And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
Before leaving this study of the prologue, a little further attention to the subject of eternal life is appropriate.  It is well known that both in the gospel and the epistles John often speaks of eternal life as the present possession of Christians.  J. W. Roberts has given a thorough discussion of this in his commentary.  He cited many passages that indicate that, "In some sense, John sees the Christian as enjoying eternal life here and now,"[21] a proposition that is obvious to any reader or student of John.  He concluded that, "The eternal life which the believer has (present tense) is to be interpreted not as quantitative (everlasting) but as qualitative."[22] Those qualities of the Christian's present "eternal life" are evident in the declarations that he "has passed from death into life," that he is a "partaker of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4), and that he arises from baptism to walk "in newness of life."