Today’s reading is 1 John 1.
As happens on occasion, we find a translation difficulty in 1 John 1:4. The English Standard Version of the verse says:
And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
The New King James Version, however, says:
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
Whose joy will be complete? Will John’s joy be complete or will his audience’s joy be full? Apparently, manuscripts disagree regarding the pronoun. Some manuscripts say “our” and some say “your.” Apparently the manuscript witness is pretty evenly split on this one.
First, let’s lay aside some fears. This is the kind of manuscriptal difference skeptics like to make a big deal about. Of course, the manuscriptal differences do not pose nearly as big a problem for the New Testament as manuscriptal differences do for any other piece of ancient literature. In fact, if we are going to let the argument about manuscriptal differences cause us to throw out our New Testaments, we actually need to be fair and toss away all ancient literature. The testimony in favor of our New Testaments is better than every other bit of ancient literature out there. I encourage you to check out the numerous books on this topic. Here, I will simply ask you this. Consider this difference. At the end of the day, is anything about John’s message changed by either approach to this verse? Whether John means his joy will be complete or his audience’s, has any understanding of the gospel of Jesus or how to obey Jesus been changed? Of course not. The overwhelming majority of manuscriptal differences have about as much significance as this one to the message of the gospel and to the teaching of Jesus.
That being said, noticing this difference brings up a question for me. John either says his audience’s joy will be made full by having fellowship with Jesus or he says his joy will be complete if he can help others have fellowship with Jesus. That makes me wonder about myself. What gives me joy? What makes my joy complete?
Most people chase happiness. They keep looking for things they believe will give them momentary pleasure. If they string enough of those moments together, they think they’ll have lasting happiness. They think they’ll have joy. John saw joy in fellowship with Jesus. Whether that joy was for himself or for others, his notion of joy was tied to relationship with Jesus and Jesus’s people.
I have to admit, when I think about pursuing what will make me happy, the notion of fellowship and relationship with disciples isn’t what I’m commonly thinking about. Perhaps that is why when I chase happiness the way I often do, it never works out.
So, here’s the question for you. What completes your joy? Are you striving to find joy by pursuing fellowship with Jesus and His people, or do you look for it somewhere else? How’s that working out for you?
Tomorrow’s reading is 1 John 1.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does 1 John 1 admonish you?
Read the Bible 