1 John 4:16-18 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 4:7-21

4:7-21 Beloved, let us love one another, because love has its source in God, and everyone who loves has God as the source of his birth and knows God. He who does not love has not come to know God. In this God's love is displayed within us, that God sent his only Son into the world that through him we might live. In this is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Brothers, if God so loved us, we too ought to love each other. No... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 4:7-21

In this passage there occurs what is probably the greatest single statement about God in the whole Bible, that God is love. It is amazing how many doors that single statement unlocks and how many questions it answers. (i) It is the explanation of creation. Sometimes we are bound to wonder why God created this world. The disobedience, and the lack of response in men is a continual grief to him. Why should he create a world which was to bring him nothing but trouble? The answer is that... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 4:7-21

Before we leave this passage we must note that it has also great things to say about Jesus Christ. (i) It tells us that Jesus is the bringer of life. God sent him that through him we might have life ( 1 John 4:9 ). There is a world of difference between existence and life. All men have existence but all do not have life. The very eagerness with which men seek pleasure shows that there is something missing in their lives. A famous doctor once said that men would find a cure for cancer more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed ,.... Or have a full assurance and knowledge of, and faith in, the love that God hath to us ; shown as in many instances, so more especially in sending his Son to be the propitiation for our sins, to be the Saviour of us, and that we might live through him. God is love ; See Gill on 1 John 4:8 , and he that dwelleth in love ; who dwells by faith upon the love of God as displayed in Christ, and abides in the exercise of love to God and to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:17

Herein is our love made perfect ,.... Or love with us; which some understand of the love of God towards his people, and which is shed abroad in them: this indeed removes all fear of an awful judgment, and renders that amiable and desirable; and such who are interested in it, shall stand in that day with intrepidity and boldness; and this sense may seem to be favoured by the Syriac version, which reads, "his love with us"; and especially by the Vulgate Latin version, which renders it, "the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love ,.... In the love of the brethren; where that is, there is no fear: so far as that prevails and gains ground, fear removes; not the filial fear of God, the new covenant grace of fear, which is the beginning of wisdom, and is consistent with faith, hope, love, and spiritual joy; but either the fear of men, which brings a snare: those that truly love Christ, his Gospel, and his people, they are not afraid of men; the spirit of power, love, and of a sound mind, is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:16

God is love - See on 1 John 4:8 ; (note). He that dwelleth in love - he who is full of love to God and man is full of God, for God is love; and where such love is, there is God, for he is the fountain and maintainer of it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:17

Herein is our love made perfect - By God dwelling in us, and we in him; having cast out all the carnal mind that was enmity against himself, and filled the whole heart with the spirit of love and purity. Thus the love is made perfect; when it thus fills the heart it has all its degrees; it is all in all; and all in every power, passion, and faculty of the soul. May have boldness in the day of judgment - Παρῥησιαν· Freedom of speech, and liberty of access; seeing in the person of our... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 4:14-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 4:17-21

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 4:7-21

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 4:7-21

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 4:7-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:17

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