For the sake of context, here are the first 3 verses of I John 1:
 

RSV: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-- that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
 

That which was with the Father "from the beginning" was eternal life. The "word of life" is the message of eternal life. This message (word) is what John is writing about - "...concerning the word of life..." The eternal life which was with the Father was made manifest to "us" - that is, the apostles, or perhaps John is using a royal "us" and actually means "me". The eternal life that was with the Father was "made manifest" in Jesus' resurrection. The manifestation of that life, Jesus' immortal physical body, was heard, seen, looked upon, and touched by John (and/or the apostles), who is now proclaiming that eternal life - physical immortality - is made manifest in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
 

This text differentiates between God, the Father, AND his Son, Jesus Christ. John is not concerned with proving that Jesus is God. In chapter 5, verse 1 he says, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God..." This is the same reason John wrote his gospel; "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." (John 20: 30, 31)
 

1 John 4:15: Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
 

Jesus is the Son of God, not God.
 

In chapter 5, verses 10-12 he says, "He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself....and this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life."
 

The "life" and "eternal life" possessed by he who believes in the Son of God refers to the resurrection of the body. Eternal life was manifested in Jesus, and will be manifested through all those who believe in Him - that is, believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
 

"I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." (I John 5:13)

You'd think that if a person has eternal life they'd know it. This indicates that "eternal life" refers to something that is not actually manifest yet. You could have it and not know it, because it is not yet made manifest, but eternal life (physical immortality) IS made manifest in Jesus, the apostle John has seen it and touched it with his hands. And he's saying that if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, you have eternal life, the resurrection of the body, i.e. the promise of immortality.

 

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