1 John 4:21 (YLT)

Passage

and this <FI>is<Fi> the command we have from Him, that he who is loving God, may also love his brother.

Nearby Context

1 John 4:19 we--we love him, because He--He first loved us;

1 John 4:20 if any one may say--`I love God,' and his brother he may hate, a liar he is; for he who is not loving his brother whom he hath seen, God--whom he hath not seen--how is he able to love?

1 John 4:21 and this <FI>is<Fi> the command we have from Him, that he who is loving God, may also love his brother.

Study Lenses

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

The prior verse says "if any one may say-- I love...", giving immediate footing for "command" and "loving". In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

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