We have seen and testify that … or “we have seen and tell others that…” (Good News Translation). The sentence structure may have to be changed; for example, ‘we have seen that…, and testify to it.’ The first verb is in the perfect tense, showing that the seeing was an experience in the past that continues to affect the present; the second verb is in the present tense, expressing continuation.

“To see” repeats the verb found in verse 12. This serves to bring out that, though man cannot see God directly, face-to-face, he can see him indirectly in the face of Jesus, who is the historic revelation of God’s character. For “to testify” see comments on 1.2.

The Father has sent his Son (literally “the Son”) as the Savior of the world (or “to be the Savior of the world,” Good News Translation, or simply ‘to save the world’) resembles verse 9b. For the Father see comments on 1.2.

Savior, or ‘one who saves,’ is often a form indicating professional or habitual activity. In the ancient world the corresponding Greek word was a title of gods, and also of deserving and important men who thus were given divine honor. In the Greek version of the Old Testament, it is used of God, and in some cases of a human savior or deliverer (see Judges 3.9, 15). The noun has the basic meaning ‘one who preserves (or delivers) from harm,’ such as danger, illness, death. Figuratively used it can indicate one who preserves or delivers from eternal death and its causes, or, more positively stated, one who grants eternal life and the ensuing blessedness.

Renderings of the verb used in the present context may literally mean ‘to rescue,’ ‘to release from danger,’ ‘to renew,’ ‘to cause-to-escape,’ ‘to cause-to-get-better’ (physically and otherwise), ‘to cause-well-being,’ ‘to cause to live,’ ‘to give supernatural-life,’ ‘to bring across,’ and others. Compare also A Translator’s Handbook on the Gospel of Mark on 10.26.

For the world see comments on 2.15, meaning (3). One may have to indicate that the reference is to persons; for example, ‘all who live in this world’; or one may have to show that the speaker and hearers are included; for example, ‘us (inclusive), people on the earth.’

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The First Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .