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Selected Verse: 1 John 1:2 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Jo 1:2	Strong Concordance	(For [2532] the life [2222] was manifested [5319], and [2532] we have seen [3708] it, and [2532] bear witness [3140], and [2532] shew [518] unto you [5213] that eternal [166] life [2222], which [3748] was [2258] with [4314] the Father [3962], and [2532] was manifested [5319] unto us [2254];)
	King James	(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;)

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
the life--Jesus, "the Word of life." was manifested--who had previously been "with the Father." show--Translate as in Jo1 1:3, "declare" (compare Jo1 1:5). Declare is the general term; write is the particular (Jo1 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 (Jo1 1:1) life which was with the Father "from the beginning" (compare Joh 1:1). This proves the distinctness of the First and Second Persons in the one Godhead.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

the life--Jesus, "the Word of life."

was manifested--who had previously been "with the Father."

show--Translate as in Jo1 1:3, "declare" (compare Jo1 1:5). Declare is the general term; write is the particular (Jo1 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 (Jo1 1:1) life which was with the Father "from the beginning" (compare Joh 1:1). This proves the distinctness of the First and Second Persons in the one Godhead.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For 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, Joh 1:1-2, yet he came forth and appeared among people. Compare the Rom 1:3 note; Ti1 3:16 note. He is the great source of all life, and he appeared on the earth, and we had an opportunity of seeing and knowing what he was. And we have seen it - This repetition, or turning over the thought, is designed to express the idea with emphasis, and is much in the manner of John. See Joh 1:1-3. He is particularly desirous of impressing on them the thought that he had been a personal witness of what the Saviour was, having had every opportunity of knowing it from long and familiar contact with him. And bear witness - We testify in regard to it. John was satisfied that his own character was known to be such that credit would be given to what he said. He felt that he was known to be a man of truth, and hence he never doubts that faith would be put in all his statements. See Joh 19:35; Joh 21:24; Rev 1:2; Jo3 1:12. And shew unto you that eternal life - That is, we declare unto you what that life was - what was the nature and rank of him who was the life, and how he appeared when on earth. He here attributes eternity to the Son of God - implying that he had always been with the Father. Which was with the Father - Always before the manifestation on the earth. See Joh 1:1. "The word was with God." This passage demonstrates the pre-existence of the Son of God, and proves that he was eternal. Before he was manifested on earth he had an existence to which the word life could be applied, and that was eternal. He is the Author of eternal life to us. And was manifested unto us - In the flesh; as a man. He who was the life appeared unto people. The idea of John evidently is, (1) that the Being here referred to was forever with God; (2) that it was proper before the incarnation that the word life should be given to him as descriptive of his nature; (3) that there was a manifestation of him who was thus called life, on earth; that he appeared among people; that he had a real existence here, and not a merely assumed appearance; and, (4) that the true characteristics of this incarnate Being could be borne testimony to by those who had seen him, and who had been long with him. This second verse should be regarded as a parenthesis.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
This verse is parenthetical. Compare, for similar interruptions of the construction, Jo1 1:3, Joh 1:14, Joh 3:16, Joh 3:31; Joh 19:35. And (καὶ) See on Joh 1:10; see on Joh 8:20. The Life (ἡ ζωὴ) The Word Himself who is the Life. Compare Joh 14:6; Joh 5:26; Jo1 5:11, Jo1 5:12. Life expresses the nature of the Word (Joh 1:4). The phrase, the Life, besides being equivalent to the Word, also indicates, like the Truth and the Light, an aspect of His being. Was manifested (ἐφανερώθη) See on Joh 21:1. Corresponding with the Word was made flesh (Joh 1:14). The two phrases, however, present different aspects of the same truth. The Word became flesh, contemplates simply the historic fact of incarnation. The life was manifested, sets forth the unfolding of that fact in the various operations of life. The one denotes the objective process of the incarnation as such, the other the result of that process as related to human capacity of receiving and understanding it. "The reality of the incarnation would be undeclared if it were said, 'The Life became flesh.' The manifestation of the Life was a consequence of the incarnation of the Word, but it is not coextensive with it" (Westcott). Have seen - bear witness - shew Three ideas in the apostolic message: experience, testimony, announcement. Bear witness See on Joh 1:7. Shew (ἀπαγγέλλομεν) Better, as Rev., declare. See on Joh 16:25. So here. The message comes from (ἀπὸ) God. That eternal life (τὴν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον) A particularly faulty translation, since it utterly fails to express the development of the idea of life, which is distinctly contemplated by the original. Render, as Rev., the life, the eternal life; or the life, even the eternal life. For a similar repetition of the article compare Jo1 2:8; Jo1 4:9; Jo2 1:11. This particular phrase occurs only here and Joh 2:25. John uses ζωὴ αἰώνιος eternal life, and ἡ αἰώνιος ζωη the eternal life, the former expressing the general conception of life eternal, and the latter eternal life as the special gift of Christ. Αἰώνιος eternal, describes the life in its quality of not being measured by time, a larger idea than that of mere duration. Which (ἥτις) Not the simple relative ἥ which, but defining the quality of the life, and having at the same time a kind of confirmatory and explanatory force of the word eternal: seeing that it was a life divine in its nature - "with the Father" - and therefore independent of temporal conditions. With the Father (πρὸς τὸν πατέρα) See on with God (Joh 1:1). In living, active relation and communion with the Father. "The preposition of motion with the verb of repose involves eternity of relation with activity and life" (Coleridge). The life eternally tended to the Father, even as it emanated from Him. It came forth from Him and was manifested to men, but to the end that it might take men into itself and unite them with the Father. The manifestation of life to men was a revelation of life, as, first of all and beyond all, centering in God. Hence, though life, abstractly, returns to God, as it proceeds from God, it returns bearing the redeemed world in its bosom. The complete divine ideal of life includes impartation, but impartation with a view to the practical development of all that receives it with reference to God as its vivifying, impelling, regulating, and inspiring center. The Father See on Joh 12:26. The title "the Father" occurs rarely in the Synoptists, and always with reference to the Son. In Paul only thrice (Rom 6:4; Co1 8:6; Eph 2:18). Nowhere in Peter, James, Jude, or Revelation. Frequent in John's Gospel and Epistles, and in the latter, uniformly.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

This verse is parenthetical. Compare, for similar interruptions of the construction, Jo1 1:3, Joh 1:14, Joh 3:16, Joh 3:31; Joh 19:35.

And (καὶ)

See on Joh 1:10; see on Joh 8:20.

The Life (ἡ ζωὴ)

The Word Himself who is the Life. Compare Joh 14:6; Joh 5:26; Jo1 5:11, Jo1 5:12. Life expresses the nature of the Word (Joh 1:4). The phrase, the Life, besides being equivalent to the Word, also indicates, like the Truth and the Light, an aspect of His being.

Was manifested (ἐφανερώθη)

See on Joh 21:1. Corresponding with the Word was made flesh (Joh 1:14). The two phrases, however, present different aspects of the same truth. The Word became flesh, contemplates simply the historic fact of incarnation. The life was manifested, sets forth the unfolding of that fact in the various operations of life. The one denotes the objective process of the incarnation as such, the other the result of that process as related to human capacity of receiving and understanding it. "The reality of the incarnation would be undeclared if it were said, 'The Life became flesh.' The manifestation of the Life was a consequence of the incarnation of the Word, but it is not coextensive with it" (Westcott).

Have seen - bear witness - shew

Three ideas in the apostolic message: experience, testimony, announcement.

Bear witness

See on Joh 1:7.

Shew (ἀπαγγέλλομεν)

Better, as Rev., declare. See on Joh 16:25. So here. The message comes from (ἀπὸ) God.

That eternal life (τὴν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον)

A particularly faulty translation, since it utterly fails to express the development of the idea of life, which is distinctly contemplated by the original. Render, as Rev., the life, the eternal life; or the life, even the eternal life. For a similar repetition of the article compare Jo1 2:8; Jo1 4:9; Jo2 1:11. This particular phrase occurs only here and Joh 2:25. John uses ζωὴ αἰώνιος eternal life, and ἡ αἰώνιος ζωη the eternal life, the former expressing the general conception of life eternal, and the latter eternal life as the special gift of Christ. Αἰώνιος eternal, describes the life in its quality of not being measured by time, a larger idea than that of mere duration.

Which (ἥτις)

Not the simple relative ἥ which, but defining the quality of the life, and having at the same time a kind of confirmatory and explanatory force of the word eternal: seeing that it was a life divine in its nature - "with the Father" - and therefore independent of temporal conditions.

With the Father (πρὸς τὸν πατέρα)

See on with God (Joh 1:1). In living, active relation and communion with the Father. "The preposition of motion with the verb of repose involves eternity of relation with activity and life" (Coleridge). The life eternally tended to the Father, even as it emanated from Him. It came forth from Him and was manifested to men, but to the end that it might take men into itself and unite them with the Father. The manifestation of life to men was a revelation of life, as, first of all and beyond all, centering in God. Hence, though life, abstractly, returns to God, as it proceeds from God, it returns bearing the redeemed world in its bosom. The complete divine ideal of life includes impartation, but impartation with a view to the practical development of all that receives it with reference to God as its vivifying, impelling, regulating, and inspiring center.

The Father

See on Joh 12:26. The title "the Father" occurs rarely in the Synoptists, and always with reference to the Son. In Paul only thrice (Rom 6:4; Co1 8:6; Eph 2:18). Nowhere in Peter, James, Jude, or Revelation. Frequent in John's Gospel and Epistles, and in the latter, uniformly.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
For the life - The living Word. Was manifested - In the flesh, to our very senses. And we testify and declare - We testify by declaring, by preaching, and writing, Jo1 1:3-4. Preaching lays the foundation, Jo1 1:5-10: writing builds there on. To you - Who have not seen. The eternal life - Which always was, and afterward appeared to us. This is mentioned in the beginning of the epistle. In the end of it is mentioned the same eternal life, which we shall always enjoy.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For 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 preached that doctrine of eternal life which I have before delivered to the world in my gospel, and which I now farther confirm by this epistle.

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¹ In [1722] the beginning [746] was [2258] the Word [3056], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] with [4314] God [2316], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] God [2316].

¹ That which [3739] was [2258] from [575] the beginning [746], which [3739] we have heard [191], which [3739] we have seen [3708] with our [2257] eyes [3788], which [3739] we have looked upon [2300], and [2532] our [2257] hands [5495] have handled [5584], of [4012] the Word [3056] of life [2222];

⁴ And [2532] these things [5023] write we [1125] unto you [5213], that [2443] your [5216] joy [5479] may be [5600] full [4137].

³ That which [3739] we have seen [3708] and [2532] heard [191] declare we [518] unto you [5213], that [2443] ye [5210] also [2532] may have [2192] fellowship [2842] with [3326] us [2257]: and [2532] truly our [2251] fellowship [2842] [1161] is with [3326] the Father [3962], and [2532] with [3326] his [846] Son [5207] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].

¹ In [1722] the beginning [746] was [2258] the Word [3056], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] with [4314] God [2316], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] God [2316].

¹² Demetrius [1216] hath good report [3140] of [5259] all [3956] men, and [2532] of [5259] the truth [225] itself [846]: yea [1161], and [2532] we [2249] also bear record [3140]; and [2532] ye know [1492] that [3754] our [2257] record [3141] is [2076] true [227].

² Who [3739] bare record [3140] of the word [3056] of God [2316], and [2532] of the testimony [3141] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], and [5037] of all things [3745] that he saw [1492].

²⁴ This [3778] is [2076] the disciple [3101] which [3588] testifieth [3140] of [4012] these things [5130], and [2532] wrote [1125] these things [5023]: and [2532] we know [1492] that [3754] his [846] testimony [3141] is [2076] true [227].

³⁵ And [2532] he that saw [3708] it bare record [3140], and [2532] his [846] record [3141] is [2076] true [228]: and he [2548] knoweth [1492] that [3754] he saith [3004] true [227], that [2443] ye [5210] might believe [4100].

¹ In [1722] the beginning [746] was [2258] the Word [3056], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] with [4314] God [2316], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] God [2316].
² The same [3778] was [2258] in [1722] the beginning [746] with [4314] God [2316].
³ All things [3956] were made [1096] by [1223] him [846]; and [2532] without [5565] him [846] was [1096] not [3761] any thing [1520] made [1096] that [3739] was made [1096].

¹⁶ And [2532] without controversy [3672] great [3173] is [2076] the mystery [3466] of godliness [2150]: God [2316] was manifest [5319] in [1722] the flesh [4561], justified [1344] in [1722] the Spirit [4151], seen [3700] of angels [32], preached [2784] unto [1722] the Gentiles [1484], believed on [4100] in [1722] the world [2889], received up [353] into [1722] glory [1391].

³ Concerning [4012] his [846] Son [5207] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] our [2257] Lord [2962], which [3588] was made [1096] of [1537] the seed [4690] of David [1138] according [2596] to the flesh [4561];

¹⁸ For [3754] through [1223] him [846] we [2192] both [297] have [2192] access [4318] by [1722] one [1520] Spirit [4151] unto [4314] the Father [3962].

⁶ But [235] to us [2254] there is but one [1520] God [2316], the Father [3962], of [1537] whom [3739] are all things [3956], and [2532] we [2249] in [1519] him [846]; and [2532] one [1520] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], by [1223] whom [3739] are all things [3956], and [2532] we [2249] by [1223] him [846].

⁴ Therefore [3767] we are buried with [4916] him [846] by [1223] baptism [908] into [1519] death [2288]: that [2443] like as [5618] Christ [5547] was raised up [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498] by [1223] the glory [1391] of the Father [3962], even so [3779] we [2249] also [2532] should walk [4043] in [1722] newness [2538] of life [2222].

²⁶ If [1437] any man [5100] serve [1247] me [1698], let him follow [190] me [1698]; and [2532] where [3699] I [1473] am [1510], there [1563] shall [2071] also [2532] my [1699] servant [1249] be [2071]: [2532] if [1437] any man [5100] serve [1247] me [1698], him [846] will [5091] my Father [3962] honour [5091].

¹ In [1722] the beginning [746] was [2258] the Word [3056], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] with [4314] God [2316], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] God [2316].

²⁵ And [2532] [3754] needed [5532] [2192] not [3756] that [2443] any [5100] should testify [3140] of [4012] man [444]: for [1063] he [846] knew [1097] what [5101] was [2258] in [1722] man [444].

¹¹ For [1063] he that biddeth [3004] him [846] God speed [5463] is partaker [2841] of his [846] evil [4190] deeds [2041].

⁹ In [1722] this [5129] was manifested [5319] the love [26] of God [2316] toward [1722] us [2254], because [3754] that God [2316] sent [649] his [846] only begotten [3439] Son [5207] into [1519] the world [2889], that [2443] we might live [2198] through [1223] him [846].

⁸ Again [3825], a new [2537] commandment [1785] I write [1125] unto you [5213], which thing [3739] is [2076] true [227] in [1722] him [846] and [2532] in [1722] you [5213]: because [3754] the darkness [4653] is past [3855], and [2532] the true [228] light [5457] now [2235] shineth [5316].

²⁵ These things [5023] have I spoken [2980] unto you [5213] in [1722] proverbs [3942]: but [235] the time [5610] cometh [2064], when [3753] I shall [2980] no more [3765] speak [2980] unto you [5213] in [1722] proverbs [3942], but [235] I shall shew [312] you [5213] plainly [3954] of [4012] the Father [3962].

⁷ The same [3778] came [2064] for [1519] a witness [3141], to [2443] bear witness [3140] of [4012] the Light [5457], that [2443] all [3956] men through [1223] him [846] might believe [4100].

¹⁴ And [2532] the Word [3056] was made [1096] flesh [4561], and [2532] dwelt [4637] among [1722] us [2254], (and [2532] we beheld [2300] his [846] glory [1391], the glory [1391] as [5613] of the only begotten [3439] of [3844] the Father [3962],) full [4134] of grace [5485] and [2532] truth [225].

¹ After [3326] these things [5023] Jesus [2424] shewed [5319] himself [1438] again [3825] to the disciples [3101] at [1909] the sea [2281] of Tiberias [5085]; and [1161] on this wise [3779] shewed [5319] he himself.

⁴ In [1722] him [846] was [2258] life [2222]; and [2532] the life [2222] was [2258] the light [5457] of men [444].

¹² He that hath [2192] the Son [5207] hath [2192] life [2222]; and he that hath [2192] not [3361] the Son [5207] of God [2316] hath [2192] not [3756] life [2222].

¹¹ And [2532] this [3778] is [2076] the record [3141], that [3754] God [2316] hath given [1325] to us [2254] eternal [166] life [2222], and [2532] this [3778] life [2222] is [2076] in [1722] his [846] Son [5207].

²⁶ For [1063] as [5618] the Father [3962] hath [2192] life [2222] in [1722] himself [1438]; so [2532] [3779] hath he given [1325] to the Son [5207] to have [2192] life [2222] in [1722] himself [1438];

⁶ Jesus [2424] saith [3004] unto him [846], I [1473] am [1510] the way [3598], [2532] the truth [225], and [2532] the life [2222]: no man [3762] cometh [2064] unto [4314] the Father [3962], but [1508] by [1223] me [1700].

²⁰ These [5023] words [4487] spake [2980] Jesus [2424] in [1722] the treasury [1049], as he taught [1321] in [1722] the temple [2411]: and [2532] no man [3762] laid hands [4084] on him [846]; for [3754] his [846] hour [5610] was [2064] not yet [3768] come [2064].

¹⁰ He was [2258] in [1722] the world [2889], and [2532] the world [2889] was made [1096] by [1223] him [846], and [2532] the world [2889] knew [1097] him [846] not [3756].

³¹ He that cometh [2064] from above [509] is [2076] above [1883] all [3956]: he that is [5607] of [1537] the earth [1093] is [2076] earthly [1537] [1093], and [2532] speaketh [2980] of [1537] the earth [1093]: he that cometh [2064] from [1537] heaven [3772] is [2076] above [1883] all [3956].

¹⁶ For [1063] God [2316] so [3779] loved [25] the world [2889], that [5620] he gave [1325] his [846] only begotten [3439] Son [5207], that [2443] whosoever [3956] believeth [4100] in [1519] him [846] should [622] not [3361] perish [622], but [235] have [2192] everlasting [166] life [2222].

⁵ This [3778] then [2532] is [2076] the message [1860] which [3739] we have heard [191] of [575] him [846], and [2532] declare [312] unto you [5213], that [3754] God [2316] is [2076] light [5457], and [2532] in [1722] him [846] is [2076] no [3756] darkness [4653] at all [3762].
⁶ If [1437] we say [2036] that [3754] we have [2192] fellowship [2842] with [3326] him [846], and [2532] walk [4043] in [1722] darkness [4655], we lie [5574], and [2532] do [4160] not [3756] the truth [225]:
⁷ But [1161] if [1437] we walk [4043] in [1722] the light [5457], as [5613] he [846] is [2076] in [1722] the light [5457], we have [2192] fellowship [2842] one with another [3326] [240], and [2532] the blood [129] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] his [846] Son [5207] cleanseth [2511] us [2248] from [575] all [3956] sin [266].
⁸ If [1437] we say [2036] that [3754] we have [2192] no [3756] sin [266], we deceive [4105] ourselves [1438], and [2532] the truth [225] is [2076] not [3756] in [1722] us [2254].
⁹ If [1437] we confess [3670] our [2257] sins [266], he is [2076] faithful [4103] and [2532] just [1342] to [2443] forgive [863] us [2254] our sins [266], and [2532] to cleanse [2511] us [2248] from [575] all [3956] unrighteousness [93].
¹⁰ If [1437] we say [2036] that [3754] we have [264] not [3756] sinned [264], we make [4160] him [846] a liar [5583], and [2532] his [846] word [3056] is [2076] not [3756] in [1722] us [2254].