John's Christmas Story: The Word Becomes Incarnate for Our Joy

It is interesting to note that of the 11 verbs in these first four verses, 9 of them are in the indicative mood, which is, in essence, the matter-of-fact mood

from the beginning,

An obvious reference to Gen 1:1 & John 1:1

Temporal

which we have heard,

Here, and again in vv. 2 & 3 John gives the means by which they experienced the Word; it was through their natural senses of seeing, hearing, and touching. This is very important considering the context of the epistle

Means

which we have seen

with our eyes,

The entire epistle of John revolves around the incarnation. Docetisism, the heresy John was combating, stated that the flesh was evil and the spirit was good. Therefore, they reasoned that Jesus couldn't have been human because He would have been evil. This testimony of physically seeing and touching the Word combats that heresy

Manner

which we looked upon

and have touched

with our hands,

concerning the word

Reference

of life—

Jesus is the Life but He is also the Word. That is why I labeled this Genitive as Epexegetical

Epexegetical

The Humanity of the Word

Proclamation of the Incarnation

1:2a is the main phrase of the entire passage. The Word incarnate is the very thing which John & the other apostles have testified to. It is supported by v.1 and the rest of v.2 reiterating what had just been proclaimed by John

the life was made manifest,

and we have seen it,

The word μαρτυρέω (martureō) is used for 'testify.' The TDNT defines this word as " Witness to Facts in the Legal Sphere." John & and the other apostles were testifying to facts of the humanity of Christ NOT mere apparitions of His humanity as the Gnostics would believe

Explanation of 1:1c-h

and testify

to it

and proclaim to you the eternal life,

Ground

which was with the Father

Two separate statements are in view here of Christ: (1) His eternality–the phrase 'with the Father' indicates His face-to-face relationship with, and as part of the Godhead

Locative

and was made manifest

(2) His fleshly humanity–While Jesus was completely God He was also completely human. The manifestation is that of His humanity, not simply about a revelation of salvation

Result

to us—

Advantage

Fellowship with the Word

Fellowship in the Incarnation

that which we have seen

Explanation

and heard

we proclaim also

Series

to you,

so that you too may have fellowship

The purpose of this epistle is fellowship in the Father & Son. The proclamation is so that the hearers may enter into this fellowship with the Divine Godhead

Purpose

with us;

Association

and indeed our fellowship is

Explanation of the Purpose

with the Father

Assocation

and with his Son

Jesus Christ.

Explanation: Appositive

The Joy of of the Word

The Reason for the Proclamation

And we are writing these things

Fellowship with God is indeed joy–joy for the hearer as well as those proclaiming that new life has been born of God through faith and repentance. This is the message of the Incarnation

so that our joy may be complete.

phrasing

Wisdom, Works, and Worship

The Incarnation of Jesus is about joy! According to Matthew 1:21 Jesus came to save His people from their sins. This coming had to take place somewhere in time and space and it began "from the beginning" (1:1a) and was "with the Father" (1:2f). The key words that appear in the text help to explain it; life, word, proclaim, and fellowship. In essence they explain the gospel in the incarnation. Jesus, the Word, is with the Father in the beginning. He is manifested for the sake of the world, seen, heard, and witnessed to by those chosen out of the world, and sent with the message of forgiveness and reconciliation (fellowship). It is this in view when John states, "we write these things so that our joy may be complete." Jesus was incarnated for our joy! When we respond by faith to the Word of God preached we find joy in our obedience and complete the joy of those who administered that good Word to us. This Advent season let us reflect thoughtfully on the joy we have in fellowship with the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and each other. Merry Christmas!

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