1 John 4:21 (DBY)

Passage

And this commandment have we from him, That he that loves God love also his brother.

Nearby Context

1 John 4:19 *We* love because *he* has first loved us.

1 John 4:20 If any one say, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he that loves God love also his brother.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "commandment", "loves", and "brother". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "commandment" and "loves", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "If any one say I love God...", giving immediate footing for "commandment" and "loves". In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "commandment" and "loves" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.