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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
1 Yhn 1 V1 V2 V3 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10
OET (OET-LV) And we are_writing these things, in_order_that the joy of_us may_be having_been_fulfilled.
Read 1:1–4 carefully in both BSB and GNT. Compare the two versions.
Section Theme: These verses form an introduction to the whole letter. In them John states the authority which he has for giving instructions to his readers. He also explains what his purpose is in writing the letter. His authority is the fact that he had personally been with Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God. His purpose in writing the letter is that the people he is writing to may truly share the fellowship he has with God.
We write these things
So I am writing about these things to you
these things: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two opinions about what the words these things refer to here:
It probably refers to what John has said in verses 1–3.
Some think it refers to the rest of the letter.
so that our joy may be complete.
so that you may join in fellowship with us,(excl) and so our(incl) joy may be very much.
so that our joy may be complete: (Logical Relationship) John’s purpose in writing is not primarily to make himself joyful. He is writing so that his readers will learn about true fellowship and have fellowship with him. If they do, that is what will cause him to be joyful. If this is not clear in translation some of this information should be made explicit. See the Display.
our joy: (Text) The KJV “your joy” is from an inferior Greek text. The other versions have “our joy.”
our: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two interpretations of this word here:
It is probably inclusive, meaning “(joy) of you and us apostles.”
Some think it is exclusive, meaning “(joy) of us apostles.”
complete: (Meaning) This means “as great as it can be,” “without any sadness or anything to spoil it.”
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](../01/01.md) 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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ταῦτα γράφομεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα ἡ χαρά ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη)
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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ταῦτα γράφομεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα ἡ χαρά ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη)
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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ταῦτα γράφομεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα ἡ χαρά ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη)
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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ταῦτα γράφομεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα ἡ χαρά ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη)
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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ταῦτα γράφομεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα ἡ χαρά ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη)
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.
1:4 so that you may fully share our joy: The joy that the apostles have comes from their fellowship with God the Father and the Son (1:3). Readers will share this joy when they enter into the same fellowship.
OET (OET-LV) And we are_writing these things, in_order_that the joy of_us may_be having_been_fulfilled.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.