The phrase "the Word of life" in Greek indicates that the Word is life.

[jidong xiao]

我们用餐吃主菜以前，常有一道开胃菜。在约壹一章使徒约翰也给我们一道“开胃菜。”这道“开胃菜”乃是生命的话。毫无疑问，约翰的用意是要供应我们神圣的生命。但是为要激起我们的食欲，他就给我们摆上生命的话作属灵的开胃菜。这就是约翰一章一至四节和十四节所说到的“话，”这话在创世以前在永远里就与神同在，并且就是神；祂在时间里成为肉体，生命就在祂里面。这话传输永远的生命，并且就是基督神圣的人位，是神一切所是的说明、解释和彰显。生命在祂里面，并且祂就是生命。（约十一25，十四6。）“生命之话”这辞，在原文指明话就是生命。那人位就是神圣的生命，永远的生命，是我们摸得着的。这里题到“话，”指明这封书信乃是约翰福音的延续和发展。（见约一1～2，14。）

Often before we partake of the main course at dinner, we are served an appetizer. In 1 John 1 the Apostle John also gives us an "appetizer." This appetizer is the Word of life. No doubt, John's intention is to serve us the divine life. But in order to stir up our appetite he serves us the Word of life as a spiritual appetizer. This is the Word mentioned in John 1:1-4 and 14, who was with God and was God in eternity before creation, who became flesh in time, and in whom is life. This Word conveys the eternal life and is the divine Person of Christ as an account, a definition, and an expression of all that God is. In Him is life, and He is life (John 11:25; 14:6). The phrase "the Word of life" in Greek indicates that the Word is life. The Person is the divine life, the eternal life, which we can touch. The "Word" mentioned here indicates that the Epistle is a continuation and development of John's Gospel (see John 1:1-2, 14).