1 John 1:2

1 John 1:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
• New International Version (NIV)The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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—
• New King James Version (NKJV)the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

Context of 1 John 1:2

1[I am writing about] what existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life [the One who existed even before the beginning of the world, Christ]— and the Life [an aspect of His being] was manifested, and we have seen [it as eyewitnesses] and testify and declare to you [the Life], the eternal Life who was [already existing] with the Father and was [actually] made visible to us [His followers]— 3what we have seen and heard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship [as partners] with us. And indeed our fellowship [which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4We are writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be made complete [by having you share in the joy of salvation].

1 John 1:2 word by word

καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἐφανερώθη, καὶ ἑωράκαμεν καὶ μαρτυροῦμεν καὶ ἀπαγγέλλομεν ὑμῖν τὴν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον ἥτις ἦν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα καὶ ἐφανερώθη ἡμῖν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forκαίkai · andG2532
• the lifeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
• was manifestedφανερόωphaneroō · to revealG5319
• we have seenὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• bear witnessμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• shewἀπαγγέλλωapaggellō · to announceG518
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• eternalαἰώνιοςaiōnios · eternalG166
• whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• withπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• unto usἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for 1 John 1:2

• 1 John 5:11And the testimony is this: God has given us eternal life [we already possess it], and this life is in His Son [resulting in our spiritual completeness, and eternal companionship with Him].
• John 1:4In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men.
• John 11:25Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies;
• John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
• 1 John 3:5You know that He appeared [in visible form as a man] in order to take away sins; and in Him there is [absolutely] no sin [for He has neither the sin nature nor has He committed sin or acts worthy of blame].
• Romans 16:25Now to Him who is able to establish and strengthen you [in the faith] according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [of the plan of salvation] which has been kept secret for long ages past,
• 1 Timothy 3:16And great, we confess, is the mystery [the hidden truth] of godliness: He (Jesus Christ) who was revealed in human flesh, Was justified and vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
• 2 Timothy 1:10but now [that extraordinary purpose and grace] has been fully disclosed and realized by us through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who [through His incarnation and earthly ministry] abolished death [making it null and void] and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
• John 15:27But you will testify also and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
• John 21:14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples, after He had risen from the dead.
• Acts 1:22beginning with the baptism by John [at the outset of Jesus’ ministry] until the day when He was taken up from us—one of these men must become a witness with us [to testify] of His resurrection.”
• Acts 2:32God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses.
• Acts 3:15But you killed the Prince (Author, Originator, Source) of life, whom God raised [bodily] from the dead. To this [fact] we are witnesses [for we have seen the risen Christ].
• Acts 5:32And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.”
• Acts 10:41not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen and designated beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank together with Him after He rose from the dead.
• 1 Peter 5:1Therefore, I strongly urge the elders among you [pastors, spiritual leaders of the church], as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory that is to be revealed:

Commentaries on 1 John 1:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2For the Life was manifested - The Lord Jesus, who is the creator of all things, and the fountain of life to all sentient and intellectual beings, and from whom eternal life and happiness come, was manifested in the flesh, and we have seen him, and in consequence bear witness to him as the fountain and author of eternal life; for he who was from eternity with the Father was manifested unto us his apostles, and to the whole of the Jewish nation, and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2For the life was manifested - Was made manifest or visible unto us. He who was the life was made known to people by the incarnation. He appeared among people so that they could see him and hear him. Though originally with God, and dwelling with him, John 1:1-2, yet he came forth and appeared among people. Compare the Romans 1:3 note; 1 Timothy 3:16 note. He is the great source of all life, and he appeared on the earth, and we had an opportunity of seeing…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2This is the life: Throughout the New Testament, the Greek word zōē (which means "life") is used to describe God’s own eternal life (for example, Ephesians 4:18). This life is found in Christ, and he gives it to all who believe in him. this is the life that was revealed to us: Jesus, the Christ, was known to his apostles as a human being during his earthly ministry.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. the life--Jesus, "the Word of life." was manifested--who had previously been "with the Father." show--Translate as in 1Jo 1:3, "declare" (compare 1Jo 1:5). Declare is the general term; write is the particular (1Jo 1:4). that eternal life--Greek, "the life which is eternal." As the Epistle begins, so it ends with "eternal life," which we shall ever enjoy with, and in, Him who is "the life eternal." which--Greek, "the which." the before-mentioned (1Jo…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 1:2

• Apostles
• God
• Life
• Testimony
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Eternal life
• Deceive
• Fellowship
• Light
• Martyr
• Unction
• Walk
• Jesus Christ
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of

Commentaries on 1 John 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings