19 We love because he first loved us.(A) 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister(B) is a liar.(C) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,(D) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(E) 21 And he has given us this command:(F) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.(G)

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19 We love each other[a] because he loved us first.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer,[b] that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 4:19 Greek We love. Other manuscripts read We love God; still others read We love him.
  2. 4:20 Greek hates his brother.
  3. 4:21 Greek The one who loves God must also love his brother.

19 (A)We love [a]Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

20 (B)If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [b]how can he love God (C)whom he has not seen? 21 And (D)this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:19 NU omits Him
  2. 1 John 4:20 NU he cannot