We apostles proclaim to you the message about the One who has lived eternally, so that you may be joined together with us and we may be completely happy.

1 I, John, am writing to you about the one who existed before there was anything else. He is the one whom we apostles listened to as he taught us! We saw him! We ourselves looked at him and touched him! He is the one who taught us the message that enables people to have eternal life (OR, live spiritually). 2 Because he came here to the earth and we have seen him, we proclaim to you clearly that the one whom we have seen is the one who has always lived. He was previously with his Father in heaven, but he came to live among us. 3 We proclaim to you the message about Jesus, the one whom we saw and heard, in order that you may have a close relationship with us. The ones whom we have a close relationship with are God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ. 4 I am writing to you about these things so that you ◄will be convinced/believe► that they are true, and as a result we may be completely joyful.