Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

1 John 4:8

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

KJV

ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν οὐκ ἔγνω τὸν θεόν, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν.

Greek NT

Qui non diligit, non novit Deum : quoniam Deus caritas est.

Vulgate

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

ASV

He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is charity.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

9 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

γινώσκω
ginosko
verb · 222×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
θεός
theos
noun · 1311×
μή
me
particle · 1033×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
ἀγάπη
agape
noun · 116×
ἀγαπάω
agapao
verb · 143×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὅτι
oti
conjunction · 1299×

Historic Christian voices

8 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§733"God is Love"124 and love is his first gift, containing all others. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."125
§1604God who created man out of love also calls him to love the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love.90 Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator's eyes. and this love…
Creation As a Fundamental and Original Gift Let us return to analyzing the text of Genesis 2:25: "And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed" (Gn 2:25). According to this passage, the man and the woman saw themselves, as it were, through the mystery of creation. They saw themselves in this way, before knowing that they were naked. This seeing each other is n…
Chapter 1 Having completed seven books, I now propose to begin the eighth. And may God and His Only-begotten Son the Word be with us, to enable us effectively to refute the falsehoods which Celsus has published under the delusive title of A True Discourse, and at the same time to unfold the truths of Christianity with such fullness as our purpose requires. And as Paul said, We …
We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. Man's relation to God the Father and his relation to men his brothers are so linked together that Scripture says: "He who does not love does not know God." No foundation therefore remains for any theory or practice that leads to discrimination …

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 13:2 — And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
  • 1John 1:5 — This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
  • 1John 2:4 — He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
  • 1John 2:9 — He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
  • 1John 3:6 — Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
  • 1John 3:6 — Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
  • 1John 3:10 — In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
  • 1John 4:6 — We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
  • 1John 4:7 — Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
  • 1John 4:7 — Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
  • 1John 4:10 — Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
  • 1John 4:16 — And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
  • 1John 4:16 — And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
  • 2Cor 13:11 — Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
  • 2Cor 13:11 — Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
  • Eph 2:4 — But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
  • Exod 34:6 — And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
  • Jas 2:13 — For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
  • John 8:54 — Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
  • Mark 10:18 — And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
  • Nah 1:7 — The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
  • Ps 86:5 — For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
  • Ps 86:5 — For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
  • Ps 86:15 — But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
  • Zech 9:17 — For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.