I John 4:12
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No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
God, whom no man hath seen at any time, hath appointed His children as the visible recipients of our outward kindness which flows from love to Himself, "whom not having seen, we love," compare Notes, Jo1 4:11, Jo1 4:19-20. Thus Jo1 4:12 explains why, instead (in Jo1 4:11) of saying, "If God so loved us, we ought also to love God," he said, "We ought also to love one another." If we love one another, God dwelleth in us--for God is love; and it must have been from Him dwelling in us that we drew the real love we bear to the brethren (Jo1 4:8, Jo1 4:16). John discusses this in Jo1 4:13-16. his love--rather, "the love of Him," that is, "to Him" (Jo1 2:5), evinced by our love to His representatives, our brethren. is perfected in us--John discusses this in Jo1 4:17-19. Compare Jo1 2:5, "is perfected," that is, attains its proper maturity.
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 ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”
Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”