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1 John 4:14 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
And we have seen. Notes below from 1 John 1:1.
Which we have seen with our eyes – That is, pertaining to his person, and to what he did. “I have seen him; seen what he was as a man; how he appeared on earth; and I have seen whatever there was in his works to indicate his character and origin.” John professes here to have seen enough in this respect to furnish evidence that he was the Son of God. It is not hearsay on which he relies, but he had the testimony of his own eyes in the case. Compare 2Pet. 1:16.
Which we have looked upon – The word used here seems designed to be more emphatic or intensive than the one occurring before. He had just said that he had “seen him with his eyes,” but he evidently designs to include an idea in this word that would imply something more than mere beholding or seeing. The additional idea which is couched in this word seems to be that of desire or pleasure; that is, that he had looked on him with desire, satisfaction, or pleasure with which one beholds a beloved object. Compare Matt. 11:7; Luke 7:24; John 1:14; 11:45. There was an intense and earnest gaze, as when we behold one whom we have desired to see, or when one goes out purposely to look on an object. The evidence of the incarnation of the Son of God had been subjected to such an intense and earnest gaze.
And testify. That is, we who are apostles bear witness to you of this great truth, that God has sent his Son to be a Savior. Compare John 20:31. The reason why this is referred to here is not quite apparent, but the train of thought in this passage would seem to be this: The writer is discoursing of the love of God and of its manifestation in the gift of the Savior, and of the proper influence which it should have on us. Struck with the greatness and importance of the subject, his mind adverts to the evidence on which what he was saying rested—the evidence that the Father had really thus manifested his love. That evidence he repeats that he had actually seen him who had been sent and had the most explicit demonstration that what he deemed so important had really occurred.
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