Seen, Observed (1 John 1:1-2)

John wrote to his readers in 1 John 1:1-2 these important words: ¹“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life—²that life was revealed, and we have seen it, and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.” John was writing about having been with Jesus personally. As an eyewitness, he could offer testimony that could not easily be dismissed.

It is both interesting and significant that while the phrase have seen in verses 1 and 2 represent the same Greek word, the phrase have observed in verse 1 represents another.

• The term translated have seen commonly conveyed the idea of “catching sight of, perceiving, becoming acquainted with.” In the King James Version, it also is translated as have seen. It appears 467 additional times in the New Testament, including Luke 1:22; John 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (“see to it”); Hebrews 8:5 (“be careful”).
• The word rendered have observed carried the idea of “beholding, viewing attentively, looking upon, contemplating.” The translators of the King James Version rendered the term “looked upon.” This word occurs just 21 other times in the New Testament, including Matt. 6:1 (“be seen”); John 4:35 (“look”); 11:45; 1 John 4:12.

John had the opportunity to be with Jesus over a three-year period. During that time he saw Jesus with his eyes (see 1 John 1:1, where the phrase “with our eyes” is linked to the verb translated “have seen”). Yet John did more. He said that he and others close to Jesus “heard” Him and “touched” Him (v, 1), interactions involving their hands and ears. While the word translated observed clearly conveys the use of one’s eyes, the above definition also shows it involves the mind as well. They watched Jesus carefully and even contemplated, studied, and interpreted Him. Therefore, John knew what he was talking about when, at the conclusion of his letter, he wrote, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One—that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20). This is but one of numerous statements we could cite in which John affirmed that Jesus was God’s Son (see also 4:15; 5:5).

The point here is that John didn’t speak ignorantly, but with experiential knowledge, understanding, and reasoning. His testimony is rock-solid reliable!