1 John 4:8 - Forerunner Commentary

1 John 4:8

6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. ^aBy this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

7 ^aBeloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who ^bloves is born of God and knows God.

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9 ^aIn this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten ^bSon into the world, that we might live through Him.

10 In this is love, ^anot that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son ^bto be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, ^aif God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12 ^aNo one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

13 ^aBy this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

14 And ^awe have seen and testify that ^bthe Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

15 ^aWhoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and ^ahe who abides in love abides in God, and God ^bin him.

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that ^awe may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Verse Comparison: 1 John 4:8

American Standard Version
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Amplified® Bible
He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

Contemporary English Version
God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known him.

Darby English Version
He that loves not has not known God; for God is love.

Good News Bible
Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

International Standard Version
The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

King James Version
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

New American Standard Bible
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

New International Version
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

New King James Version
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
The one who does not love does not know God, for God constitutes love.

Young's Literal Translation
he who is not loving did not know God, because God is love.

New English Translation
The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.¹