We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
Parallel translations
- WEB And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
- KJV And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
- 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.
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 15:11I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
- John 16:24Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
- 2 Jn 1:12Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
- 2 Cor 1:24Not that we control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.
- Hab 3:17–18For though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls:
- John 3:29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full.
- Eph 3:19and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- Isa 61:10I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
- Phil 1:25–26Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
- 1 Jn 2:1My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor 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.