The Meaning of 1 John 1:4 Explained

1 John 1:4

KJV: And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

YLT: and these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.

Darby: And these things write we to you that your joy may be full.

ASV: and these things we write, that our joy may be made full.

Discover 1 John 1:4

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 1 John 1:4?

MEANING: What does 1 John 1:4 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 1 John 1:4 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 1 John 1:4?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  these things  write we  unto you,  that  your  joy  may be  full. 

What does 1 John 1:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Here "we" is probably editorial. "These things" refers to what John wrote in this epistle. Not only would his readers experience full joy, but so would John as the readers entered into and continued in intimate fellowship with God (cf. 3 John 1:4). Joy is the product of fellowship with God. When there is no joy, there is no fellowship (cf. John 15:11; John 16:24).
In summary, John wrote as an apostolic eyewitness. He identified two dangers to readers that are still prevalent in the church today. One is the assumption that Christian fellowship is possible without common belief in Christ. The other is the assumption that someone can have a relationship with God without a relationship with Jesus Christ. [1] John wrote this epistle so his readers might join and continue in the fellowship with God that is possible only for those who have seen God, as the apostolic eyewitnesses of the incarnate Christ had done.
"He has the heart of a pastor which cannot be completely happy so long as some of those for whom he feels responsible are not experiencing the full blessings of the gospel." [2]
These verses, rather than 1 John 5:13, constitute the comprehensive purpose statement of the epistle. There are four purpose statements in1John ( 1 John 1:3-4; 1 John 2:1; 1 John 5:13) plus10 imperatives ( 1 John 2:15; 1 John 2:24; 1 John 2:27-28; 1 John 1:3-49; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 3:13; 1 John 4:1 2times]; 1 John 5:21) any of which could possibly provide John"s purpose for writing. But 1714172938_34 give his most comprehensive primary and secondary purposes in writing. [3]
"It is usually true that in the introduction to a book we find the key to that book. In the first four verses of this Epistle we find the key." [4]

Context Summary

1 John 1:1-10 - Fellowship In The Light
As the aged Apostle began to write he was living over again his first happy experiences with the Savior. He heard the voice, saw the person, touched the very body in which Deity tabernacled. It was too great a bliss to be enjoyed alone, and John tells us that we may enter into the same close partnership with the Father and the Son. But no impurity or insincerity is permissible to those who enter that fellowship. Our one aim should be to maintain such a walk with God that the union with God may be unimpaired. If there are still sins of ignorance, the blood of Jesus will continue to remove them. Sin differs from sins, as the root from the fruit. God does not only forgive, He cleanses. He is faithful to His promises and just to His Son. Notice the ifs of these verses and in 1 John 2:1; they are a compendium of the blessed life. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 John 1

1  He describes the person of Christ, in whom we have eternal life, by a communion with God;
5  to which we must adjoin by walking in the light

Greek Commentary for 1 John 1:4

We write [γραπομεν ημεις]
Literary plural present active indicative of γραπω — graphō which see in the singular in 1 John 2:12-14. [source]
May be fulfilled [ηι πεπληρωμενη]
Periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive of πληροω — plēroō stressing the state of completion in the purpose (ινα — hina), remain full, precisely as in John 16:24. See aorist subjunctive in John 15:11 and perfect indicative in John 17:13. The MSS. differ as often between ημων — hēmōn (our) and υμων — humōn (your). [source]
These things []
The whole Epistle. [source]
Write we unto you [γράφομεν ὑμῖν]
The best texts read ἡμεῖς weinstead of ὑμῖν toyou. Both the verb and the pronoun are emphatic. The writer speaks with conscious authority, and his message is to be not only announced ( ἀπαγγέλλομεν , 1 John 1:3), but written. We write is emphasized by the absence of the personal object, to you. [source]
Your joy [ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν]
The best texts read ἡμῶν , our, though either reading gives a good sense. [source]
Full [πεπληρωμένη]
More correctly, fulfilled. Frequent in John. See John 3:29; John 7:8; John 8:38; John 15:11; 2 John 1:12; Revelation 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” (Düsterdieck, 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 greetinglit., rejoice, so common in the opening of Epistles.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 1:4

John 16:24 Hitherto [εως αρτι]
Up till now the disciples had not used Christ‘s name in prayer to the Father, but after the resurrection of Jesus they are to do so, a distinct plea for parity with the Father and for worship like the Father. May be fulfilled Periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive of πληροω — plēroō in a purpose clause with ινα — hina See John 15:11 for some verb (first aorist passive subjunctive with ινα — hina) and 1 John 1:4 for same form as here, emphasizing the abiding permanence of the joy. [source]
Galatians 5:22 Joy [χαρά]
Comp. joy of the Holy Ghost, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, and see Romans 5:2; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 6:10; Philemon 1:25; Philemon 4:4; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 1:4. [source]
1 John 2:1 I write []
More personal than we write (1 John 1:4), and thus better suiting the form of address, my little children. [source]
1 John 4:12 If we love one another [εαν αγαπωμεν αλληλους]
Third-class condition with εαν — ean and the present active subjunctive, “if we keep on loving one another.”God abideth in us (ο τεος εν ημιν μενει — ho theos en hēmin menei). Else we cannot go on loving one another.His love More than merely subjective or objective (1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:9). “Mutual love is a sign of the indwelling of God in men” (Brooke).Is perfected (τετελειωμενη εστιν — teteleiōmenē estin). Periphrastic (see usual form τετελειωται — teteleiōtai in 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:17) perfect passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō (cf. 1 John 1:4). See 1 John 4:18 for “perfect love.” [source]
1 John 4:12 His love [η αγαπη αυτου]
More than merely subjective or objective (1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:9). “Mutual love is a sign of the indwelling of God in men” (Brooke).Is perfected (τετελειωμενη εστιν — teteleiōmenē estin). Periphrastic (see usual form τετελειωται — teteleiōtai in 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:17) perfect passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō (cf. 1 John 1:4). See 1 John 4:18 for “perfect love.” [source]
1 John 4:12 Is perfected [τετελειωμενη εστιν]
Periphrastic (see usual form τετελειωται — teteleiōtai in 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:17) perfect passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō (cf. 1 John 1:4). See 1 John 4:18 for “perfect love.” [source]
2 John 1:12 With paper and ink [δια χαρτου και μελανος]
The χαρτης — chartēs was a leaf of papyrus prepared for writing by cutting the pith into strips and pasting together, old word, here only in N.T. Μελας — Melas is old adjective for black (Matthew 5:36; Revelation 6:5, Revelation 6:12), and for black ink here, 3 John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 3:3. Apparently John wrote this little letter with his own hand.To come (γενεσται — genesthai). Second aorist middle infinitive of γινομαι — ginomai after ελπιζω — elpizō I hope.Face to face “Mouth to mouth.” So in 3 John 1:14; Numbers 12:8. “Face to face” Or “our” (ημων — hēmōn). Both true.That may be fulfilled Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive of πληροω — plēroō as in 1 John 1:4, which see. [source]
2 John 1:12 Face to face [στομα προς στομα]
“Mouth to mouth.” So in 3 John 1:14; Numbers 12:8. “Face to face” Or “our” (ημων — hēmōn). Both true.That may be fulfilled Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive of πληροω — plēroō as in 1 John 1:4, which see. [source]
2 John 1:12 That may be fulfilled [ινα πεπληρωμενη ηι]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive of πληροω — plēroō as in 1 John 1:4, which see. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 John 1:4 mean?

And these things write we so that the joy of us might be complete
καὶ ταῦτα γράφομεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη

ταῦτα  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
γράφομεν  write 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
χαρὰ  joy 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: χαρά  
Sense: joy, gladness.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ᾖ  might  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
πεπληρωμένη  complete 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: πληρόω  
Sense: to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full.

What are the major concepts related to 1 John 1:4?

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Similar Scriptures for 1 John 1:4

John 15:11 [7]
John 16:24 [3]
2 John 1:12 [2]
2 Corinthians 1:24 [2]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 [2]
Philippians 1:25-26 [2]
John 3:29 [2]
Ephesians 3:19 [1]
Isaiah 61:10 [0]
1 John 2:1 [0]
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