1 John 4:7-5:5 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:7-21

Threefold recommendation of the duty of loving one another. I. THE DUTY RECOMMENDED , FROM LOVE HAVING ITS ORIGIN IN GOD . The duty enjoined. "Beloved, let us love one another." John has a winning way of urging duty, addressing his readers as objects of his affection, and desiring himself to be stirred up to duty. He has in view the "absolute type of love" (Westcott) in the Christian circle. There are considerations adduced which go beyond brotherly love, which... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another - This verse introduces a new topic, the consideration of which occupies the remainder of the chapter. See the Analysis. The subject is one on which John dwells more than on any other - that of love. His own character especially inclined him to the exercise of love; and the remarkable affection which the Lord Jesus had shown for him, seems to have had the effect to give this grace a special prominence in his views of what constituted true religion. Compare John... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 4:7-8

1 John 4:7-8. Let us love one another From the doctrine he has just been defending, he draws this exhortation: as if he had said, Think it not enough speculatively to admit the Christian doctrine, but let it be your great care to acknowledge it practically, and especially with respect to that most important article, brotherly love. The frequency and earnestness with which the apostle, in the present epistle, inculcates this love, is very remarkable. The greatest part of this chapter, and of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:7-21

The character of Christian love (4:7-5:5)It is God’s nature to love. Love in human nature has been spoiled by sin, but when people are born again by the work of God, they learn to love as God loves (7-8). The character of God’s love is seen in his act of giving his Son to die for those who have rebelled against him. They are worthy of death, but Jesus died to bear the judgment of sin on their behalf. As a result they can now have life (9-10). People cannot see God, but they can see that he... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 John 4:7

love. App-135 . love . App-135 . born = begotten. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.Here, of course, is another test, the love of "one another," such love being of God himself. One stands in amazement at a comment on this like the following:"Everyone" here includes all the human beings in whose nature love is or ever has been, whether they ever heard of God or Christ or not.[24]Such a comment is typical of much of the nonsense that has been written on this section... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 John 4:7

1 John 4:7. Beloved, let us love one another:— St. Jerome tells us, that when this blessed evangelist had continued at Ephesus to extreme old age, and was with difficulty carried to the church between the arms of some of the disciples, being unable to pronounce more words, he was wont, every time they assembled, to say nothing but this, "Little children, love one another." In the verse before us, the apostle assigns a strong reason why we should love one another;—for love is of God. He who... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:7

7. Resumption of the main theme (1 John 2:29). Love, the sum of righteousness, is the test of our being born of God. Love flows from a sense of God's love to us: compare 1 John 4:9; 1 John 3:16, which 1 John 3:16- : resumes; and 1 John 4:13; 1 John 3:24, which similarly 1 John 3:24- : resumes. At the same time, 1 John 3:24- : is connected with the immediately preceding context, 1 John 3:24- : setting forth Christ's incarnation, the great proof of God's love (1 John 4:10). Beloved—an address... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 4:7

Love, as well as faith (i.e., acknowledging the true doctrine of Christ, 1 John 4:1-6), is a product of God’s Spirit. The believer (one "born of God") who also "knows" God (i.e., has intimate fellowship with Him) loves (cf. 1 John 2:3-5)."The love which the New Testament enjoins involves a consuming passion for the well-being of others, and this love has its wellspring in God." [Note: Bruce, p. 107.] This verse is a concise summary of the argument of this whole epistle. read more