Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 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 1:2 (ASV)

Because this is the nub of John’s argument, he takes pains to restate it: The life to which he bears witness, the life that was with the Father, is precisely the life manifested in the historical person of Jesus. That is why John can say he has seen it, can bear personal witness to it, and can make an apostolic declaration concerning it. The three verbs “seen,” “testify,” and “proclaim” present personal experience, responsible affirmation, and authoritative announcement. The phrase “eternal life” underscores the divine character of the life described, not its length.