1 John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

Cross-reference

1 John 1:3 Parallel

1 John 1:3 continues the same thought — the apostolic witness leads to fellowship with God and each other.

1 John 4:14 Parallel

In 1 John 4:14, the same apostolic 'we have seen and testify' echoes the eyewitness testimony of the Word of life.

1 John 2:13 Parallel

1 John 2:13 uses the same phrase 'from the beginning' to refer to Christ, reinforcing the eternal nature of the Word.

1 John 5:20 Related theme

In 1 John 5:20, Jesus is identified as 'the true God and eternal life', directly linking to the 'word of life' in 1:1.

1 John 5:13 Related theme

In 1 John 5:13, the letter's purpose is to assure believers of eternal life, echoing the 'word of life' from the opening.

1 John 5:11 Related theme

1 John 5:11 states eternal life is in God's Son — the same life John heard, saw, and touched in the incarnate Word.

1 John 5:7 Parallel

1 John 5:7 names the same 'Word' as a divine witness, linking the incarnate Word to the heavenly testimony.

Acts 1:3 Parallel

Acts 1:3 emphasizes Jesus showing Himself alive with 'many infallible proofs' and being seen — confirming the physical reality.

Revelation 19:13 identifies the conquering Christ as 'The Word of God'—the same title used here for the incarnate Word of life.

Revelation 2:8 calls Jesus the first and last who died and lives, reinforcing the eternal life theme of 1 John 1:1.

Revelation 1:17 shows Jesus declaring 'I am the first and the last', directly aligning with the Word's preexistence in 1 John 1:1.

2 Peter 1:16-18 calls the apostles 'eyewitnesses of his majesty', reinforcing the firsthand testimony of Jesus' glory.

Acts 4:20 Parallel

Acts 4:20 says 'we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard' — the same apostolic compulsion to testify.

John 20:27 Allusion

John 20:27 invites Thomas to touch Jesus' hands and side — a direct parallel to the handling and seeing of the Word.

Micah 5:2 Prophetic fulfillment

Micah 5:2 prophesies the Messiah's goings forth from everlasting, which 1 John 1:1 affirms as the Word from the beginning.

Luke 1:2 Parallel

Luke 1:2 also uses 'from the beginning' and 'eyewitnesses', directly paralleling the apostolic claim to firsthand experience.

Luke 24:39 Allusion

Luke 24:39 has Jesus say 'handle me and see' — the same physical touching and seeing that 1 John 1:1 claims.

John 1:1 Parallel

John 1:1 explicitly states the Word was in the beginning with God, directly parallel to 1 John 1:1's 'from the beginning'.

John 1:2-18 elaborates on the Word's preexistence and incarnation, expanding the summary in 1 John 1:1.

John 1:14 Allusion

John 1:14 declares the Word became flesh and 'we beheld' — the same incarnate Word that was seen and touched.

John 8:58 Parallel

John 8:58 records Jesus' claim 'before Abraham was, I am', confirming the eternal existence of the Word in 1 John 1:1.

John 19:35 Parallel

John 19:35 affirms an eyewitness record for belief, paralleling the testimony foundation in 1 John 1:1.

John 3:11 Parallel

John 3:11 uses the same language of speaking what we know and testifying what we have seen, reinforcing the apostolic eyewitness theme.

Colossians 1:18 calls Christ 'the beginning' — the same eternal origin John refers to with 'from the beginning'.

Philippians 2:16 uses the identical phrase 'word of life' — Paul exhorts believers to hold to the same gospel John declares.

John 11:25 Parallel

In John 11:25, Jesus declares He is the resurrection and the life, directly identifying with the Word of life in 1 John 1:1.

Genesis 1:1 Allusion

Genesis 1:1 begins with 'In the beginning,' which the apostle echoes to place the Word before creation, linking to the original act of creation.

John 21:24 Parallel

John 21:24 validates the beloved disciple's testimony, supporting the apostolic witness claimed in 1 John 1:1.

John 14:6 Parallel

John 14:6 explicitly identifies Jesus as the life, directly echoing the Word of life from 1 John 1:1.

John 20:20 Allusion

John 20:20 shows Jesus displaying His hands and side, confirming the tactile experience in 1 John 1:1.

John 15:27 Parallel

John 15:27 emphasizes the disciples' witness from the beginning, exactly matching the eyewitness claim in 1 John 1:1.

John 5:37 Contrast

John 5:37 says the Father's voice has never been heard nor His form seen, contrasting with the tangible experience of the Word in this verse.

Proverbs 8:22-31 describes Wisdom existing from the beginning, paralleling the eternal Word in 1 John 1:1.

Revelation 1:2 describes John bearing witness to the word of God, similar to the eyewitness testimony of the word of life in 1 John 1:1.

Revelation 1:8 describes the Lord as the beginning and the ending, echoing the 'from the beginning' of the Word in 1 John 1:1.

Revelation 1:18 presents Jesus as the living one who was dead but alive forever, connecting to the 'Word of life' in 1 John 1:1.

Revelation 1:11 Related theme

Revelation 1:11 has the Alpha and Omega, first and last, resonating with the eternal nature of the Word in 1 John 1:1.

Proverbs 8:23 speaks of wisdom being established 'from the beginning'—a pre‑existence that foreshadows the eternal Word described here.