1 John 4:7–8
Bible Verses. Also called 1 John 4:7-8, 1 John 4:7–8, God is love, For God is love, Let us love one another, Beloved, let us love one another.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
A passage of Scripture that begins "Beloved, let us love one another" and concludes "for God is love." Widely cherished as a rare expression that describes the nature of God in a single word, it has also prompted theological discussion about the relationship among God's love, justice, and judgment.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
In 1 John 4:1–6, the author warns readers to try the spirits and addresses false prophets who deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. Verses 7–21 form an extended meditation on love. The author states that love is of God, so that "every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God" (4:7), and that God's love was manifested in His sending His only begotten Son "to be the propitiation for our sins" (4:9–10). The "love" of this passage, therefore, is not a vague sentiment but the love revealed in Christ's incarnation and atonement.
Interpretation
- As a statement about God's nature: "God is love" is read not merely as saying that God loves but as a confession that love defines God's very being. In Trinitarian theology, the verse is cited in support of the teaching that a relationship of love has existed from eternity among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- As communal ethics: The passage begins with the exhortation "let us love one another." Verse 8, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love," connects with the overarching argument of 1 John that knowing doctrine alone is insufficient and that love for the brethren is the mark of genuine faith.
- "Agape": The word for love in this section is the Greek agapē, which is often explained as self-giving love. Some scholars, however, caution against drawing overly sharp distinctions between agapē and the other New Testament words for love.
Debates and Issues
The statement "God is love" is frequently cited in connection with the question of whether a God who is love can carry out eternal judgment. Universalism and some forms of pluralist theology appeal to this verse to argue that all people will ultimately be saved. Major denominations, by contrast, point out that the same passage explains God's love in terms of a propitiation for sin (4:10), and they hold that love and justice are revealed together at the cross. Some commentators observe that 1 John guards both against interpretations that retain love while obscuring truth and against a faith that champions truth while losing love.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, the passage is often read at wedding services and joint interchurch gatherings, and it is widely used for church mottoes and as a memory verse in Sunday schools.
Related Passages
See also 6
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