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.
1:3 John repeats “seen and heard” to emphasize his eyewitness status before introducing another significant theme in the epistle, fellowship. Here he states that a part of his purpose in writing his eyewitness testimony to them is so that they can have fellowship with John and the apostles, “us.” John then declares that he and the apostles (“our”) have fellowship with God the Father and Jesus the Son. The readers are invited to participate in that same fellowship. “Fellowship” translates the word koinonia, which has several meanings in the New Testament. It is used elsewhere with the sense of partnership, sharing resources, possessions, and communion. In this epistle, John consistently uses it with the sense of communion. He speaks of relationship, and this with God and Jesus.