12 No man G3762 hath seen G2300 God G2316 at any time. G4455 If G1437 we love G25 one another, G240 God G2316 dwelleth G3306 in G1722 us, G2254 and G2532 his G846 love G26 is G2076 perfected G5048 in G1722 us. G2254
No man G3762 hath seen G3708 God G2316 at any time; G4455 the only begotten G3439 Son, G5207 which G3588 is G5607 in G1519 the bosom G2859 of the Father, G3962 he G1565 hath declared G1834 him.
But G1161 whoso G3739 keepeth G302 G5083 his G846 word, G3056 in G1722 him G5129 verily G230 is G5048 the love G26 of God G2316 perfected: G5048 hereby G1722 G5129 know we G1097 that G3754 we are G2070 in G1722 him. G846
Who G3588 only G3441 hath G2192 immortality, G110 dwelling G3611 in the light G5457 which no man G3762 can approach unto; G676 whom G3739 no man G444 hath seen, G1492 nor G3761 can G1410 see: G1492 to whom G3739 be honour G5092 and G2532 power G2904 everlasting. G166 Amen. G281
If G1437 a man G5100 say, G2036 G3754 I love G25 God, G2316 and G2532 hateth G3404 his G846 brother, G80 he is G2076 a liar: G5583 for G1063 he that loveth G25 not G3361 his G846 brother G80 whom G3739 he hath seen, G3708 how G4459 can G1410 he love G25 God G2316 whom G3739 he hath G3708 not G3756 seen? G3708
By faith G4102 he forsook G2641 Egypt, G125 not G3361 fearing G5399 the wrath G2372 of the king: G935 for G1063 he endured, G2594 as G5613 seeing G3708 him who is invisible. G517
And G2532 he that keepeth G5083 his G846 commandments G1785 dwelleth G3306 in G1722 him, G846 and G2532 he G846 in G1722 him. G846 And G2532 hereby G1722 G5129 we know G1097 that G3754 he abideth G3306 in G1722 us, G2254 by G1537 the Spirit G4151 which G3739 he hath given G1325 us. G2254
Herein G1722 G5129 is our G3326 G2257 love G26 made perfect, G5048 that G2443 we may have G2192 boldness G3954 in G1722 the day G2250 of judgment: G2920 because G3754 as G2531 he G1565 is, G2076 so G2532 are G2070 we G2249 in G1722 this G5129 world. G2889 There is G2076 no G3756 fear G5401 in G1722 love; G26 but G235 perfect G5046 love G26 casteth G906 out G1854 fear: G5401 because G3754 fear G5401 hath G2192 torment. G2851 G1161 He that feareth G5399 is G5048 not G3756 made perfect G5048 in G1722 love. G26
And he said, H559 Thou canst H3201 not see H7200 my face: H6440 for there shall no man H120 see H7200 me, and live. H2425
We G2249 are G2070 of G1537 God: G2316 he that knoweth G1097 God G2316 heareth G191 us; G2257 he that G3739 is G2076 not G3756 of G1537 God G2316 heareth G191 not G3756 us. G2257 Hereby G1537 G5127 know we G1097 the spirit G4151 of truth, G225 and G2532 the spirit G4151 of error. G4106
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 John 4
Commentary on 1 John 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
In this chapter the apostle exhorts to try spirits (v. 1), gives a note to try by (v. 2, 3), shows who are of the world and who of God (v. 4-6), urges Christian love by divers considerations (v. 7-16), describes our love to God, and the effect of it (v. 17-21).
1Jo 4:1-3
The apostle, having said that God's dwelling in and with us may be known by the Spirit that he hath given us, intimates that that Spirit may be discerned and distinguished from other spirits that appear in the world; and so here,
1Jo 4:4-6
In these verses the apostle encourages the disciples against the fear and danger of this seducing antichristian spirit, and that by such methods as these:-
1Jo 4:7-13
As the Spirit of truth is known by doctrine (thus spirits are to be tried), it is known by love likewise; and so here follows a strong fervent exhortation to holy Christian love: Beloved, let us love one another, v. 7. The apostle would unite them in his love, that he might unite them in love to each other: "Beloved, I beseech you, by the love I bear to you, that you put on unfeigned mutual love.' This exhortation is pressed and urged with variety of argument: as,
1Jo 4:14-16
Since faith in Christ works love to God, and love to God must kindle love to the brethren, the apostle here confirms the prime article of the Christian faith as the foundation of such love. Here,
1Jo 4:17-21
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.