Prologue: Our Declaration

1 What was from the beginning, a

what we have heard,

what we have seen with our eyes,

what we have observed

and have touched with our hands,

concerning the Word b of life—

2 that life was revealed, c

and we have seen it

and we testify and declare to you

the eternal life that was with the Father

and was revealed to us d—

3 what we have seen and heard

we also declare to you,

so that you may have fellowship e along with us;

and indeed our fellowship is with the Father f

and with His Son Jesus Christ.

4 We are writing these things g

so that our h joy i may be complete.

Fellowship with God

5 Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, j and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. k 6 If we say, “We have fellowship l with Him,” yet we * walk in darkness, m we are lying and are not practicing n the truth. o 7 But if we walk in the light p as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus q His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” r we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive s us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word t is not in us. u