Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 4:19

"We love, because he first loved us." — 1 John 4:19 (ASV)

In summarizing the command to love one’s brother, John begins with his most important truth. Love must never be conceived of as a “natural” experience of the natural man. There is a “natural” love, but it must not be confused with divine love (agape; GK 27). The love John speaks of originates with the Father, became manifest in and through the Son, and now characterizes the life of the children of God. He thus begins this summary by saying, “We love.” The love with which we love is not our own. It is always God’s love or Jesus’ love in us. But because we abide in the Father and in the Son, the love becomes also our own love. It is not that God reveals his love apart from us or in spite of us, but that he invites us to love even as he loves. So we return to him his own love and love him with the gift of his love. So also we love our fellow believers with the love God has loved us with.