What Does 1 John 4:19 Mean?
1 John 4:19 meaning explained verse-by-verse: "We love him, because he first loved us...." Original language, context & application.
"We love him, because he first loved us."
— 1 John 4:19 (KJV)
The Plain Meaning
John explains the source of our love for God: His prior love for us. We don't initiate love; we respond to the love God showed first.
Word Study
'Prōtos' means first, before all others, or primary. God's love is not a response to our love but the cause of it. He loved 'first'—before creation, before the cross, before we existed. All genuine love flows from this original, initiating divine love.
Living It Out
Your love for God is a response to His love for you. Understanding how much He loved you first fuels your love and devotion to Him.
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