OET interlinear 1YHN (1JHN) 1:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

ταῦτα γράφομεν ἡμεῖς

these_‹things› /are/_writing we

As the General Notes to this chapter explain, here John is formally stating his purpose for writing. If you decided in 1:1 that it would be more natural in your language for him to refer to himself with a singular pronoun in such a context, you could do the same thing here. Alternate translation: [I, John, am writing these things]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμεῖς & ἡμῶν

we & ˱of˲_us

If you use the plural pronoun we here, it would be exclusive, since John is speaking of himself and the other eyewitnesses on whose behalf he is writing. However, the term our in the second clause is likely inclusive, since John probably means that he wants both himself and his readers to have joy in the shared fellowship with one another and with the Father and the Son whom he describes in the previous verse.

Note 3 topic: translate-textvariants

ἡ χαρὰ ἡμῶν

the joy ˱of˲_us

See the discussion of textual issues at the end of the General Notes to this chapter to decide whether to follow the reading of ULT and say our joy or to follow the reading of some other versions and say “your joy.”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / you

ἡ χαρὰ ἡμῶν

the joy ˱of˲_us

If you follow the variant reading “your joy” here instead of our joy, the word “your” would be plural, as in the rest of this letter, since it would refer to a group of believers.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη

in_order_that the joy ˱of˲_us may_be /having_been/_fulfilled

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of joy, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [so that we will be completely happy]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη

in_order_that the joy ˱of˲_us may_be /having_been/_fulfilled

If your language does not use this passive form, you can express this with an active form. Alternate translation: [so that we will be completely happy]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη

in_order_that the joy ˱of˲_us may_be /having_been/_fulfilled

The implications are that John and his readers will be completely happy together if his readers recognize the truth of what he is writing to them about. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly, as UST does.