1 John 1:3
What does 1 John 1:3 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 1:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 1:3 means
The apostles speak about what they actually saw and heard with a clear aim: to draw readers into the same shared life. Fellowship is not mere friendship; it is participation in the life of God through the gospel. To have fellowship with the apostles is to stand in the same truth they received, and that fellowship ultimately is “with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” The vertical and horizontal are inseparable: union with God in Christ creates unity among believers. The emphasis on the Son by name makes plain that true fellowship with God is centered on Jesus as the Father’s Son, not on secret knowledge or private spirituality.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:
KJV
King James Version · 1611That 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949We give you word of all we have seen and everything which has come to our ears, so that you may be united with us; and we are united with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862that which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship <FI>is<Fi> with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752That which we have seen and have heard, we declare unto you: that you also may have fellowship with us and our fellowship may be with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890that which we have seen and heard we report to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship [is] indeed with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Context
John resumes his opening sentence after the parenthetical of verse 2, moving from manifestation to proclamation and finally to purpose. The goal is inclusion—bringing others into the community shaped by the apostolic Christ. This prepares for verse 4, where the result is fullness of joy, and for verse 5, where the moral character of God (“light”) defines the nature of this fellowship. Before John contrasts light and darkness, he ensures we see that the Christian life is shared life rooted in the real Jesus.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 1:7
but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
- Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
- Colossians 1:13
who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
- 1 John 2:23
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.
- Hebrews 2:12
saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the congregation will I sing thy praise.
- Philippians 3:10
that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;
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