How does 1 John 1:2 affirm the reality of Jesus' incarnation? Opening the Verse 1 John 1:2: “the life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.” Key Phrases That Ground the Incarnation • “the life was revealed” – “Revealed” (Greek: ἐφανερώθη) draws attention to something previously hidden now made visible in history. – The eternal Word did not stay abstract; He showed up in space and time. • “we have seen it and testify to it” – Eyewitness language. John roots the gospel in physical observation, not philosophical speculation (cf. 1 John 1:1, “what we have looked at and our hands have touched”). – Authentic testimony under oath: “testify” (μαρτυροῦμεν) echoes legal reliability. • “the eternal life that was with the Father” – Before Bethlehem, the Son shared eternal fellowship with the Father (see John 17:5). – Confirms pre-existence; incarnation is the moment that eternal life stepped into temporal life. • “and was revealed to us” – Double emphasis (“revealed” appears twice) stresses historical manifestation. – The plural “us” highlights corporate witness—believers are not relying on one person’s vision. How the Verse Locks in Literal, Bodily Reality 1. Visibility: Something you can see is tangible, not visionary. 2. Public Testimony: Apostolic preaching invited verification; opponents could question the eyewitnesses. 3. Temporal Sequence: “With the Father” (pre-incarnate) → “revealed to us” (incarnate). The progression presumes a genuine entrance into the world. Supporting Passages That Echo the Same Truth • John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us; we have seen His glory…” • Philippians 2:6-8 – Christ “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.” • 1 Timothy 3:16 – “Great indeed is the mystery of godliness: He appeared in the flesh…” • Hebrews 2:14 – “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity…” Practical Takeaways • Confidence: Our faith rests on eyewitness fact, not myth. • Assurance: Because the eternal Son truly became man, His atonement truly covers humans. • Fellowship: The same life once seen by apostles now indwells believers (1 John 1:3-4). Summary Statement 1 John 1:2 anchors the incarnation in observable history: the eternal Son, once with the Father, stepped into humanity, was openly seen, and is now proclaimed as the tangible source of eternal life. |
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