And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Parallel translations
- WEB And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
- BSB We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
- NKJV And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
- NASB These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
- NLT We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John writes so that joy may be made complete. True fellowship with God overflows in fullness of joy.
Overview
The aim of the letter is the readers' (and writer's) full joy, which flows from secure fellowship with the Father and Son. Joy here is not circumstantial happiness but the settled gladness of those rightly related to God. The whole letter, with its assurances and warnings, serves this end.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- John 15:11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
- John 16:24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
- 2 Jn 1:12Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
- 2 Cor 1:24Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
- Hab 3:17–18Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
- John 3:29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
- Eph 3:19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
- Isa 61:10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
- Phil 1:25–26And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
- 1 Jn 2:1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Jesus is the Word of life made manifest, the propitiation for our sins, the Son in whom is eternal life — 'that you may know that you have eternal life.'
How 1 John 1:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.