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1Jn_1:1-4. Introduction of the Epistle: statement of the subject of the apostolic proclamation and of the aim of this writing. The construction of the periods is not carried out conformably to rule. The relative clauses beginning with ὅ form the object of a verbal idea, which is just as little directly expressed as the subject which belongs to it; nay, more, with περί the period that was begun breaks off, and with καὶ ἡ ζωή (which refers back to the preceding τῆς ζωῆς ) begins a new period consisting of two principal members. In the new sentence, 1Jn_1:3, the object, expressed in relative form, is placed before the finite verb, which contains in itself the subject. The parts of the sentence in 1Jn_1:1, beginning with ὅ , are co-ordinate with each other; it is grammatically impossible to take the first part as subject and the following parts as the predicate of it (Cappellus: quod erat ab initio hoc ipsum est, quod audivimus, etc.); as far as regards the sense, it is unsuitable to find in ἐψηλάφησαν the verb which governs the preceding objective clauses (Paulus: “that which was, etc., which we have seen, our hands also have touched”). The governing verb cannot be contained in 1Jn_1:2 either, for the verbs of this verse have their object near them in τὴν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον . As ὃ ἑωράκαμεν κ . ἀκηκόαμεν , 1Jn_1:3, shows itself to be the resumption of the objective clauses of 1Jn_1:1,—only in more abridged form,—it is to be assumed that ἀπαγγέλλομεν , 1Jn_1:3, is the verb which was before the apostle’s mind from the very beginning, from the immediate addition of which he was, however, prevented by feeling himself constrained to define the object more precisely by the appositional addition περὶ τοῦ λόγου τῆς ζωῆς . As he was then induced by τῆς ζωῆς to the parenthetical continuation in 1Jn_1:2, he made the finite verb follow after he had first resumed the object.