The book's author or editor, setting forth its purpose and scope, expressing acknowledgment of assistance from others, etc.

John 1:1-4 is the preface of this letter

Preface

Truly SensationalOne True Love (2)

sen·sa·tion·al1.Producing or designed to produce a startling

effect, strong reaction, intense interest

2.Extraordinarily good; conspicuously excellent; phenomenal

3.Of or pertaining to the senses or sensation.

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.

1 John 1:1-4

The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

1 John 1:1-4

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

1 John 1:1-4

sen·sa·tion·al1.Producing or designed to produce a startling

effect, strong reaction, intense interest

2.Extraordinarily good; conspicuously excellent; phenomenal

3.Of or pertaining to the senses or sensation.

That which was from the beginning…

In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all

things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

– John 1:1-2

The Pre-Eminence of Christ

The Pre-Eminence of Christ Colossians 1:15-20

sen·sa·tion·al1.Producing or designed to produce a startling

effect, strong reaction, intense interest

2.Extraordinarily good; conspicuously excellent; phenomenal

3.Of or pertaining to the senses or sensation.

Sensuous Faith…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.

sen·sa·tion·al1.Producing or designed to produce a startling

effect, strong reaction, intense interest

2.Extraordinarily good; conspicuously excellent; phenomenal

3.Of or pertaining to the senses or sensation.

A Living WitnessThe life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard…

sen·sa·tion·al1.Producing or designed to produce a startling

effect, strong reaction, intense interest

2.Extraordinarily good; conspicuously excellent; phenomenal

3.Of or pertaining to the senses or sensation.

Fellowship With God & One Another

We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

And what is the secret to the fullness of joy? It is in the fellowship which the proclamation creates;

for if the immediate purpose of the proclamation is the establishment of fellowship, the ultimate purpose is the completion of joy. – John Stott

Revelation Witness

Fellowship

JOY

Complete Our Joy – St. Anselm

I pray, O God, that I may know you & love you,so that I may rejoice in you.

And if I cannot do so fully in this lifemay I progress gradually until it comes to

fullness.

Let the knowledge of you grow in me here,and there be made complete;Let your love grow in me hereand there be made complete,

so that here my joy may be great in hope,and there be complete in reality.

Lord, by your Son, you command, or rather, counsel us to ask

and you promise that we shall receive so that our “joy may be complete.”

I ask, Lord, as you counsel through our admirable Counselor.

May I receive what you promise through your truth so that my “joy may be complete.”

Until then let my mind meditate on it,Let my tongue speak of it,

Let my heart love it,Let my mouth preach it.Let my soul hunger for it,Let my flesh thirst for it,

my whole being desire it,until I enter into the “joy of the Lord,”

who is God, Three in One, “blessed forever. Amen.”