 3that 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. 4And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
5This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to 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 the darkness, we lie and don’t tell 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 Christ his Son, cleanses 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 righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
John speaks of Jesus in his first chapter, but not as one who had a casual connection to Him, as would have been experienced by the crowds of Israel. Rather he is describing the close personal relationship with Jesus that is the highest form of personal knowledge. After identifying Jesus similar to the first words of his gospel, in which Jesus is described as the eternal Word of God, through whom the Father created the universe, he then declares Him to be the one who gives eternal life and fellowship with Him and the Father. Though clearly viewing Jesus as God, he also strongly speaks of Christ's humanity in that the apostles heard Jesus (even stared at and handled with their hands. In contrast to an incipient gnostic view at the period of time that was developing in the late 1st and early second century that denied the true humanity and physically of Jesus, John said Jesus was truly God and truly man (also see John 1:14; 1 John 4:2, 3.