The thorough connection of the Epistle with the Gospel may be made more clear by the following tabulated analysis:--
The (A) _beginning_ and (B) the _close_ of the Epistle contain _two_ abstracts, longer and shorter, of the contents and bearing of the Gospel.
_i._--1 John i. 1.
1. "That which was from the beginning--concerning the Word of Life" = John i. 1-15.
2. (_a_) "Which we have _heard_" = John i. 38, 39, 42, 47, 50, 51, ii. 4, 7, 8, 16, 19, iii. 3, 22, iv. 7, 39, 48, 50, v. 6, 47, vi. 5, 70, vii. 6, 39, viii. 7, 58, ix. 3, 41, x. 1, 39, xi. 4, 45, xii. 7, 50, xiii. 6, 38, xiv., xvii., xviii. 14, 37, xix. 11, 26, 27, 28, 30, xx. 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, xxi. 5, 6, 10, 12, 22.
(_b_) "Which we have seen _with our eyes_" = John i. 29, 36, 39, ii. 11, vi. 2, 14, 19, ix., xi. 44, xiii. 4, 5, xvii. 1, xviii. 6, xix. 5, 17, 18, 34, 38, xx. 5, 14, 20, 25, 29, xxi. 1, 14.
(_c_) "Which we gazed upon" = _ibid._
(_d_) "Which we have handled" = John xx. 27 (refers also to a synoptical Gospel, Luke xxiv. 39, 40).
_ii._--1 John i. 2.
1. "The Life was manifested" = John i. 29--xxi. 25.
2. (_a_) "We have seen" = (A. _i._ 2 (_b_)).
(_b_) "And bear witness" = John i. 7, 19, 37, iii. 2, 27, 33, iv. 39, vi. 69, xx. 28, 30, 31, xxi. 24.
(_c_) "And declare unto you" = John _passim_.
"The Life, the Eternal Life, which"
א "Was with the Father" = John i. 1-4.
ב "And was manifested unto us" = John _passim_.