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Selected Verse: 1 John 1:4 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Jo 1:4 |
King James |
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
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; Phi 2:2, "Fulfil ye my joy," Phi 2:16; Phi 4:1; Jo2 1:8). It is possible that "your" may be a correction of transcribers to make this verse harmonize with Joh 15:11; Joh 16:24; however, as John often repeats favorite phrases, he may do so here, so "your" may be from himself. So Jo2 1:12, "your" in oldest manuscripts. The authority of manuscripts and versions on both sides here is almost evenly balanced. Christ Himself is the source, object, and center of His people's joy (compare Jo1 1:3, end); it is in fellowship with Him that we have joy, the fruit of faith. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And 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, Joh 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, that full and clear views of the Lord Jesus, and the fellowship with him and with each other, which would follow from that, would be a source of happiness. Their joy would be complete if they had that; for their real happiness was to be found in their Saviour. The best editions of the Greek Testament now read "your joy," instead of the common reading "our joy." |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
These things
The whole Epistle.
Write we unto you (γράφομεν ὑμῖν)
The best texts read ἡμεῖς we, instead of ὑμῖν to you. Both the verb and the pronoun are emphatic. The writer speaks with conscious authority, and his message is to be not only announced (ἀπαγγέλλομεν, Jo1 1:3), but written. We write is emphasized by the absence of the personal object, to you.
Your joy (ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν)
The best texts read ἡμῶν, our, though either reading gives a good sense.
Full (πεπληρωμένη)
More correctly, fulfilled. Frequent in John. See Joh 3:29; Joh 7:8; Joh 8:38; Joh 15:11; Jo2 1:12; Rev 6:11. "The peace of reconciliation, the blessed consciousness of sonship, the happy growth in holiness, the bright prospect of future completion and glory, - all these are but simple details of that which, in all its length and breadth is embraced by one word, Eternal Life, the real possession of which is the immediate source of our joy. We have joy, Christ's joy, because we are blessed, because we have life itself in Christ" (Dsterdieck, cit. by Alford). And Augustine: "For there is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love Thee for thine own sake, whose joy Thou thyself art. And this is the happy life, to rejoice to Thee, of Thee; this is it and there is no other" ("Confessions," x., 22). Alford is right in remarking that this verse gives an epistolary character to what follows, but it can hardly be said with him that it "fills the place of the χαίρειν greeting, lit., rejoice, so common in the opening of Epistles." |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| That your joy may be full - So our Lord also, Joh 15:11; Joh 16:22. There is a joy of hope, a joy of faith, and a joy of love. Here the joy of faith is directly intended. It is a concise expression. Your joy - That is, your faith and the joy arising from it: but it likewise implies the joy of hope and love. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| That 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. |
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.