1 John 4:19

We have ahavah because rishonah He had ahavah for us.

Orthodox Jewish Bible

In The King James Version

We love him, because he first loved us.

In Context

18Pachad (fear) is not in ahavah, but the ahavah hashleimah casts out pachad, because pachad has to do with pachad of the onesh (punishment) and the one with pachad has not been perfected in ahavah.

20If anyone says I have ahavah for Hashem and the Ach b'Moshiach he hates, he is a shakran (liar). For the one not having ahavah for the Ach b'Moshiach of him whom he has seen, how can he have ahavah for the Elohim whom he has not seen?

Read all of 1 John 4

Cross References

Luke 7:47Oib azoi (consequently), I say to you, her chatta'im, which are many, have been granted selicha (forgiven), for with rabbah ahavah she loved. But he who is mekabel selicha (accepting forgiveness) only a little, has ahavah only a little.

John 15:16It was not that you chose me, but I chose you, and have given you s'michah that you go and bear p'ri and the p'ri of you remain, that whatever you ask HaAv b'Shem of me (Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach), HaAv may give it to you.

Galatians 5:22But the p'ri of the Ruach HaKodesh is ahavah (agape), simcha (joy), shalom (peace), savlanut (patience), nedivut (generosity, kindness), chesed (loving-kindness), ne'emanut (faithfulness),

Titus 3:3For all of us were once without da'as, sorrarim (disobedient), being led astray, avadim (slaves) of ta'avot and to various ta'anugot (pleasures) of the Olam Hazeh, spending our lives in eyvah + 3:3 Gn 3:15 (enmity) and kina (jealousy), hated, and hating one another.

Matthew Henry on 1 John 4:18-21

The Divine Love. ( a. d. 80.) 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 John 4:19