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, concerning the Word of life -
John talks about that which was from the beginning - that he has touched and heard. Obviously he hadn't been at the beginning but was talking about handling, seeing, touching, hearing that which was. He is talking about the Word of life.....but how can he handle the word of life, that which was from the beginning.
He can handle the Word of life, because as the scriptures will go on to say is that Jesus is the Word of life.
As one of the commentators says, this is a proof of the truth and reality of his human nature, by several of the senses.
I love David Guzik's commentary, particularly regarding the significance of the use of the word "Logos" or "Word" of life, it is well worth reading:
The purpose of the letter: to bring you into relationship with God.
1. (1-2) John begins with the center of relationship: Jesus Christ.
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, concerning the Word of life; the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.
a. The beginning John speaks of is not the beginning of this world; nor is it the beginning of creation - it is the beginning of Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1, the beginning there was before there was anything, when all there existed was God.
i. The beginning of Genesis 1:1 is simple: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The beginning of John 1:1 is profound: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John is taking us back to this time in eternity past, to meet this One which was from the beginning.
ii. Whoever, or whatever, John is speaking of, he says his subject is eternal - and therefore is God, because they have existed before all else, and are the source and basis of the existence of all things.
b. This eternal being - That which was from the beginning - came to earth, and John (among others) had personally experienced this eternal One: which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled.
i. The idea that this eternal subject of John has been audibly heard, physically seen, intently studied (have looked upon), and tangibly touched (hands have handled) would have enormous implications for his readers.
ii. Enormous because it says that this eternal God has become accessible to man in the most basic way, a way that anyone can relate to. This eternal One can be known, and He has revealed Himself to us.
iii. Enormous because it proves that John's words have the weight of eyewitness evidence; he is not speaking of a myth or a matter of clever story-telling. He carefully studied this eternal One, and he knows whom he is talking about.
iv. Enormous because it debunks dangerous teachings that were creeping into the church, known as Gnosticism; part of the teaching of Gnosticism was that though Jesus was God, He was not actually, physically man, but some kind of pseudo-physical phantom - but John says, "I heard Him! I saw Him! I studied Him! I touched Him!"
c. John identifies this eternally existent being, who was physically present with John and others (note the repetition of our, not "my"), as the Word of Life - the same Logos spoken of in John 1:1.
i. The idea of the Logos - of the Word - was huge for John, for the Greek world of his day, and for the Jewish world of his day. For the Jew, God was often referred to as the Word, because they knew God perfectly revealed Himself in His word. For the Greek, their philosophers had spoken for centuries about the Logos - the basis for organization and intelligence in the universe, the Ultimate Reason which controls all things.
ii. It is as if John is saying to everyone, "This Logos you have been talking about and writing about for centuries - well, we have heard Him, seen Him, studied Him, and touched Him! Let us tell you about Him!"
d. This life was manifested, that is, made actually, physically real; John solemnly testifies as an eyewitness (we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you) that this is the case. This is no fairy tale, no "once upon a time." This is real, and John is telling us about it as an eyewitness.
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