I JOHN 1:4 (Notes)

 

                   And these things

                                                write we unto you,

                   that your joy

                                                may be full.

 

 

These things                                       Revelation

 

write we unto you,                               Communication

 

that your joy                                       Exultation

 

may be full.                                         Expectation

 

Other versions:

 

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

 

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

 

NOTE:  Differences like this are difficult for average Bible students to rectify.  This is why having commentaries assists in Bible study. 

 

Definitions:

 

A.   Write

1.    Strong (1125)

a.    The Greek word is “grapho.”

b.    It means to grave, especially to write

2.    Thayer:  to write with reference to the contents of the writing

3.    Vine:  of “forming letters” on a surface or writing material

 

B.   Joy

1.    Strong (5479):  cheerfulness, that is, calm delight

2.    Thayer:  joy, gladness

3.    Vine:  joy, delight

 

C.   Full

1.    Strong (4137):  to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), satisfy

2.    Thayer:  to make full, to fill up, i.e., to fill to the full, to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally, to render full, i.e. to complete, to fill to the top:  so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim

3.    Vine:  full, in the sense of being filled

 

Personal Observations:

 

A.   Inspired men of God wrote the message of God down in order for us to have it in a permanent form.

B.   Inspired men wrote their message with a definite purpose in mind.

C.   Most people desire joy, but often they do not look for it in the Scriptures.

D.   John wanted his readers to have joy and to have it abundantly.

E.   The Word of always accomplishes its purpose (Isa. 55:11).

Barnes

 

These things write we unto you

 

That your (our) joy

 

A.   “The best editions of the Greek Testament now read “your joy,” instead of the common reading “our joy” (Barnes, e-sword).

B.   “This is almost the same language which the Saviour used when addressing his disciples as he was about to leave them, Joh_15:11…” (Barnes, e-sword).

 

C.   “The sense here is, that full and clear views of the Lord Jesus, and the fellowship with him and with each other, which would follow from that, would be a source of happiness” (Barnes, e-sword).

 

D.   LESSON:  “…real happiness was to be found in their Saviour” (Barnes, e-sword)

 

May be full

 

 

 

Woods

 

Introduction

 

A.   In the foregoing verses is another of the many parallels which occur between this Epistle and the Gospel by the same writer:

 

The Epistle                                         The Gospel

 

          “That ye also may have fellowship                   “That they may all be one”

          with us” (1:3.)                                               (17:20.)

 

          “Our fellowship is with the Father                  “That they also may be one in

          And his Son, Jesus Christ” (1:3.)                    us” (17:21.)

 

          “These things we write, that our joy                “And these things I speak in the

          may be made full” (1:4.)                                 world, that they may have my    

                                                                             Joy made full in themselves” (17:13.)

 

These things write we unto you

 

A.   “’These things’ were the matters immediately referred to in the early verses of the chapter and, in a secondary sense, in all of the Epistle” (Woods 214).

 

B.   “The plural pronounce ‘we’ is a common literary device and does not, of course, mean that others were joined with John in the authorship of this epistle” (Woods 214).

 

That your (our) joy

 

A.   “The purpose for which “these things” were penned was that the joy of John might abound” (Woods 214).

 

May be full

 

Bruce

 

Introduction

 

A.   “The same theme of fulness of joy appears in the upper room discourse (John15:11; 16:24)” (Bruce 40).

 

These things write we unto you

 

That your joy

 

A.   Bruce speaks of two variants in the verse

1.    These things “to you” are written vs. “and these things we write.”

2.    That “our joy may be full vs. “that your joy may be full.”

 

B.   “Neither of these variants is important.  If ‘to you’ is not expressed in the first clause, it is in any case implied; and if ‘our’ is the possessive pronoun in the second clause, it is the inclusive ‘our’ (meaning ‘our joy and yours together), not the exclusive (‘our joy,’ not yours’)” (Bruce 40).

 

May be full

 

A.   “John certainly sought his readers’ joy, but their joy would be his, and that joy would be filled brimfull if they were firmly established in Christian faith and fellowship” (Bruce 40).

 

 

Lenski

 

These things write we unto you

 

A.   “’These things we are writing,’ Zahn rightly says, includes the entire New Testament literature, especially that which was written directly by the apostolic witnesses but also that which is based on their witness, the literature to which John is now contributing this letter and will contribute his Gospel and his Revelation” (Lenski 380).

 

B.   “It was the calling of the Twelve ‘to disciple all nations,’ and that included also the nations of future ages.  The promise made in Matt. 28:20 extends far, far beyond the lifetime of the Twelve” (Lenski 380).

 

C.   LESSON:  “They are discipling the nations now by these writings.  We sho now believe their testimony and their writings are in their fellowship, which is the fellowship with God and with his son Jesus Christ” (Lenski 380).

 

That your (our) joy

 

A.   Lenski translates this verse as follows:  “and these things we on our part are writing in order that our joy may be as having been filled full” (Lenski 379-380).

 

B.   He writes:  “Misunderstanding scribes altered the text.  They thought that John should say:  ‘These things we are writing to you in order that your joy may be full’” (Lenski 380).

 

 

May be full

 

A.   “The writing of the apostles, like their oral speaking, could not be in vain.  The cup of their joy is, indeed, ‘has having been filled full,’ to the brim, all antichristian opposition notwithstanding” (Lenski 380).