1 John summarizes its message with the statement that God is light and that in him is no darkness at all. The next verses use this claim to test whether someone’s life matches their claim of fellowship with God. See 1 John 1:5–6.
In 1 John 1:5, the writer states the core message he says he received “from him” and now passes on to his readers: God is light. He immediately adds the matching negative claim: there is no darkness in God at all. This verse follows the opening lines where the writer stresses direct experience and public reporting of what was seen and heard (1:1–4), aiming at shared life together.
The verse presents a core message that the writer claims to have received (“we have heard”) and now passes on (“announce to you”).
A common mistake is to turn the wording into a slogan. The better reading keeps the phrase tied to the passage, the speaker, and the problem the book is addressing.
Start with 1 John 1:5-6, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
5This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don`t tell the truth.