Easter Season · Seventh Sunday of Easter · Year B
1 John 4:11-16
God’s Love and Ours
May 9, 2027
Overview & Insights
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.” (1 John 4:7)
There is little agreement among those who have made a serious study of 1 John as to how to divide 1 John 4:7–5:4, but most have understood 4:7–12 to center around God’s love for us and, in response, our love for one another. It is likely that the opponents of the Elder had stressed their love for God (cf. 4:10, 20), their devotion, piety, and mystical spirituality (cf. 1:6, 8, 10; 2:4, 6, 9; 3:18; 4:1). But the Elder thinks that it is God’s love for human beings which is foundational. It is the basis of love for one another and of any claim to love for God.
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Commentary
1 John 4 - Testing the Spirits and the Love of God Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on God abiding in those who love one another and on love made complete in us.
1 John 4:11 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators on the call to love one another because God so loved us.
1 John 4:12 Commentary Precept Austin
Verse by verse notes with Greek word helps on God's love perfected in mutual love.
1 John 4:7-21 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on abiding in God who is love and love casting out fear.
Background & Word Study
1 John | Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the setting, opponents and themes of 1 John.
Books of 1-3 John Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of the letters of John and their message of love and truth.
1 John 4:11 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek text with parsing and Strong's numbers for the call to love and to abide in God.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What does it mean that God is love?
God showed his love by sending his only Son so that we might live through him; because he first loved us, those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.
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