I John 4:11
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
God's love to us is the grand motive for our love to one another (Jo1 3:16). if--as we all admit as a fact. we . . . also--as being born of God, and therefore resembling our Father who is love. In proportion as we appreciate God's love to us, we love Him and also the brethren, the children (by regeneration) of the same God, the representatives of the unseen God.
Open source ↗In this chapter the apostle exhorts to try spirits (Jo1 4:1), gives a note to try by (Jo1 4:2, Jo1 4:3), shows who are of the world and who of God (Jo1 4:4-6), urges Christian love by divers considerations (Jo1 4:7-16), describes our love to God, and the effect of it (Jo1 4:17-21).
Open source ↗4:11-12 Those who have received God’s love cannot help but spontaneously love those who have done the same. As this love flows through us to each other, it becomes evident that we love God.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”