I thought I would change up my morning times by looking up the note sin advance for passages I’ll meditate on, all taken from my various study Bibles and commentaries. On these pages I am adding the notes above the meditation, followed by the meditation itself, so you’ll see both in the blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is 1 John 1:1-4. Let me know what you think of the idea and layout. By including the notes, we’ll both be on the same page with the meditation, although my own life history will make its way into the story. I expect to follow this format through 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John on Fridays until done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On this page, at the bottom, are listed all of my sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1 (NKJV)<\/strong>–the verses in this chapter were taken from this version. Each chapter will be from a different version to avoid copyright issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched<\/strong> (NKJV–this heading was taken from the NKJV Bible)<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Bible Knowl Comm NT) \u201cThe first four verses of the epistle constitute the prologue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n v. 1,<\/strong> That<\/strong> which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Bible Knowl Comm NT) \u201cfrom the beginning<\/strong> … referred to the beginning of the gospel proclamation. … The antichrists brought new ideas, not those which were \u2018from the beginning\u2019 of the gospel era.\u201d So this text is a polemic. \u201cconcerning the Word of life <\/strong>… It seems more natural to understand the phrase in the sense of \u2018the message about life. … \u2018life,\u2019 not \u2018word,\u2019 is personified. …about God\u2019s Son, who is Life.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Vincent\u2019s II) \u201cFrom the beginning.<\/strong> … contrasted with was in<\/em> the beginning\u201d which would refer to the absolute beginning, \u201clooking back into eternity. … In the words \u2018from<\/em> the beginning,\u2019 the writer looks back to the initial point of time and describes what has been in existence from that point on.\u201d \u201cOf life.<\/strong> Lit., the<\/em> life. … As John does not purpose to say that he announces Christ as an abstract single idea<\/em>, but that he declares his own concrete historical experiences concerning<\/em> Christ,\u2014so now he continues, not the <\/em>Logos (Word<\/em>), but concerning<\/em> the Word, we make annunciation to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (ESV) \u201cJohn was an eyewitness to the physical and historical reality of Jesus\u2019 life on earth. His message is not based on an ecstatic vision, grand idea, or mere human religious conviction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Arc) \u201cthe one who has existed from eternity \u2018became flesh\u2019 (Jn 1:14).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Apologetics) \u201cDocetism<\/a> (from the Greek word dokein,<\/em> meaning \u2018to appear\u2019) denied the incarnation of the Son of God.\u201d This intro refutes that view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n v. 2,<\/strong> the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Bible Knowl Comm NT) \u201cThe Incarnation is unquestionably in view.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Vincent\u2019s II) \u201cWas manifested.<\/strong> … The Word became flesh<\/em>, contemplates simply the historic fact of incarnation. The life was manifested<\/em>, sets forth the unfolding of that fact in the various operations of life.\u201d \u201cThat eternal life<\/strong>. … A particularly faulty translation…\u201d Should be \u201cthe eternal life<\/em> … as the special gift of Christ<\/em>. … describes the life in its quality of not being measured by time<\/em>, a larger idea than that of mere duration<\/em>.\u201d \u201cWith the Father.<\/strong> … In living, active relation and communion with the Father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Moody) \u201cChrist is what has existed from the beginning of eternity past. … John wrote about God\u2019s Word incarnate in Jesus who brings eternal life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Cultural) \u201cthe Life\u201d = \u201cIn Johannine literature, the phrase is approximately synonymous with the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n v. 3,<\/strong> that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is<\/em> with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Bible Knowl Comm NT) \u201che later, in 2:12-14, made it perfectly clear that he regarded the readers as genuine Christians, his goal was obviously not their conversions. … The danger to the readers was that they might be allured into darkness by the … antichrists.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Vincent\u2019s II) \u201c3. The regular course of the sentence, broken by ver. 2, is now resumed.\u201d \u201cFellowship.<\/strong> … The true life in man… consists in fellowship<\/em> with God and with man. … it expresses the enjoyment<\/em> or realization<\/em> of fellowship\u201d and not merely the fact of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Moody) \u201cThe immediate purpose for wanting to proclaim his experience of seeing and hearing Jesus is so his readers\u201d may have fellowship with one another and with God and Son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (ESV) \u201cThe purpose of this proclamation is not just forgiveness of people\u2019s sins (as a simplified view of evangelism would have it) but is far richer, … for believers\u2019 fellowship is with the Father and his Son. … \u201cmade possible by the mediation of the Son.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Wiersbe) Fellowship = \u201c \u2018to have in common.\u2019 …God in His grace sent Christ to have something in common with us. … He took a human nature so that by faith we may receive the very nature of God!\u201d The unregenerate have nothing in common with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Life) \u201cour fellowship is grounded in the testimony of God\u2019s Word. Without this underlying strength, togetherness is impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n v. 4,<\/strong> And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Bible Knowl Comm NT) \u201cIf the readers retained their true fellowship with God and with His apostles, no one would be any happier than John himself.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Vincent\u2019s II) \u201cFull.<\/strong> More correctly, fulfilled<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Moody) If the readers held fast to the apostolic truth, it maintains their \u201crelationships and increases their joy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Weirsbe) Joy = \u201cit is a wonderful by-product of our fellowship with God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n FIRST JOHN 1 MEDITATION vv. 1-4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These opening verses affirm that Jesus Christ in the body was in communion with God the Father. The verses refute the idea that flesh is evil and that God wants nothing to do with it. To know Jesus was to know the life of the Father and the Son in fellowship. To see the gloves move is to know the motions of the unseen hands within. John wants us to \u201cknow\u201d God from that perspective, of joining and enjoying the fellowship of the Father and the Son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That fellowship could be seen, heard, and touched in the person of Jesus. (\u201cNo man ever spoke like this man!\u201d \u201cYou speak the words of eternal life.\u201d) Jesus lived the life of constant communion with the Father, and His followers noticed the difference between Him and everyone else who was lost. John enjoyed being in the presence of Jesus, with the Father and the Son. (Shouldn\u2019t others be able to enjoy our company?) Enjoying Christ\u2019s presence is to be our joy as well, both in the community of believers, and within, where the Father and the Son dwell in those who have His commandments and keep it (John 14:21-23). When God clothes Himself with a human body, Jesus is the result. The life of Jesus shows how we too would manifest God in us if we have His word and keep it with a faith that works in love. John wants them to know these literally down-to-earth facts about Jesus and His life with God so the members of the church will not be fooled by those who enter the church with conflicting doctrine. This life Jesus had with the Father is to become our life too; if anyone convinces people otherwise, their faith life will go in the wrong direction, and their spiritual growth and fellowship with God will be impaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SOURCES \u2013 BIBLIOGRAPHY<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Apologetics) = The Apologetics Study Bible<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Arc) = NIV Archaeological [not \u201cCultural\u201d] Study Bible<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Bible Back Comm 4) = Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary vol. 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Bible Knowl Comm NT) = The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament<\/p>\n\n\n\n (BLB) = BlueLetterBible.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Cultural) = NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible<\/p>\n\n\n\n (ENT) = Encountering the New Testament<\/p>\n\n\n\n (ESV) = English Standard Version Study Bible<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Life) = Life Application Study Bible, New American Standard Version<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Moody) = The Moody Bible Commentary<\/p>\n\n\n\n (NKJV margin) = Holy Bible, The New King James Version, margin note<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Prophecy) = Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Recovery) = The New Testament Recovery Version<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Steve) = Personal observation<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Strong\u2019s) = Strong\u2019s number as in Blue Letter Bible<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Vincent\u2019s I or II) = Vincent\u2019s Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. I or II <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Vine’s) = Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Wiersbe) = The Wiersbe Study Bible<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I thought I would change up my morning times by looking up the note sin advance for passages I’ll meditate on, all taken from my various study Bibles and commentaries. On these pages I am adding the notes above the … Continue reading