Book of 1 John Chapter 1 Vs. 4

 The Word of Life

1 John 1:4 “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

And these things.

The whole Epistle.

Write we unto you (γράφομεν ὑμῖν)

The best texts read ἡμεῖς we, instead of ὑμῖν to you. Both the verb and the pronoun are emphatic. The writer speaks with conscious authority, and his message is to be announced ἀπαγγέλλομεν, 1Jhn. 1:3 but written. We write is emphasized by the absence of the personal object, to you.

joy may be... This expression is used four times by John (John 15:11; 16:24; 1Jhn. 1:4; 2Jhn. 1:12) and only once elsewhere (Acts 2:28). A main goal for this epistle is to create joy in the readers. The proclamation of the reality of the gospel (verses 1-2), produces a fellowship in eternal life (verse 3), and in turn, fellowship in eternal life produces joy (verse 4).

Your joy (ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν)

The best texts read ἡμῶν, our, though either reading gives a good sense.

To realize the relationship, we can have with the Father and the Lord Jesus does bring joy unspeakable. Christians have hope of the resurrection that the world does not have.

Our fellowship with the Father and Jesus does not have to wait until we are in heaven with them. When we allow Jesus to dwell within us, we can have constant fellowship. This brings peace in the midst of the stormy world.

Full (πεπληρωμένη)

More correctly, fulfilled. Frequent in John. See John 3:29; 7:8; 8:38; 15:11; 2Jhn. 1:12; Rev. 6:11. The peace of reconciliation, the blessed consciousness of sonship, the happy growth in holiness, the bright prospect of future completion and glory, - all these are but simple details of that which, in all its length and breadth is embraced by one word, Eternal Life, the real possession of which is the immediate source of our joy. We have joy, Christ's joy, because we are blessed, because we have life itself in Christ (Düsterdieck, cit. by Alford). And Augustine: For there is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love Thee for thine own sake, whose joy Thou thyself art. And this is the happy life, to rejoice to Thee, of Thee; this is it and there is no other Confessions, x., 22. Alford is right in remarking that this verse gives an epistolary character to what follows, but it can hardly be said with him that it fills the place of the χαίρειν greeting, lit., rejoice, so common in the opening of Epistles.

The major purpose of 1 John (is stated in 5:13), but another purpose is stated here. For the recipients, and no doubt John as well, to enjoy and share in the deep sense of satisfaction and purpose that knowing Christ and walking with Him brings.

Again, John rounded off the prologue with a delicate personal touch. If this letter would succeed in fulfilling its aim for the readership, the writer himself and his fellow apostles would reap spiritual joy. We write this to make our joy complete. This statement is similar to one the same author made in 3Jhn. 1:4: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. The apostles so shared the heart of Christ for His people that their own joy was bound up in the spiritual well-being of those to whom they ministered. If the readers retained their true fellowship with God and with His apostles, no one would be any happier than John himself.