Devine Scripture

1 John 4:19

What does 1 John 4:19 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 4:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 4:19 means

Our love does not originate in us; it springs from God’s prior love. He loved first—planning, sending, and saving—so that we might become lovers of Him and of others. This short verse guards against pride and despair alike. We do not boast, because love is received; we are not crushed, because love is given freely. All genuine Christian affection is a response to grace. The more we dwell on God’s initiating love in Christ, the more our hearts are warmed to love in return. Gratitude fuels obedience; receiving fuels giving. Love’s source determines love’s endurance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

We love, because he first loved us.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

We love him, because he first loved us.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

We love, because he first loved us.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

We have the power of loving, because he first had love for us.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

we--we love him, because He--He first loved us;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Let us therefore love God: because God first hath loved us.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

We love because he has first loved us.

Context

After teaching that perfect love casts out fear (v. 18), John anchors everything again in God’s initiative. Verse 19 succinctly states the fountainhead of Christian love. This prepares for the searching test in verse 20, where claims to love God are measured by treatment of visible brothers. The flow guards assurance from becoming vague sentiment by tying it to concrete relationships.

v.18There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.

v.19This passage

v.20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Titus 3:3

    For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

  • Luke 7:47

    Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

  • Ephesians 2:3

    among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:—

  • John 3:16

    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

  • 1 John 4:10

    Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

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