I John 1:1

That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked at and our hands have touched
-- this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life.
(NIV)

John starts his book with a little validation. The things that he will proclaim in this book, he has experienced first hand. And when I say experienced, that is exactly what I mean.

I thought that it was odd that he said, seen and then looked, just a few words later. But I think that he is trying to really get across the idea that these are things that he has intimate knowledge of.

But what is the thing that he has intimate knowledge of? It is the Word of Life.

This sounds very familiar. Sounds like another book that he has written. It starts almost the same way:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(John 1:1 -- NASV)

So, when we talk about the Word, it isn't a what? it is a who? Jesus Christ came as the Living Word. He is the fulfillment of all that God has said. He is the embodiment of God's promises.

Therefore, if you read this book, you can know and trust that you are getting close personal knowledge of God.