Chapter
1 2 3 4 5
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

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.
NIV Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
NASB Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
CSB Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
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.
KJV Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
NKJV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

What does 1 John 4:7 mean?

This verse begins the second major section of this chapter, returning to the theme of love. John begins by once again addressing his readers as "beloved." He then mentions both love and God three times each. First, believers are to "love one another." This reflects both the commandments of Jesus (John 13:34–35), and John's prior teaching on recognizing a life influenced by Christ (1 John 2:7–11).

Second, the reason believers are to love one another is because "love is from God." The ability to act lovingly towards others is one of the benefits of a close relationship with Jesus Christ.

Third, the person who truly loves God has "been born of God and knows God." This last statement includes two separate ideas. The person who is "born of God" is a saved Christian believer (John 3). The natural, expected result of this is for that person to have a close relationship with Him. This results in that person "knowing" God. A person cannot love God adequately without being born again. Nor can a person truly love others apart from God's love. Those who demonstrate godly love prove that they are saved.

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