1 John 4:19

We love him Omit -Him", which is a later addition to the true text: some authorities for -Him" add -God", and some have -God" for -He" in the next clause. No accusative is expressed, and none, whether -God" or -one another", is to be understood: Christian love of every kind is meant. Authorities are much divided between -we love" and -let us love"; for the Greek (ἀγαπῶμεν) may be either indicative or hortative subjunctive. The former is better. The Peschito and Vulgate render -let us love" and with Codex A insert -therefore": nos ergo diligamus.

because he first loved us We shall narrow the Apostle's meaning if we limit this to the idea of gratitudeevoking love. The -first", which is the important word, means much more than that. 1. Our love owes its very origin to God's love, from which it is an effluence (1 John 4:7). 2. Love is checked by fear when it is doubtful whether it is returned. Our love has no such check; for it knows that God's love has been beforehand with it. Bede compares -Ye did not choose Me, but I chose you" (John 15:16).