1 John 4:16

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 4:16

This verse summarizes this section (1 John 3:24 to 1 John 4:16; cf. John 6:69). John was speaking of intimate knowledge ("come to know") and intimate fellowship ("abides"). "We" includes the readers with the apostles. "For us" should be "among us," as in 1 John 4:9."No body of believers will really be any stronger than the extent to which they manifest God’s love by loving one another." [Note: Hodges, The Epistles . . ., p. 197.] "The stages in John’s thought at this point have now emerged... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - 1 John 4:16

4:16 to (d-13) En , 'of which we are the objects;' but it is more than 'towards.' read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:1-21

Fellowship with God in Love1. Try the spirits] RV ’Prove the spirits.’ The verb is used of testing metals. 2, 3. See on 2 John 1:7. 3. Confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh] RV ’confesseth not Jesus.’4. He that is in the world] the Devil: cp. 1 John 3:10; John 8:44; John 12:31. 5. They] the false prophets. 6. We] the Christian teachers.8. God is love] the third fundamental maxim (see Intro.). Love is not merely an attribute of God, it is His very Being. Hence to be without love... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 John 4:7-21

(7) THE PERFECT LOVE THE SUREST TEST (1 John 4:7-21).(a)Fraternal love the necessary product of the true knowledge of God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-8).(b)The grand recent historical exhibition of God’s love (1 John 4:9-10).(c)Our consequent duty (1 John 4:11).(d)God’s abode in us, the perfecting of His love in us, and the proof of His presence through the Spirit, are the equivalent for seeing Him (1 John 4:12-13).(e)All this is grounded on the strong, undeniable truth of the Apostolic... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 John 4:1-21

1 John 4:1 We are all discerners of spirits. That diagnosis lies aloft in our life or unconscious power. The intercourse of society its trade, its religion, its friendships, its quarrels is one wide, judicial investigation of character. Emerson, on The Over-Soul. 1 John 4:1 A poor man, in our day, has many gods foisted on him; and big voices bid him, 'Worship or be !' in a menacing and confusing manner. What shall he do? By far the greater part of said gods, current in the public, whether... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 John 4:1-21

V. HEREBY WE KNOW CHAPTERS 3:19-5:13 1. Hereby we know that we are of the truth (1 John 3:19-24 ) 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God (1 John 4:1-4 ) 3. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth and of error (1 John 4:5-6 ) 4. The Love manifested toward us (1 John 4:7-19 ) 5. The final tests as to the possession of eternal life (1 John 4:20-21 ; 1 John 5:1-13 ) 1 John 3:19-24 . If the love of God dwells in the heart of the child of God it must be manifested in a practical way. Love must be... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 John 4:16

4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. {12} God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.(12) A fourth reason: God is the fountain and wellspring of charity indeed charity itself: therefore whoever abides in it, has God with him. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:1-21

But there must be guards as to the operation of the Spirit of God, that is, the child of God must be guarded against all that would imitate the operation of the Spirit. Satan is extremely cunning, and his agents are abroad everywhere. We must remember that all that professes to be spiritual necessarily has a spirit behind it. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” The trying of the spirits... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:7-21

GOD IS LOVE What is the third characteristic of God which John reveals (1 John 4:7-8 )? If, then, God is love, How is fellowship to be maintained with Him (same verses)? In the working out of the thought that fellowship with God is maintained by experiencing and exercising love, notice: 1. how His love was particularly manifested toward us (1 John 4:9-10 ); 2. how our love toward Him should be manifested (1 John 4:11-12 ); 3. how such love implies fellowship (1 John 4:13-16 ); 4. how it... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 John 4:7-21

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one... read more

Group of Brands