Bible Commentary

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 21. And this commandment have we ] The Apostle drives home his arguments for the practice of brotherly love by the fact that God has commanded all who love Him to love their brethren. Some take ‘Him’ to mean … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:21”

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 20. If a man say ] We return to the form of statement which was so common at the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:20”

We love him, because he first loved us. 19. We love him ] Omit ‘Him’, which is a later addition to the true text: some authorities for ‘Him’ add ‘God’, and some have ‘God’ for ‘He’ in the next clause. No accusative is expressed, and none, whether ‘God’ or ‘one another’, is to be understood: … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:19”

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 18. Proof of the preceding statement that perfect love will give us boldness, by shewing the mutually exclusive nature of love and fear. Love moves towards others in the spirit … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:18”

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 17. Herein is our love made perfect ] Better, as the margin, Herein is love with us made perfect; or, as R. V., Herein is love made perfect with … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:17”

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 16. And we have known and believed ] Literally, And we have come to know and have believed. This is the natural order; progressive knowledge leads … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:16”

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 15. Whosoever shall confess ] This was what the false prophets refused to do: see on 1Jn 4:2-3: also on 1Jn 5:1. dwelleth in him ] Better, abideth in him: see on 1Jn 2:24. and he in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:15”

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Savior of the world. 14. And we have seen and do testify ] Better, as R. V., And we have beheld and bear witness: see on 1Jn 4:12 and 1Jn 1:2. ‘We’ is emphatic, and, as in the Prologue, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:14”

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 13. This should be compared with 1Jn 3:24, to which it is closely parallel. There, as here, the gift of the Spirit is the proof of God’s abiding presence: but there this is connected with … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:13”

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 12. No man hath seen God at any time ] Better, as R. V., No man hath beheld God at any time: a different verb ( ) is used here from … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:12”