Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 4:17-21
The apostle, having thus excited and enforced sacred love from the great pattern and motive of it, the love that is and dwells in God himself, proceeds to recommend it further by other considerations; and he recommends it in both the branches of it, both as love to God, and love to our brother or Christian neighbour. I. As love to God, to the primum amabile?the first and chief of all amiable beings and objects, who has the confluence of all beauty, excellence, and loveliness, in himself, and... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 4:14-16
Since faith in Christ works love to God, and love to God must kindle love to the brethren, the apostle here confirms the prime article of the Christian faith as the foundation of such love. Here, I. He proclaims the fundamental article of the Christian religion, which is so representative of the love of God: And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world, 1 John 4:14. We here see, 1. The Lord Jesus's relation to God; he is Son to the Father, such... read more