1 John 1:3 kjv

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.

1 John 1:3 nkjv

that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3 niv

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3 esv

that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3 nlt

We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1 verses

1 John 1 3 Meaning

This verse declares the purpose of the apostles' proclamation: they share their eyewitness testimony of Jesus Christ—what they have personally seen and heard—so that believers may enter into the same deep fellowship. Crucially, this fellowship is not merely among believers, but ultimately extends to the intimate relationship that the apostles themselves have with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. It underscores that true fellowship among believers is rooted in a shared, genuine connection with the Triune God.

1 John 1 3 Context

First John chapter 1 begins with a profound prologue, reminiscent of the Gospel of John, establishing the eternal and tangible reality of Jesus Christ. This verse (1:3) forms part of that foundational opening statement where the Apostle John, an eyewitness to Jesus' earthly ministry, asserts the veracity of his message. Historically, the letter addresses a community grappling with emerging Gnostic or proto-Gnostic errors. These heresies often posited a radical separation between the spiritual and material, leading some to deny the true humanity of Jesus (Docetism), asserting that He only seemed to have a physical body. This belief system fundamentally undermined the incarnation, atonement, and resurrection. John's emphasis on "seen," "heard," and "touched" (from 1 John 1:1-2) directly confronts these abstract, anti-materialist notions, affirming the historical, tangible, and embodied reality of the Son of God. The aim of their proclamation is therefore to invite others into a genuine fellowship grounded in this concrete truth, not a speculative spiritual experience detached from the historical Christ.

1 John 1 3 Word analysis

• ὃ (Ho): "That which," or "what." Refers back to the substance of their testimony, primarily the living person of Jesus Christ mentioned in 1 John 1:1. It emphasizes the experiential reality of their message.
• ἑωράκαμεν (Heōrakamen): "We have seen" (perfect active indicative). Denotes a completed action with ongoing results. They didn't just see Him momentarily; they saw Him, and that seeing has had a lasting impact, providing a firm basis for their knowledge and testimony. It implies personal, sustained observation. This counters claims of abstract, non-physical encounters.
• καὶ (Kai): "And." A connective linking their visual experience with their auditory one, reinforcing the multifaceted nature of their direct interaction with Jesus.
• ἀκηκόαμεν (Akēkoamen): "We have heard" (perfect active indicative). Similar to "seen," indicating a completed action with continuous results. They heard His words, teachings, and perhaps the Father's voice regarding Him (e.g., at baptism or transfiguration). This highlights the doctrinal content and divine authority of Jesus' message received by the apostles.
• ἀπαγγέλλομεν (Apangellomen): "We proclaim," "we announce" (present active indicative). A continuous action. This is the very act of sharing the Gospel, a central apostolic function. It signifies reporting news received firsthand. The act of proclaiming is inseparable from the personal experience.
• ὑμῖν (Hymin): "To you" (dative plural). The immediate recipients of John's letter, the believers he addresses, indicating a specific audience.
• ἵνα (Hina): "So that," "in order that" (purpose clause). Introduces the explicit purpose of their proclamation. This highlights God's redemptive intention.
• ὑμεῖς (Hymeis): "You yourselves" (nominative plural, emphatic). Distinguishes the audience from the "we" (apostles), inviting them into the same experience, yet emphasizes their active participation.
• κοινωνίαν (Koinōnian): "Fellowship," "partnership," "participation," "communion" (accusative singular). A rich Greek term implying deep sharing, mutual involvement, and joint participation in something. It goes beyond mere social interaction to denote a shared life and purpose. It is central to the Christian experience.
• ἔχητε (Echēte): "You may have" (present active subjunctive). Expresses the potential and desired outcome of the apostles' proclamation – that the believers might indeed come to possess this fellowship.
• μεθ’ ἡμῶν (Meth’ hēmōn): "With us" or "along with us." Signifies a shared fellowship with the apostles. This establishes the church's foundation on apostolic testimony and shared experience. True Christian fellowship is therefore rooted in the shared reception of apostolic truth.
• ἡ κοινωνία δὲ ἡ ἡμετέρα (Hē koinōnia de hē hēmetera): "And our fellowship" or "and our own fellowship." The particle "δὲ" (de) implies a shift or transition, emphasizing that this shared fellowship with the apostles is grounded in a higher fellowship. It highlights the source and nature of the apostles' own deep communion.
• μετὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς (Meta tou Patros): "With the Father." Points to the source and ultimate object of this intimate relationship. The Father is the initiator and recipient of true fellowship.
• καὶ μετὰ τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (Kai meta tou Huiou autou Iēsou Christou): "And with His Son, Jesus Christ." Completes the description of the apostolic fellowship, unequivocally identifying Jesus Christ as God's Son and crucial to this relationship. This is not generic spirituality but specifically Trinitarian. It grounds all fellowship in the Person and work of Christ.

1 John 1 3 Bonus section

The consistent use of the perfect tense ("have seen," "have heard") signifies that the apostles' encounter with Christ was not a fleeting moment but produced a settled state of knowledge and a continuing qualification for their witness. This established their unshakeable authority and reliability in delivering the message of Christ. This "koinonia" extends beyond simple relationship to shared resources, sufferings, and even shared destiny, as implied throughout the New Testament epistles. The entire letter of 1 John can be understood as an extended elaboration on the implications and characteristics of this fellowship – what it looks like (e.g., walking in light, confessing sin, loving one another) and what threatens it (e.g., denying sin, hatred, false doctrine). The emphasis on the "Son" also underlines Christ's role as mediator; fellowship with the Father is intrinsically linked to and flows through fellowship with Jesus Christ.

1 John 1 3 Commentary

1 John 1:3 beautifully articulates the heartbeat of the apostolic mission: to share the tangible reality of Jesus Christ, leading others into profound communion. The "seen" and "heard" emphasize sensory experience, directly refuting those who spiritualized Christ's existence or denied His true humanity. This tactile proof grounds the Gospel in historical fact, making the apostles' testimony not a mere myth but a verifiable truth. The purpose ("so that") reveals the Gospel's communal nature: it's not just about individual salvation, but about establishing deep, shared fellowship ("koinonia"). This fellowship is twofold: horizontal, with fellow believers (specifically the apostles, who received the direct revelation), and vertical, flowing from and deeply connected to their own fellowship with the Triune God—Father and Son. This establishes a theological lineage: genuine fellowship among believers is only possible and true when it participates in and extends from the perfect, eternal fellowship of the Godhead, as revealed by the eyewitnesses. Practical application involves seeking authentic Christian community rooted in Christ, living out shared faith, and embracing the historical truth of the Gospel. For example, believers enter this fellowship through repentance and faith in Christ, then live out their faith by sharing burdens, joys, and truths of the Gospel, upholding the teachings delivered by the apostles, and seeking intimate communion with God through prayer and Word.