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1 John 4:19 KJV
1 John · chapter 4 · verse 19
We love him, because he first loved us.1 John 4:19 · King James Version
What 1 John 4:19 means
We love him, because he first loved us. The order is the entire verse — his love starts it, ours answers it. John's argument through the chapter is that love isn't something we generate and hand up to God. It's something we received and pass along.
Study note provided by TheWay Bible App, separate from the KJV text. Read the full chapter in context and compare interpretations. Report a correction.
1 John 4:19 in context
17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19We love him, because he first loved us.
20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Commentary
Cross references
- 1 John 4:10
- John 3:16
- John 15:16
- Titus 3:3-5
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
- Luke 7:47
- Ephesians 2:3-5
- Galatians 5:22
Key words (Strong's)
- firstprōtosfirst in time or place, in any succession of things or persons, first in rank, influence…G4413 →
- loveagapaōof persons, to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly, of things, to be…G25 →
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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.
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 17-21