1 John 4:21

Contextual Overview

¹⁷In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world. ¹⁷ Herein is our loue made perfect, that wee may haue boldnesse in the day of Iudgement, because as hee is, so are we in this world. ¹⁷ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. ¹⁷ By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. ¹⁷ By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, we also are in this world. ¹⁷ This is how love is made perfect in us: that we can be without fear on the day God judges us, because in this world we are like him. ¹⁷God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. ¹⁷ By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. ¹⁷In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him. ¹⁷ If we truly love others and live as Christ did in this world, we won't be worried about the day of judgment.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 John 4:11, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:14, 1 John 3:18, 1 John 3:23, Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:37-39, Mark 12:29-33, Luke 10:37, John 13:34, John 13:35, John 15:12, Romans 12:9, Romans 12:10, Romans 13:9, Romans 13:10, Galatians 5:6, Galatians 5:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 Peter 4:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:8 - brethren Proverbs 14:31 - but Matthew 5:22 - his brother Matthew 25:40 - Inasmuch Mark 12:31 - Thou 1 Corinthians 13:2 - and have Galatians 6:2 - the law Ephesians 1:15 - love Ephesians 5:2 - walk Colossians 3:14 - charity Hebrews 13:1 - General 1 Peter 1:22 - unto 2 Peter 1:7 - charity 1 John 2:8 - a new 1 John 3:10 - neither 1 John 4:7 - let 1 John 5:2 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 4:11
Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

Genesis 4:11
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

Genesis 4:11
So now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive the blood of your brother from your hand.

Genesis 4:11
And now you will be cursed in your work with the ground, the same ground where your brother's blood fell and where your hands killed him.

Genesis 4:11
So now, you are banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

Genesis 4:11
"And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's [shed] blood from your hand.

Genesis 4:11
"Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

Genesis 4:11
Now therefore thou art cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receiue thy brothers blood from thine hand.

Genesis 4:11
And now, cursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

Genesis 4:11
And so, I'll put you under a curse. Because you killed Abel and made his blood run out on the ground, you will never be able to farm the land again.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And this commandment have we from him,.... Either "from God", as the Alexandrian copy and the Vulgate Latin version read; and that to love the brethren is a commandment of God, is clear from 1 John 3:23; or from Christ, for it is also a command of his, even his new commandment, which he has given, and his people have received from him:

that he who loveth God, love his brother also; see John 13:34; which is an argument persuading to attend to the one as well as to the other; for the same command that requires the one, requires the other: and he that transgresses it in one case, is a transgressor of it, as well as in the other.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And this commandment have we from him - That is, the command to love a brother is as obligatory as that to love God. If one is obeyed, the other ought to be also; if a man feels that one is binding on him, he should feel that the other is also; and he can never have evidence that he is a true Christian, unless he manifests love to his brethren as well as love to God. See the notes at James 2:10.

That he who loveth God love his brother also - See the notes at John 13:34-35. Compare John 15:12, John 15:17.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 John 4:21. This commandment have we — We should love one another, and love our neighbour as ourselves. The love of God and the love of man can never be separated; he who loves God will love his brother; he who loves his brother gives this proof that he loves God, because he loves with a measure of that love which, in its infinitude, dwells in God.