1 John 4:8 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:8

In giving the opposite, St. John again varies the thought, this time very remarkably. Instead of "love is of God" (verse 7), we have "God is Love"—a far deeper thought; and instead of "knoweth not God," we have "knew not God," or, as we should say in English, "hath not known" or "never knew God." The man's not loving his brother shows that in no real sense has he ever in the past known God: he is of the world ( John 3:1 ), not of God. We must beware of watering down "God is Love" into "God... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:8

He that loveth not, knoweth not God - Has no true acquaintance with God; has no just views of him, and no right feelings toward him. The reason for this is implied in what is immediately stated, that “God is love,” and of course if they have no love reigning in their hearts, they cannot pretend to be like him.For God is love - He is not merely benevolent, he is benevolence itself. Compare the notes at 2 Corinthians 13:11. Never was a more important declaration made than this; never was more... 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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 John 4:8

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.God is love ... This profoundly beautiful and encouraging statement about the Father must rank, along with others, as one of the grandest in all Scripture. Wesley said, "Love is God's reigning attribute that sheds an amiable glory upon all of his other perfections."[26] Barclay called this, "probably the single greatest statement about God in the whole Bible ... It is amazing how many doors that single statement unlocks and how many questions... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 John 4:8

1 John 4:8. For God is love.— God is the most benevolent of all beings, full of love to his depending creatures; so that in him there is nothing wanting to the highest perfection of love. See 1 John 4:9-16, &c. He is the great fountain and exemplar of love; he recommends it by his law, and produces and cherishes it by his influences; and the due contemplation of him, will of course inflame our hearts with love to his Divine Majesty, and to our fellow-creatures for his sake, whose creatures... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:8

8. knoweth not—Greek aorist: not only knoweth not now, but never knew, has not once for all known God. God is love—There is no Greek article to love, but to God; therefore we cannot translate, Love is God. God is fundamentally and essentially LOVE: not merely is loving, for then John's argument would not stand; for the conclusion from the premises then would be this, This man is not loving: God is loving; therefore he knoweth not God IN SO FAR AS GOD IS LOVING; still he might know Him in His... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 4:7-10

The source of love 4:7-10 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 4:7-16

3. God’s Indwelling Recognized 4:7-16John now left behind his warning about false spirits that his readers might mistake as the Holy Spirit, spirits that lure believers onto worldly paths. He returned to one of his central themes, namely, love for the brethren. As 1 Corinthians 13 contains Paul’s great statement on God’s love, so 1 John 4:7-16 contains John’s.". . . the present section spells out precisely the nature of the love which is demanded from every believer, and may thus be viewed as... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 4:8

Absence of love shows that a person does not have intimate fellowship with God. It does not necessarily show that he was never born of God. Because God is light those who abide in Him walk in His light (1 John 1:5; 1 John 1:7). Because God is righteous those who abide in Him practice righteousness (1 John 2:29). Just so, God is love and those who abide in Him manifest His loving character. God is also light (1 John 1:5), spirit (John 4:24), and fire (Hebrews 12:29). These are all metaphors that... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:8

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

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:7-21

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 John 4:8

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 John 4:8

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:8

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 4:7-10

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 4:7-16

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 4:8

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