1 John 4:12

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:12

No man hath seen God at any time. No mortal man hath seen God and the perfections of his divine Majesty in such a manner as the blessed in heaven, but we have powerful motives to love and serve him, and to love our neighbour for his sake. (Witham) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:7-13

7-13 The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God's glory and justice, shows that God is love. Mystery and darkness rest upon many things yet. God has so shown... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - 1 John 4:1-99

1John 4 AMONGST THE WILES of the devil imitation takes a foremost place. In the Old Testament, for instance, we find that when God wrought powerfully through Moses in the presence of Pharaoh, the Egyptian magicians imitated what was done as far as they could, in order to nullify the impressions made on the mind of the king. Again we find that when the sanctuary had been established in Jerusalem with its ordinances of divine service, Jeroboam easily diverted the ten tribes from it by the simple... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 John 4:11-16

Dwelling in God and in His love: v. 11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. v. 12. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth, in us, and His love is perfected in us. v. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. v. 14. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. v. 15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 John 4:7-21

7. Brotherly Love and Divine Love as Related to Each Other on the Ground of Christ’s Advent1 John 4:7-217Beloved, let us love one another: for8 love is of God; and every one that loveth9 is born of God, and knoweth God. 8He that loveth not, knoweth10 not God;11 for God is love. 9In this was manifested the love of God toward12” us, because13 that God sent his 10only begotten Son14 into the world, that we might live through him. Herein15 Isaiah 16:0 love, not that we loved God, but that he17... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 John 4:12-21

the Test of Our Love 1 John 4:12-21 If we are willing to be channels through which God’s love flows to others, there need be no limit to the fullness of that holy current. In humility, selflessness, and gentleness, it will become perfected. The vessel placed beneath the waterfall is filled to overflowing. Through our Savior we know the Father who sent Him, 1 John 4:14 . See John 14:9-10 . We first venture on God’s love by faith; afterward we know it. Dare to affirm that God is love. Love is... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:1-21

Two closely related perils threaten our fellowship with God as love, false prophets and the spirit which actuates them. Teaching is to be tested by the indwelling Spirit. All who refuse to confess that Jesus is Lord do so because they are of the world. At the root of every heresy concerning Jesus there has been worldliness in some form. To degrade the Person of Christ is to shake the foundations of faith. There can be no character which is according to God when the creed concerning Christ is a... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - 1 John 4:1-21

Testing the True and the False 1 John 4:1-21 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We have in our opening verses some important admonitions, and also some important instructions. 1. Important admonitions. (1) "Believe not every spirit." Some people seem always ready to take up with anything that comes along. They forget that there are two spirits that work among the children of men. As our verse says, "Many false prophets are gone out into the world." These false prophets and teachers, in as far as they can,... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - 1 John 4:7-19

God's Wonderful Love Story John 3:16 ; 1 John 4:7-19 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We wish to give our whole attention today to one verse of Scripture. It stands before us as an unfathomable river of blessing. Some one has called John 3:16 "the Gospel in a nutshell." Let us notice for our first statement The Great Lover. Who is it that so loves the world? It is God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, the Divine Trinity loves us, and yet John 3:16 is speaking particularly of the love... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - 1 John 4:7-21

The Love of God Chapter 1 John 4:7-21 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We have always thought of the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians as the Love Chapter. However, we have in the Word of God another chapter which is filled with the love of God. That is the fourth chapter of First John. This latter chapter predominates in God's love toward us, but it also stresses our love one for another. 1. The love of God toward the whole world. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world. This is not a love of... read more

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