Skip to content

1 John 4:8

1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

My Notes

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Baptist theologian, 1697–1771

Gill's Exposition

He that loveth not, knoweth not God,.... If a man loves not the children of God, those that are born of him, he does not know, so as to love God, the Father of them; for to pretend love to God, the…

Presbyterian pastor, 1798–1870

Barnes' Notes

He that loveth not, knoweth not God - Has no true acquaintance with God; has no just views of him, and no right feelings toward him. The reason for this is implied in what is immediately stated, that…

Methodist theologian, 1762–1832

Adam Clarke

He that loveth not - As already described, knoweth not God - has no experimental knowledge of him.

God is love - An infinite fountain of benevolence and beneficence to every human being. He hates no…

Nonconformist minister, 1662–1714

Matthew Henry

1 John 4:7-13

As the Spirit of truth is known by doctrine (thus spirits are to be tried), it is known by love likewise; and so here follows a strong fervent exhortation to holy Christian love: Beloved, let us love…

Academic commentary, 1882–1921

Cambridge Bible

knoweth not God Literally, knew not God, i.e. never attained to a knowledge of Him. This is a remarkable instance of S. John's habit of not making the second part of an antithesis the exact…