RSV ~ 1 John 1 Notes

1 Jn 1:1-4 | ISB Notes

The prologue gives witness to the mystery of the Incarnation. John speaks for all the apostles (“we”) when he testifies that Jesus is the life and Son of God who manifested himself in a visible, audible, and tangible way when he came in the flesh as a man (4:2).

• John describes the Incarnation in terms also applicable to the sacraments of the Church. Through these liturgical signs and actions, Christ continues to give his life to the world in ways perceptible by our senses (CCC 1145-52). This is particularly true of the Eucharist, which gives us the human “flesh” (1 Jn 4:2) and “blood” (5:6) of Jesus in its risen and glorified state.

1 Jn 1:1 | ISB Notes

the beginning: i.e., when the Christian message first reached the original readers (2:7, 24; 3:11). There is also an allusion to “the beginning” mentioned in Jn 1:1, where the reference points back to the dawn of creation, when God brought all things into being through his divine Son (1 Jn 2:1314; 3:8).

the word of life: The good news of the gospel. Its focus is the personal “Word” of the Father, Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1; Rev 19:13).

See word study: Word at Jn 1:1.

1 Jn 1:2 | ISB Notes

with the Father: Christ embodies the eternal life (5:11) that he shares with the Father in his divinity (Jn 5:26). This means that Christ himself is “true God” (1 Jn 5:20; Jn 1:1) and that he reveals to us the mystery of God’s inner life as a Trinity (Jn 1:18).

1 Jn 1:3 | ISB Notes

fellowship: The interpersonal communion that believers have with God and with one another (1:6-7). It is based on a common participation in divine life that establishes us as God’s children (3:1). The apostles extend this gift to others by their preaching and sacramental ministry (1 Cor 10:16-17; CCC 425).

1 Jn 1:5 | ISB Notes

God is light: Means that God is infinite goodness, purity, and truth.

darkness: Stands for all things evil and erroneous that are churned out by the devil (Jn 3:19-21). Fellowship with God is impossible unless believers live in the light—loving as God loves and staying pure from sin as God is pure (1 Jn 1:6-7). This black-and-white vision of the world is also shared by the Jewish authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls, who made similar contrasts between spiritual realities in terms of light and darkness.

1 Jn 1:8 | ISB Notes

we have no sin: An outrageous claim. John cautions readers that stubborn refusal to admit sin is a delusion and at the same time an insult to God (1:10) (CCC 827).

1 Jn 1:9 | ISB Notes

If we confess: John envisions, not a general admission of weakness or even sinfulness, but the confession of specific acts of wrongdoing (Ps 32:3-5). God, for his part, is eager to show mercy to the contrite spirit (Ps 51:17). Contrary to the teaching of some, the need for repentance, confession, and forgiveness is ongoing throughout the Christian life; otherwise, the Lord would not urge believers to seek forgiveness on a continuing basis (Mt 6:12; Lk 11:4). Note that in biblical terms “confession” (Gk. homologeō) is something you do with your lips and not simply in the silence of your heart (Mk 1:5; Rom 10:10; Jas 5:16) (CCC 2631).

• The Church encourages the private confession of sins to God. Ordinarily, however, this should lead us to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus implies as much in Jn 20:23, where he gives the apostles his own authority to remit or retain sins according to their discretion. This discretion could not be exercised apart from knowledge of specific sins acquired by the verbal confession of sinners (CCC 1461, 2839).

• Priestly confession is not a Christian innovation but an extension and sacramental elevation of a practice long observed in Israel (Lev 5:5-6; Num 5:510).