What does 1 John 4:7 mean?
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Love is the family resemblance of God's children.
John addresses readers as "beloved" — already loved by God — and then calls them to the same love.
"Love is from God." Real love is not generated by human will; it overflows from God, who is its source and pattern.
Loving rightly is evidence of new birth. Not the precondition — but the fingerprint — of having met the God who is love.
Greek word studies — original-language background to the verse.
Original BibleDawn explanation · reviewed 2026-06-07. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.