1 John 1:4

1 John 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
• New International Version (NIV)We write this to make our joy complete.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Context of 1 John 1:4

2This life was revealed to us. We have seen it, and we testify about it. We are reporting to you about this eternal life that was in the presence of the Father and was revealed to us. 3This is the life we have seen and heard. We are reporting about it to you also so that you, too, can have a relationship with us. Our relationship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that we can be completely filled with joy. 5This is the message we heard from Christ and are reporting to you: God is light, and there isn’t any darkness in him. 6If we say, “We have a relationship with God” and yet live in the dark, we’re lying. We aren’t being truthful.

1 John 1:4 word by word

καὶ ταῦτα γράφομεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• write weγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• joyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• joyχαράchara · joyG5479
• may beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• fullπληρόωplēroō · to fulfillG4137

Cross-references for 1 John 1:4

• Isaiah 61:10I will find joy in the Lord. I will delight in my God. He has dressed me in the clothes of salvation. He has wrapped me in the robe of righteousness like a bridegroom with a priest’s turban, like a bride with her jewels.
• Habakkuk 3:17Even if the fig tree does not bloom and the vines have no grapes, even if the olive tree fails to produce and the fields yield no food, even if the sheep pen is empty and the stalls have no cattle—
• John 15:11I have told you this so that you will be as joyful as I am, and your joy will be complete.
• John 16:24So far you haven’t asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive so that you can be completely happy.
• 2 Corinthians 1:24It isn’t that we want to have control over your Christian faith. Rather, we want to work with you so that you will be happy. Certainly, you are firmly established in the Christian faith.
• Ephesians 3:19You will know Christ’s love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God.
• Philippians 1:25Since I’m convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you. This will help you to grow and be joyful in your faith.
• 2 John 1:12I have a lot to write to you. I would prefer not to write a letter. Instead, I hope to visit and talk things over with you personally. Then we will be completely filled with joy.

Commentaries on 1 John 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4That your joy may be full - Ye have already tasted that the Lord is good; but I am now going to show you the height of your Christian calling, that your happiness may be complete, being thoroughly cleansed from all sin, and filled with the fullness of God.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And these things write we unto you - These things respecting him who was manifested in the flesh, and respecting the results which flow from that. That your joy may be full - This is almost the same language which the Saviour used when addressing his disciples as he was about to leave them, John 15:11; and there can be little doubt that John had that declaration in remembrance when he uttered this remark. See the notes at that passage. The sense here is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4so that our joy may be complete: The joy that the apostles have comes from their fellowship with God the Father and the Son (1:3). Those John is writing to will share this joy when they also enter into this close relationship with God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. these things--and none other, namely, this whole Epistle. write we unto you--Some oldest manuscripts omit "unto you," and emphasize "we." Thus the antithesis is between "we" (apostles and eye-witnesses) and "your." We write thus that your joy may be full. Other oldest manuscripts and versions read "OUR joy," namely, that our joy may be filled full by bringing you also into fellowship with the Father and Son. (Compare Joh 4:36, end; Php 2:2, "Fulfil ye…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 1:4

• Joy
• Testimony
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Deceive
• Fellowship
• Light
• Unction
• Walk
• John, the Epistles of
• John, the First Epistle General 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