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;
Instead of a focal, John adopts a virtual, address (cf. 1 John 1:4). To wish joy to the reader was the ancient address. The sentence begun, 1 John 1:1, is broken off by the parenthetic 1 John 1:2, and is resumed at 1 John 1:3, with the repetition of words from 1 John 1:1.
That which was - essentially (not 'began to be') х een (G2258), not egeneto (G1096)]; before He was manifested (1 John 1:2): answering to "Him that is from the beginning" (1 John 2:13); so John's gospel, John 1:1; Proverbs 8:23.
We - apostles.
Heard ... seen ... looked upon ... handled. A gradation. Seeing is a more convincing proof than hearing of; handling, than even seeing. "Have heard ... have seen" х Heoorakamen (G3708)] (perfects), as a possession still abiding with us; but х etheasametha (G2300)] "looked upon" (without "have:" not perfect, as of a continuing thing, but aorist, past time), while Christ the incarnate Word was still with us. "Seen," namely, His glory, as revealed in the transfiguration and in His miracles; and His passion and death, in a real body of flesh and blood. "Looked upon" as a wondrous spectacle, stedfastly, deeply, contemplatively. Appropriate to John's contemplative character. "Hands have handled" х epseelafeesan (G5584)] - Thomas and the other disciples, on distinct occasion, after the resurrection. John himself had leant on Jesus' breast at the last supper. Contrast the wisest of the pagan feeling after (the same Greek, Acts 17:27: cf. Romans 10:8-9), groping after WITH THE HANDS, if haply they might find God. This proves against Socinians; he is speaking of the personal incarnate Word, not of Christ's teaching, from the beginning of His official life.
Of, х peri (G4012)] - 'concerning;' following "heard." "Heard" is the verb most applying to the purpose of the letter-namely, the truth which John had heard concerning the Word of life; i:e., (Christ) the Word who is the life-namely, from Christ Himself; all Christ's teachings about Himself. Therefore he puts 'concerning' before "the Word of life," which is inapplicable to any of the verbs except "heard;" also "heard" is the only verb which he resumes at 1 John 1:5.