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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_john/4-11.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/62_1Jn_04_11.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 John 4:11 - Love Comes from God" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." /><script type="application/javascript" 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href="/bsb/1_john/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_john/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_john/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_john/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_john/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/1_john/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_john/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_john/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_john/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_john/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_john/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_john/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_john/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_john/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_john/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_john/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_john/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_john/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_john/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love each other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_john/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_john/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love one another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_john/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_john/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_john/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_john/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/1_john/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Dear friends, if God has so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_john/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_john/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/1_john/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_john/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Beloved, if thus did God love us, we also ought one another to love;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_john/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Dearly beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_john/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />My dearest, if God hath so loved us; we also ought to love one another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_john/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Most beloved, if God has so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_john/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_john/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_john/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />My beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/1_john/4.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Beloved, if God loves us in this way, we are indebted also to love one another. <div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/1_john/4.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/1_john/4.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us with divine love, we ought also to love one another with divine love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/1_john/4.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/1_john/4.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/1_john/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Dear friends, if God has so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/1_john/4.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/1_john/4.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_john/4-11.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rlZ5ywDtQGE?start=784" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_john/4.htm">Love Comes from God</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">10</span>And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. <span class="reftext">11</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/27.htm" title="27: Agapētoi (Adj-VMP) -- From agapao; beloved.">Beloved,</a> <a href="/greek/1487.htm" title="1487: ei (Conj) -- If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.">if</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theos (N-NMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">God</a> <a href="/greek/3779.htm" title="3779: houtōs (Adv) -- Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).">so</a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: ēgapēsen (V-AIA-3S) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.">loved</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmas (PPro-A1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">us,</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmeis (PPro-N1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">we</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">also</a> <a href="/greek/3784.htm" title="3784: opheilomen (V-PIA-1P) -- Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.">ought</a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: agapan (V-PNA) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.">to love</a> <a href="/greek/240.htm" title="240: allēlous (RecPro-AMP) -- One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.">one another.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">12</span>No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34-35</a></span><br />A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. / By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-12.htm">John 15:12-13</a></span><br />This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. / Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/3-16.htm">1 John 3:16-18</a></span><br />By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. / If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37-40</a></span><br />Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ / This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8-10</a></span><br />Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. / The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” / Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/13-4.htm">1 Corinthians 13:4-7</a></span><br />Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. / It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. / Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-1.htm">Ephesians 5:1-2</a></span><br />Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, / and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/4-8.htm">1 Peter 4:8</a></span><br />Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-12.htm">Colossians 3:12-14</a></span><br />Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. / Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. / And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-13.htm">Galatians 5:13-14</a></span><br />For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. / The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-35.htm">Luke 6:35-36</a></span><br />But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. / Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-8.htm">James 2:8</a></span><br />If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/4-9.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:9</a></span><br />Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_john/1-5.htm">2 John 1:5-6</a></span><br />And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. / And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/13-1.htm">Hebrews 13:1</a></span><br />Continue in brotherly love.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_john/3-16.htm">1 John 3:16,17,23</a></b></br> Hereby perceive we the love <i>of God</i>, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down <i>our</i> lives for the brethren… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/18-32.htm">Matthew 18:32,33</a></b></br> Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/10-37.htm">Luke 10:37</a></b></br> And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">Beloved</a> <a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">Dear</a> <a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">Friends</a> <a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">Loved</a> <a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/1_john/3-16.htm">Ought</a> <a href="/1_john/3-16.htm">Right</a> <a href="/1_john/3-19.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/3_john/1-1.htm">Beloved</a> <a href="/1_john/5-21.htm">Dear</a> <a href="/3_john/1-14.htm">Friends</a> <a href="/3_john/1-2.htm">Loved</a> <a href="/3_john/1-11.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/3_john/1-8.htm">Ought</a> <a href="/1_john/5-14.htm">Right</a> <a href="/1_john/4-17.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">1 John 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_john/4-1.htm">He warns them not to believe all who boast of the Spirit;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">and exhorts to brotherly love.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_john/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_john/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Beloved</b><br>The term "Beloved" is a term of endearment used by the Apostle John to address fellow believers. It reflects the deep affection and spiritual kinship within the Christian community. This term is consistent with John's emphasis on love throughout his writings, highlighting the familial bond among Christians. The use of "Beloved" also echoes the language of the Old Testament, where God often refers to His chosen people with terms of endearment, underscoring the covenant relationship.<p><b>if God so loved us</b><br>This phrase points to the sacrificial love of God demonstrated through Jesus Christ. The "if" here is not a question of doubt but a rhetorical device emphasizing certainty. God's love is the foundation of Christian ethics and behavior. The love of God is most clearly seen in the sending of His Son, as described earlier in 1 <a href="/john/4-9.htm">John 4:9-10</a>. This love is unconditional and self-giving, setting the standard for how believers are to love others. It reflects the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about God's redemptive plan, such as <a href="/isaiah/53.htm">Isaiah 53</a>, which speaks of the suffering servant.<p><b>we also ought to love one another</b><br>This is a call to action based on the example set by God. The word "ought" implies a moral obligation, suggesting that love is not merely an emotion but a deliberate choice and duty. This command is rooted in the teachings of Jesus, particularly in <a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34-35</a>, where He instructs His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. The early church, as seen in <a href="/acts/2-42.htm">Acts 2:42-47</a>, exemplified this love through communal living and mutual support. Loving one another is a testimony to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel and the presence of God among His people.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/john_the_apostle.htm">John the Apostle</a></b><br>The author of 1 John, one of Jesus' closest disciples, known for his emphasis on love and truth.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_early_church.htm">The Early Church</a></b><br>The recipients of this letter, likely a community of believers facing challenges in understanding and living out their faith.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The ultimate source of love, whose actions serve as the model for Christian behavior.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The embodiment of God's love, whose sacrificial life and death are the ultimate demonstration of divine love.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_beloved_community.htm">The Beloved Community</a></b><br>The collective body of believers who are called to reflect God's love in their relationships with one another.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_divine_love.htm">Understanding Divine Love</a></b><br>Recognize that God's love is the foundation and motivation for our love towards others. His love is sacrificial, unconditional, and transformative.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/imitating_christ's_love.htm">Imitating Christ's Love</a></b><br>As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His love in our interactions with others. This involves selflessness, humility, and a willingness to serve.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/love_as_a_witness.htm">Love as a Witness</a></b><br>Our love for one another serves as a powerful testimony to the world of God's presence and work in our lives. It is through love that we reflect God's character.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/practical_expressions_of_love.htm">Practical Expressions of Love</a></b><br>Love should be evident in our daily actions and decisions. This includes forgiving others, bearing with one another, and seeking the well-being of others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_accountability.htm">Community and Accountability</a></b><br>Engage with fellow believers in a community that encourages and holds each other accountable to live out the command to love one another.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_john/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 11.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Beloved</span> introduces a solemn exhortation, as in verses 1, 7. The "if" implies no uncertainty (see on 1 John 5:9); it puts the fact more gently, but not more doubtfully, than "since." The "so" <span class="greek">οὕτως</span> covers both the quality and the quantity of the love. <span class="greek">Καὶ</span> belongs solely to <span class="greek">ἡμεῖς</span>: "we also on our part ought to love one another." We should have expected as the apodosis, "we also ought to love God." But this link in the thought the apostle omits as self-evident, and passes on to state what necessarily follows from it. In verse 12 he shows how loving God involves loving one's fellow-men (comp. <a href="/1_john/2-5.htm">1 John 2:5</a> for a similar passage over an intermediate link). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_john/4-11.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">Beloved,</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἀγαπητοί</span> <span class="translit">(Agapētoi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Vocative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_27.htm">Strong's 27: </a> </span><span class="str2">From agapao; beloved.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">if</span><br /><span class="grk">εἰ</span> <span class="translit">(ei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1487.htm">Strong's 1487: </a> </span><span class="str2">If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">God</span><br /><span class="grk">Θεὸς</span> <span class="translit">(Theos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> </span><span class="str2">A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so</span><br /><span class="grk">οὕτως</span> <span class="translit">(houtōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3779.htm">Strong's 3779: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).</span><br /><br /><span class="word">loved</span><br /><span class="grk">ἠγάπησεν</span> <span class="translit">(ēgapēsen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_25.htm">Strong's 25: </a> </span><span class="str2">To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">us,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἡμᾶς</span> <span class="translit">(hēmas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> </span><span class="str2">I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">we</span><br /><span class="grk">ἡμεῖς</span> <span class="translit">(hēmeis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> </span><span class="str2">I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">also</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">ought</span><br /><span class="grk">ὀφείλομεν</span> <span class="translit">(opheilomen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3784.htm">Strong's 3784: </a> </span><span class="str2">Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to love</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀγαπᾶν</span> <span class="translit">(agapan)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_25.htm">Strong's 25: </a> </span><span class="str2">To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one another.</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀλλήλους</span> <span class="translit">(allēlous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_240.htm">Strong's 240: </a> </span><span class="str2">One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_john/4-11.htm">NT Letters: 1 John 4:11 Beloved if God loved us in this (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_john/4-10.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 John 4:10"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 John 4:10" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_john/4-12.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 John 4:12"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 John 4:12" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>