(and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);
and we have seen it: Once again, John declares that he and the other apostles saw Jesus, who was "the life." The Gnostics who read this letter probably became weary with this eyewitness testimony that John affirms again and again. Why does he repeat himself? He wants to emphasize and re-emphasize the truth of Jesus’ humanity.