That (1) which was from the beginning, which we have (a) heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the (b) Word of life; (1) He begins with the description of the person of Christ who he makes one and not two: and him both God from everlastin... [ Continue Reading ]
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and (c) shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (c) Being sent by him: and that doctrine is correctly said to be shown, for no man could so much as have thought of it, if it had n... [ Continue Reading ]
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, (2) that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (2) The use of this doctrine is this, that all of us being coupled and joined together with Christ by faith, might becom... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (3) Now he enters into a question, by which we may understand that we are joined together with Christ, that is, if we are governed with his light, which is perceived b... [ Continue Reading ]
But if we walk in the (d) light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, (4) and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (d) God is said to be light by his own nature, and to be in light, that is to say, in that everlasting infinite blessedness: and we are s... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) If we say that we have no sin, we (e) deceive ourselves, and the (f) truth is not in us. (5) There is none but need this benefit, because there is none that is not a sinner. (e) This fully refutes that perfectness of works of supererogation (doing more than duty requires, the idea that excess... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) If we confess our sins, he is (g) faithful and just to (h) forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (6) Therefore the beginning of salvation is to acknowledge our wickedness and to require pardon from him, who freely forgives all sins, because he has promised to do so... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him (i) a liar, and his (k) word is not in us. (7) A repeat of the former verse, in which he condemned all of sin without exception: so much so that if any man persuade himself otherwise, he does as much as in him lies, make the word of God himself use... [ Continue Reading ]