1 John 1:4 kjv

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

1 John 1:4 nkjv

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

1 John 1:4 niv

We write this to make our joy complete.

1 John 1:4 esv

And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

1 John 1:4 nlt

We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

1 John 1 verses

1 John 1 4 Meaning

The core meaning of 1 John 1:4 is that the Apostle John, having shared his firsthand eyewitness testimony of Jesus Christ—the eternal Life manifested in human form—writes this epistle to enable the believing community to experience complete, overflowing spiritual joy through their shared fellowship with God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and with one another. This fullness of joy is the divinely intended outcome of true knowledge and relationship with the divine, as proclaimed by the apostles.

1 John 1 4 Context

This verse is an integral part of John's opening argument in his first epistle. Immediately preceding it (1 Jn 1:1-3), John emphasizes his eyewitness testimony concerning Jesus Christ, whom he identifies as "that which was from the beginning," "the Word of life," the "eternal life" manifested visibly, audibly, and tangibly to the apostles. The proclamation of this tangible reality of Jesus is not for their own sake but so that the recipients of the letter can enter into or deepen their "fellowship with us," a fellowship that is, by extension, "with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." The overarching theme here is genuine spiritual connection through revealed truth. Historically, John addresses a burgeoning proto-Gnostic influence (specifically Docetism) that denied the true humanity of Christ. By insisting on having seen, heard, and touched Jesus, John asserts the historical reality of the Incarnation, directly refuting any spiritual teaching that separated Christ from His physical person. The consequence of rejecting this historical reality was spiritual isolation and lack of true joy. Thus, John's purpose in writing this irrefutable apostolic testimony is to solidify the believers' foundation in Christ, ensuring their full communion with God and one another, which inevitably culminates in their complete and abounding joy.

1 John 1 4 Word analysis

• "And" (Greek: καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting the purpose of verse 4 directly to John's eyewitness testimony and proclamation in verses 1-3. It implies a natural progression from apostolic communication and communal fellowship to the resulting joy.

• "these things" (Greek: ταῦτα - tauta): Refers demonstratively to the entire preceding message of 1 John 1:1-3, which details the apostolic experience and proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Word of Life, visibly and tangibly revealed.

• "we write" (Greek: γράφομεν - graphomen): The present tense highlights John's ongoing effort and the enduring relevance of his written message. The plural "we" emphasizes the collective apostolic authority and shared eyewitness experience.

• "to you" (Greek: ὑμῖν - hymin): Identifies the recipients of the letter as the intended beneficiaries of John's communication, underscoring his pastoral intent for the Christian community.

• "so that" (Greek: ἵνα - hina): A critical purpose clause explicitly stating the ultimate aim or objective of John's writing: the profound spiritual joy of the believers.

• "your joy" (Greek: ὑμῶν χαρὰ - hymon chara): "Your" is plural, referring to the communal joy of all the believers in the addressed churches. "Joy" (chara) denotes a deep, spiritual delight and contentment rooted in God and His salvation, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, distinct from worldly happiness.

• "may be full" (Greek: ᾖ πεπληρωμένη - ē peplērōmenē): This verb phrase uses the perfect passive subjunctive of plēroo (to fill, complete).

  • Subjunctive Mood: Indicates purpose, emphasizing that the "fullness of joy" is the desired and divinely purposed outcome.
  • Perfect Tense: Signifies a completed state with abiding results, pointing to a joy that is comprehensive, perfected, and lasting.
  • Passive Voice: Implies that this fullness of joy is something received from an external source, specifically God, through the truth about Jesus and true fellowship with Him. It's a divinely supplied state, not self-generated.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And these things we write to you": This phrase asserts the apostolic authority and purposeful intention behind the letter, emphasizing that the vital truth about Christ is being communicated for the specific benefit of the readers.
  • "so that your joy may be full": This is the theological climax, defining the spiritual consequence of genuine fellowship based on true knowledge of Christ. It posits that unadulterated truth leads to complete, overflowing spiritual joy, a stark contrast to the incomplete or superficial "joy" offered by false teachings.

1 John 1 4 Bonus section

The perfection of joy (implied by "full") signifies that any spiritual system that offers less than the fullness of the manifested Christ will necessarily yield a joy that is incomplete, partial, or distorted. John implicitly positions authentic Christian experience—rooted in truth and fellowship—as the exclusive path to true spiritual flourishing and comprehensive joy, standing in stark contrast to the hollowness of heretical doctrines. The communal nature of "your joy" (plural) further emphasizes that this spiritual delight is not solely an individualistic experience but thrives within the corporate body of believers, reflecting God's design for fellowship. This fullness of joy, being divinely supplied, demonstrates that God Himself delights in the well-being of His children and actively works to perfect their experience in Him.

1 John 1 4 Commentary

1 John 1:4 encapsulates the ultimate purpose of John's inspired letter: to cultivate complete and overflowing spiritual joy among believers. This joy is inextricably linked to embracing the authentic, eyewitness testimony of Jesus Christ, whom John proclaims as the manifest Word of Life. In a time when early Gnostic ideas sought to deny Christ's true humanity, John emphatically asserts the physical, tangible reality of the Incarnation. By accepting this unblemished truth, believers are drawn into genuine fellowship—first with the Triune God, and then with one another. This deep communion with the Divine and fellow believers forms the crucible within which a unique, profound joy is forged and filled. The "fullness" of this joy is not mere fleeting happiness but a divinely accomplished state of abundance, lacking nothing, and standing firm even amidst life's challenges. John argues that deviation from this foundational truth and fellowship inevitably leads to a diminished or false joy, making the apostle's clear testimony indispensable for spiritual completeness and abounding delight in Christ.

• Practical Usage Examples:
  • Engaging in consistent, truthful fellowship with other believers strengthens faith and enhances shared joy in Christ.
  • When spiritual doubts arise, leaning into the objective truth of God's Word, as proclaimed by the apostles, grounds the heart and renews true joy.
  • Prioritizing knowledge of God through Jesus Christ (the content of John's writing) above worldly pursuits contributes to a deeper, more satisfying spiritual joy.