1 John 4:19 (GNV)

Passage

We loue him, because he loued vs first.

Nearby Context

1 John 4:17 Herein is that loue perfect in vs, that we should haue boldnes in the day of iudgement: for as he is, euen so are we in this world.

1 John 4:18 There is no feare in loue, but perfect loue casteth out feare: for feare hath painefulnesse: and he that feareth, is not perfect in loue.

1 John 4:19 We loue him, because he loued vs first.

1 John 4:20 If any man say, I loue God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for how can he that loueth not his brother whom he hath seene, loue God whom he hath not seene?

1 John 4:21 And this commandement haue we of him, that he that loueth God, should loue his brother also.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "There is no feare in loue but..." into verse 20's "If any man say I loue God...", so "loue" and "loued" belong inside that flow. In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

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