1 John 4:20 (GNV)

Passage

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?

Nearby Context

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", "hate", "brother", "liar", "loueth", "hath", and "seene". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "loue" and "hate", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "We loue him because he loued vs..." into verse 21's "And this commandement haue we of him...", so "loue" and "hate" 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 "hate" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.