"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."
— 1 John 4:7 (NIV)
1 John 4:7 is the verse people mean when they search the reference for "let us love one another" and "love comes from God." This page is that line and a plain reading. The next verse names God as love: 1 John 4:8. The same claim later in the chapter is 1 John 4:16. Jesus' new command in the Gospel is John 13:34 and John 13:34-35.
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The verse
1 John 4:7 (NIV) reads: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."
The King James opens, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God." Love is not inventing something God lacks; it comes from him.
What the verse is saying
John addresses the church as dear friends (beloved) and urges mutual love. The reason is theological: love's source is God. Loving this way is evidence of being born of God and knowing God. Verse 8 then presses the negative: whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love — see 1 John 4:8.
This page stays with verse 7. The "God is love" claim and the fear passage sit on 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16, and 1 John 4:18. Who starts love is 1 John 4:19.
How people use 1 John 4:7
People look up the reference for sermons on church love, small-group openings, and cards that name love as from God. It pairs with John 13:34-35 when the topic is loving one another as a mark of discipleship.
Questions people ask
What does 1 John 4:7 say?
It says dear friends should love one another, because love comes from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
What does love comes from God mean?
It means love's origin is God, not human invention. Loving this way shows a person has been born of God and knows him. See 1 John 4:8.
How does verse 7 relate to verse 8?
Verse 7 urges love and names its source. Verse 8 says whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Read 1 John 4:8.
Is this the same as Jesus' love one another command?
Same duty, different speaker and setting. Jesus' new command is John 13:34. John applies love-one-another to the church that knows God.
Where should I read next?
For God is love, read 1 John 4:8. For who loved first, read 1 John 4:19. For Jesus' command, read John 13:34-35.
