1 John 4 7

1 John 4:7 kjv

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:7 nkjv

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7 niv

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7 esv

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7 nlt

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.

1 John 4 verses

1 John 4 7 Meaning

First John 4:7 issues a direct command for believers to love one another, substantiating this exhortation by stating that love originates from God. It further asserts that genuine love for fellow believers serves as evidence of being spiritually born of God and signifies a true, experiential knowledge of God. This verse intertwines the theological nature of God as love with the practical command for brotherly affection, presenting love as a distinguishing mark of divine sonship and spiritual discernment.

1 John 4 7 Context

First John chapter 4 is pivotal in distinguishing between genuine faith and false teachings prevalent in John's time, particularly those proto-Gnostic influences that downplayed Christ's humanity and spiritual ethics. John exhorts believers to "test the spirits" (v. 1), recognizing that true spiritual revelation confesses Jesus Christ's incarnation. He contrasts the "spirit of truth" with the "spirit of error." Against this backdrop of spiritual discernment, verse 7 pivots to emphasize love as the preeminent sign of true spirituality. The command to love flows from the immediate context of discerning God's spirit from anti-Christian spirits, demonstrating that God's spirit produces love.

Within the broader context of the Epistle of 1 John, this verse reinforces several key themes: the assurance of salvation, the nature of God, the signs of true belief, and the necessity of brotherly love. John repeatedly uses "tests" (like righteous living, confession of Christ, and love) to help his readers discern whether they truly "abide in Him" and are genuinely born of God. Historically, the early Christian communities faced internal strife and external pressure from heresies. John’s message directly combats these by providing a clear, visible manifestation of authentic faith that transcends mere intellectual assent or false claims of superior knowledge: it is manifested in love.

1 John 4 7 Word analysis

• Beloved (Ἀγαπητοί, Agapetoi): This endearing address signifies deep affection and shared identity in Christ. John often uses it to preface crucial commands or theological statements, highlighting the close, intimate relationship between the writer and his readers, fostering an atmosphere of trust and receptivity. It grounds the subsequent exhortation in mutual Christian fellowship.
• let us love (ἀγαπῶμεν, agapōmen): This is a hortatory subjunctive, indicating an urgent call to action and participation. It signifies a continuous, ongoing act of self-sacrificial, unconditional love (agape), not just a fleeting emotion. It implies mutual responsibility within the community.
• one another (ἀλλήλους, allēlous): This reciprocal pronoun stresses the mutual aspect of love. It is not just about individuals loving, but about a community where love flows both ways, defining its interactions and character. This mutual love is a hallmark of Christian fellowship.
• for (ὅτι, hoti): A conjunction introducing the foundational reason or explanation for the preceding command. It provides the theological basis for the necessity of mutual love.
• love (ἀγάπη, agapē): Here, the noun agape refers to the specific divine love that is selfless, benevolent, and seeks the well-being of others, originating from God Himself.
• is of God (ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν, ek tou Theou estin): Literally "out of God it is." This emphasizes love's divine source and essence. Love is not a human invention or a mere virtue; it flows from God's very being and character. This means genuine agape cannot exist independently of God.
• and every one that loveth (καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀγαπῶν, kai pas ho agapōn): "And everyone, the one loving." The Greek participle ("the one loving") denotes a characteristic, continuous activity, implying that love is an active, ongoing expression, not just a static state. "Every one" highlights the universality of this truth for all genuine believers.
• is born of God (ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ γεγέννηται, ek tou Theou gegennētai): Perfect passive indicative verb. This signifies a past action of being birthed by God with ongoing, permanent results. It speaks of spiritual regeneration or being "born again" (Jn 3:3-8). This implies that a new spiritual nature, given by God, enables and produces love.
• and knoweth God (καὶ γινώσκει τὸν Θεόν, kai ginōskei ton Theon): Present active indicative. This refers to an ongoing, experiential, and relational knowledge (ginoskō), as opposed to mere intellectual awareness (oida). Those who truly know God experientially will demonstrate this knowledge through love for others, as love is intrinsically linked to God's character.

Words-group analysis:

• "Beloved, let us love one another": This phrase combines intimate address with a compelling command, emphasizing that love is not optional but a core, shared practice among those dear to God and each other. It sets the communal tone.
• "for love is of God": This provides the divine mandate and ultimate source for the command. It grounds ethical action in theological reality; our capacity and call to love stems from God’s nature as the originator of all true love.
• "and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God": This defines the true Christian identity and experience. Loving is presented as undeniable evidence of both spiritual regeneration and genuine communion with God. This actively refutes any claim to "knowing God" or "being born of God" without the manifestation of love.

1 John 4 7 Bonus section

This verse forms part of a series of "tests" John presents throughout his epistle to assure believers of their salvation and to distinguish true Christians from false teachers (e.g., righteousness, confession of Christ's incarnation, and love). The deep interweaving of love, divine origin, and true knowledge of God in this single verse highlights love as the preeminent, visible sign of a true spiritual transformation. It challenges the claims of those who might profess faith or knowledge of God yet lack the genuine love that defines His nature. The structure implicitly presents a logical flow: God is love; those born of Him partake in His nature and therefore love; those who love demonstrate that they truly know God. The verse thereby counters philosophical claims of spiritual insight without ethical manifestation.

1 John 4 7 Commentary

1 John 4:7 serves as a powerful summary of John's message regarding the nature of God, the evidence of conversion, and the defining characteristic of true discipleship. The command to "love one another" is not a suggestion but an imperative rooted in the very essence of the divine. John emphasizes that love is not a human construct or emotion; it originates from God and perfectly reflects His character. Therefore, one who truly demonstrates agape love for fellow believers provides irrefutable proof of being "born of God" and having an experiential, intimate "knowledge of God." This profound connection means that a loveless life is a life alienated from God, regardless of intellectual assent or claims of spirituality. The presence of divine love is the spiritual thermometer, measuring one's true standing with the Heavenly Father. Practical application involves seeking the well-being of others, forgiving those who wrong us, sacrificing our comfort for others' needs, and serving the church community with benevolence and kindness, seeing Christ in each brother and sister.