1 John 1:4 (ASV)

Passage

and these things we write, that our joy may be made full.

Nearby Context

1 John 1:2 (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal [life], which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us);

1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:

1 John 1:4 and these things we write, that our joy may be made full.

1 John 1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "things", "write", and "full". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "things" and "write", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "that which we have seen and heard..." into verse 5's "And this is the message which we...", so "things" and "write" belong inside that flow. In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "things" and "write" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.