1 John 4:4-17

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Genre

(See Introduction)

1 John 4-5. John transitions from chapters two and three comparing Gods kingdom to the worldly kingdom. In chapters four and five, John transitions from comparison to application. Chapters four and five are the meat of John’s letter.

Demarcation of the Text

There is general agreement across the English translations as to how to demarcate this passage in agreement with this study. 

• NRSV, ESV, NASB, NIV, NABRE, NLT. The NRSV, ESV, NASB, NIV, NABRE, and NLT demarcate this passage as one coherent section entitled God is Love (NRSV).
• NET. The NET demarcates this passage as belonging a larger section that includes v. 4:7-5:4 entitled God is Love.
• CEV. The CEV demarcates this passage as belonging a larger section that includes v. 4:1-21 entitled God is Love.
• I. Howard Marshall. Marshall demarcates this passage as belonging to parts of two separate sections. The first section includes 4:7-12 entitled God’s Love and Our Love. The second section includes 4:13-5:4 entitled Assurance and Christian Love. Marshall states that “Somewhat abruptly John turns from his discussion of true and false spirits to present his readers with a further appeal to love one another” (p. 210). Referring to separating v. 1-7 with v. 13-17, Marshall states that “It is not easy to find a single strand of thought running through the Epistle at this point.” (p. 218).

The author begins this section with a common textual clue “beloved”. While this passage contains many of the same themes that have been discussed throughout his letter. This section of his letter brings John’s argument all together within a succinct exhortation.

This passage is a summary of what John has been explaining to his audience about their standing in God’s family and moving the boundaries is unnecessary.

The Argument of the Text

The author utilizes an exhortation to communicate his message to the audience.

The issues in this passage:

• The children of God are to love one another as love is from God and everyone who loves is of God.
• God’s love was revealed when he sent his Son as a sacrifice for the world. Marshall states that God “pardons their sins against himself at his own cost” (p. 215).
• Because of God’s love for us, we should love one another. Marshall states that “It is because men are created in the image of God, an image which has been defaced but not destroyed by the Fall, that they still have the capacity to love” (p. 212).
• Loving others and confessing that Jesus is God’s son is evidence that God lives in us and we know that we abide in God and that God abides in us. Marshall agrees stating further that “three characteristics of the Christian emerge: possession of the Spirit, confession of Jesus as the Son of God, and living in the love of God. On this basis there can be erected a firm foundation for Christian hope” (p. 222).
• This love that is evident in our lives allows us to approach God’s judgement with boldness.

This passage gets its message across through straight-forward declarations and exhortations.

This passage is about the love of God and how as his children we are to manifest that love in our own lives by loving one another. This love for others is evidence that God lives in us and that we abide in him and he abides in us. Because of his love in our lives we can approach the final judgement with boldness.

The Co-text

(See Introduction - The Audience) 

Situation of Text in Larger Presentation:

In the passages proceeding this section, the author describes how God’s children can test the spirits that are at work in the world.

The expectation that has been set help the audience relate to the characters as those who are deeply cared for by not only the author but also by God.

Development of Important Words/Motifs:

• God is love. Throughout this passage, the author declares that God is love, that love comes from him, and that those who love are in him and abide in him.
• Jesus, Holy Spirit. Throughout this passage, the author explains what the Father has given to his children; his own Son as an atoning sacrifice and his Holy Spirit.

Openness to Interpretive Possibilities:

In the next section, John develops in more detail his exhortation that those who love and abide in God can approach God with confidence.

Context

(See Introduction - The Context) 

Appeal to Particular Cultural Conventions/Cues:

In the context of the writing of this letter, fellowship would have been an important topic of discussion. At the close of the first century, Christianity had become widespread and significant. With this, persecution also became prevalent and widespread. Fellowship would have been social need and an important topic of discussion.

In a similar way, there is a significant need in today’s culture to belong. With the rise of social media and the isolation that comes with it, people have a deep need to belong. Similarly, with globalization and the access to information and varying worldviews, Christianity is becoming less and less acceptable.

The Interface of Contexts:

Within the world this passaged addressed, there was growing exclusion and persecution among Christians. It would have helpful to be reminded from a close mentor (the author) of the believer’s identity in the family of God. This would have been an encouragement aided in perseverance through these difficult times.

Similarly, in today’s current culture, as Christianity is less and less prevalent and protected, the believer’s identity in the family of God is times.

Intertext

(See Introduction - The Intertext) 

Passages brought to mind by a reading of this one, and how this might inform a canonical reading of this text:

• John 1:18. “18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.” This passage is very similar to verse twelve.
• John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” In his Gospel, John states that it was because God love the world and wanted his children to have eternal life that he sent his only Son.
• John 4:42. “42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.” This passage, again recorded by John in his Gospel, indicates that when people come into true belief of Jesus as their savior that they realize the full extent of his work on behalf of the world.
• Romans 5:5. “5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” In this passage, Paul informs his audience that it is through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by the Father through Jesus that God’s people experience God’s love.

This passage is the “story of God and God’s people”. In this passage, John describes that God’s children need to love one another and that by doing so they are proving that God’s love is in them and they abide in him and he abides in them. This is the “story of God and God’s people”.

1 John 4:6 (NRSV)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Main Verbs

(let us) Love

Is

Loves

(is) Born

Knows

Verbs

(let us) Love

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Imperative
• Voice – Active

Is

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Active

Loves

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Conditional
• Voice – Active

(is) Born

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Passive

Knows

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Conditi onal
• Voice – Passive

Genre

(See Introduction)

1 John 4-5. John transitions from chapters two and three comparing God's kingdom to the worldly kingdom. In chapters four and five, John transitions from comparison to application. Chapters four and five are the meat of John’s letter.

Demarcation of the Text

There is little consensus across the English translations as to how to demarcate this passage. Generally, however, the study is quite different than the English translations.

• NRSV, ESV, CEV. The NRSV, ESV, and CEV demarcate this passage as belonging to parts of two different sections. The first section includes 5:6-12 entitled Testimony Concerning the Son of God (NRSV). The second section includes 5:13-21 entitled Epilogue (NRSV).
• NASB, NIV, NABRE, NLT. The NASB, NIV, NABRE, and NLT demarcate this passage belonging to parts of two different sections. The first section includes 5:1-12 entitled Overcoming the World (NASB). The second section includes 5:13-21 entitled This is Written That You May Know (NASB).
• NET. The NET demarcates this passage belonging to parts of two different sections. The first section includes 5:4b-12 entitled Testimony About the Son. The second section includes 5:13-21 entitled Assurance of Eternal Life.
• MSG. The MSG demarcates this passage as belonging to parts of two different sections. The first section includes 5:4-12 The Power That Brings the World to Its Knees. The second section includes 5:13-21 entitled The Reality, Not the Illusion.
• I. Howard Marshall. Marshall demarcates this passage as belonging to parts of two separate sections. The first section includes 5:5-12 entitled The True Faith Confirmed. Of verse five, Marshall states that “Verse 5 forms the bridge from John’s discussion of the power of faith to his setting out of the content of true faith and his statement of the evidence which confirms it” (p. 230). The second section includes 5:13-21 entitled Christian Certainties.

This passage lacks any textual markers to assist in demarcation. The shift in themes between this passage and its surrounding passages help in demarcation. The author begins this section by transitioning from speaking of God’s love and how perfect love casts out all fear and how our love for God is reflected by our love for his children and our obedience to his commandments. In this passage, the author transitions to speaking of the identity of Jesus, the Son of God.

Originally, this passage was demarcated as part of the previous section. But after charting this passage, it was clear that 4:18-5:5 consisted of a different theme. To include this passage in 4:7+ combines separate themes also.

The Argument of the Text

The author utilizes an exhortation to communicate his message to the audience.

The issues in this passage:

• Jesus came by water and blood. Not just by water, but by blood also. Marshall states that “To the modern reader this is a statement which obscures rather than clarifies the thought… He is claiming that Jesus Christ truly was baptized and truly died on the cross” (p. 231-232).
• The Spirit testifies to the identity of Jesus as God’s Son. Marshall states that “Since he refers to the Spirit’s activity in the present tense, the most obvious interpretation is that the Spirit presently testifies to us, in our inward hearts or through the preaching of the Word, that the baptism and death of Jesus point to his being the Christ and Son of God” (p. 234).
• The Spirit is truth.
• God’s testimony is greater than human testimony and God has testified to the identity of Jesus Christ as his Son.
• Those who believe in the Son of God have God’s testimony in their hearts. Marshall doubts that John is stating that “The believer receives the inward witness of the Spirit”. Marshall states that “John is simply stating that to believe in the Son of God is to accept and keep God’s testimony”. Marshall states that an unbeliever “stands self-condemned”. This is consistent with John’s gospel. Marshall concludes that “Belief in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ, are inseparably joined” (p. 241).
• The testimony is that God gave eternal life though his Son, Jesus Christ.
• John wrote this letter for the purpose of communicating to his audience that they have eternal life.
• We can approach God with boldness knowing that whatever we ask for he hears, and we receive what we ask for. Marshall states that “only the person who recognizes that Jesus is the Son of God can believe that Jesus supplies divine power to overcome the world” (p. 231).

This passage gets its message across through straight-forward declarations and exhortations.

This passage is about the testimony of the identity of Jesus Christ. Testimony to his identity from others is good, but the testimony from God of Jesus’ identity through the Spirit is better. Those who believe in Jesus have God’s testimony in their hearts. God’s people can approach him with boldness, confident that when they ask he hears and when he hears he gives.

The Co-text

(See Introduction - The Audience) 

Situation of Text in Larger Presentation:

In the passages proceeding this section, the author describes that God’s children are obedient to his commands because of their love for him. The author continues that God’s people love God when they love each other.

The expectation that has been set help the audience relate to the characters as those who are deeply cared for by not only the author but also by God.

Development of Important Words/Motifs:

• Testimony. The term testimony is used extensively throughout this passage (nine occurrences).
• God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. Throughout this passage, the author mentions the unity and testimony of the triune God.

Openness to Interpretive Possibilities:

Without reading further, we do not see that this is the end of the author’s polemic proper. The next section is the epilogue of his letter. This indicates that this current section we are studying is the pinnacle of the epistle.

Context

(See Introduction - The Context) 

Appeal to Particular Cultural Conventions/Cues:

In the context of the writing of this letter, fellowship would have been an important topic of discussion. At the close of the first century, Christianity had become widespread and significant. With this, persecution also became prevalent and widespread. Fellowship would have been social need and an important topic of discussion.

In a similar way, there is a significant need in today’s culture to belong. With the rise of social media and the isolation that comes with it, people have a deep need to belong. Similarly, with globalization and the access to information and varying worldviews, Christianity is becoming less and less acceptable.

The Interface of Contexts:

Within the world this passaged addressed, there was growing exclusion and persecution among Christians. It would have helpful to be reminded from a close mentor (the author) of the believer’s identity in the family of God. This would have been an encouragement aided in perseverance through these difficult times.

Similarly, in today’s current culture, as Christianity is less and less prevalent and protected, the believer’s identity in the family of God is times.

Intertext

(See Introduction - The Intertext) 

OT passages alluded to in this text and their significance in this new context:

• Deuteronomy 17:6. 

Other passages brought to mind by a reading of this one, and how this might inform a canonical reading of this text:

• Matthew 3:16-17. “16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” This passage speaks of the testimony from the Father and the Spirit at Jesus’ baptism of his true identity as the Son of God.
• Matthew 6:10. “10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” In this passage, Matthew records Jesus teaching his followers how to pray. Jesus teaches them to pray the Father’s will to be accomplished.
• Mark 1:10-11. “10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
• Mark 11:24. “24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark records Jesus as saying this in response to the disciple’s amazement of the withered fig tree.
• Mark 14:36. “36 He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” Jesus prayed to the Father, not that his own will be accomplished, but that the Father’s will would be accomplished.
• Luke 3:22. “22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” This passage speaks of the testimony from the Father and the Spirit at Jesus’ baptism of his true identity as the Son of God.
• John 1:32-34. “32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” This passage speaks of the testimony from the Father and the Spirit at Jesus’ baptism of his true identity as the Son of God.
• John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” In his Gospel, John states that it was because God love the world and wanted his children to have eternal life that he sent his only Son.
• John 15:7. “7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples that if they abide in him, a directive John has given his audience throughout his epistle, the Father will give them whatever they ask for. Those who abide in Jesus will be in tune with God’s will.
• John 15:26. “26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.” In this passage, Jesus states that the Holy Spirit testifies to the identity of Jesus as the Son of God.
• John 16:23-26. “23 On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” Jesus spoke these words to his disciples just prior to his crucifixion. When Jesus’ disciples are in step with the desires of the Father’s heart, they can ask for anything and the Father will provide.
• John 20:31. “31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” In this passage, John is giving his purpose for writing a gospel on the life of Jesus. His words in the gospel are very similar to his words in his epistle.
• Romans 5:5. “5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” In this passage, Paul informs his audience that it is through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by the Father through Jesus that God’s people experience God’s love.
• 2 John 1:7. “7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist!” In this passage, John warns his audience of those who do not believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh.

This passage is the “story of God and God’s people”. In this passage, John explains that the Father through the Holy Spirit testifies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the source of eternal life. John declares that those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God have this testimony in their heart and can approach God with boldness and faith in his provision. This is the “story of God and God’s people”.

1 John 5:11-12 (NRSV)

11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Main Verbs

Is

Gave

Is

Has

Verbs

Is

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Passive

Gave

• Tense – Past
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Active

Is

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Passive

Has

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Passive

(See Introduction - The Audience) 

(See Introduction - The Context) 

(See Introduction - The Intertext)