1 John 4:7-21

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible -  KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit:
    • Goodness and Love
    • True Love
  • Chapter VIII, The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Polycarp of Smyrna (c 120).
  • Commandment VII, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • IV.16, IV.18, V.1, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Concerning Flight in Persecution (paragraph 9, 14) Tertullian (c. 212)
  • Chapter XV, Chapter XXXI, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • Chapter XII, Scorpiace,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • On the Unity of the Church, Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • VIII.10, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 320).
  • Augustine's:
    • Homily 7 on 1 John 4:4-11
      • "See what we are insisting upon; that the deeds of men are only discerned by the root of charity. For many things may be done that have a good appearance, and yet proceed not from the root of charity."
    • Homily 8 on 1 John 4:12-16
      • "Extend thy love to them that are nearest, yet do not call this an extending: for it is almost loving thyself, to love them that are close to thee Extend it to the unknown, who have done thee no ill. Pass even them: reach on to love thine enemies. This at least the Lord commands."
    • Homily 9 on 1 John 4:17-21
      • "But our soul, my brethren, is unlovely by reason of iniquity: by loving God it becomes lovely. What a love must that be that makes the lover beautiful!"
  • From the Geneva Notes. (c. 1599)
    • "Lest any man should think that that peace of conscience proceeds from our love as the cause, he goes back to the fountain, that is, to the free love with which God loves us although we deserved and do deserve his wrath. From this springs another double charity, which both are tokens and witnesses of that first, that is, that we love God who loved us first, and then for his sake our neighbours also."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary. (c. 1700)
    • "It is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts, fears, and apprehensions of God, are many."
  • From Wesley's Notes. John Wesley (1703-1791).
    • "[God is love.] This little sentence brought St. John more sweetness, even in the time he was writing it, than the whole world can bring. God is often styled holy, righteous, wise; but not holiness, righteousness, or wisdom in the abstract, as he is said to be love; intimating that this is his darling, his reigning attribute, the attribute that sheds an amiable glory on all his other perfections."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Fear has no place in love. Bold confidence (1Jo 4:17), based on love, cannot coexist with fear. Love, which, when perfected, gives bold confidence, casts out fear (compare Heb 2:14, 15). The design of Christ's propitiatory death was to deliver from this bondage of fear."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891
    • "When love is perfected in us we will have no fear of the judgment day. Those who love God supremely will not be terrified at his presence."
• Contemporary Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Commentary, 1 John 4:7-21, David Bartlett, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "'Love' is an abstraction and a quality of God's own self. 'Love' is personification and God is person. Love is some thing. God does things, sends a Son, atones for the sins of the world, and gives commands."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Easter 5, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "The author's understanding of love comes from his understanding of God's initiative in sending his Son (4:9, echoes of John 3:16)."
  • "The State's Budget as a Moral Document," Resources for Prophetic Worship, Speaking to North Carolina Justice Issues, North Carolina Council of Churches.
  • Join the Feast, 1 John 4:7-21, Carol Clarke, Union PSCE, 2009.
    • "God has given us a tremendous gift in one another. As we love those we can see, we learn to love God whom we can’t see."
  • 1 John 4:7-21, A River Ride with 1 John: Texts of the Easter Season, Robert M. Brusic, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1997.
  • "Captured Love," Preacher's Magazine, 2006: Listening to the Text, Engaging the Text, Preaching the Text.
  • "Confessing Christ: 1 John 4:1-11; Abiding in Christ: 1 John 4:13-21," The Word of Life in the Witness of the Cross, Paul S. Berge, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1988.
  • "God Is Love, Let Us Love," "Assurance," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Unless Someone Guides Me," William Brosend, The Christian Century, 2000.
    • "THE FIRST CHURCH of St. John, or 'the community of the beloved disciple,' as the late Raymond Brown called it, seems a lot like the church around the corner when you read between the lines. Some of the faithful sound a little too sure of themselves. Others confuse the talk with the walk. Some members get mad and leave the church."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Forgiveness: Taking the World to Heart," J. Randall O'Brien, (other resources at) "Forgiveness," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2007.
    • "The whole emphasis of the New Testament is on forgiveness of sins, reconciliation, and holy living manifested and made possible by the love of God through the Cross of Jesus Christ."
  • "Johannine Soteriology and Aristotelian Philosophy. A Hermeneutical Suggestion on Reading John 3:16 and 1 John 4:9," P. Frick, Biblica, 2007.
  • "Salvation: Divine Therapy," Vigen Guroian, Theology Today, 2004.
  • "A Friend's Love: Why Process Theology Matters," Bob Mesle, at Religion OnLine.
    • "How can Christians look at the crucified Christ and say that it does not matter if God is the great companion – the fellow-sufferer who understands?"
  • "Loving God, Loving Others," Kim Stewart, The Indian Life, 2002.
    • "God will not reject me but the old lies are still running in my head and they keep reinforcing the fear."
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  • Adams, Joanna M., "Faith and Fear," Journal for Preachers, 1996. (Sermon)
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  • Berge, Paul S., "The Word of Life in the Witness of the Cross," Word & World, 1988. (Section on this text begins on page 185.)
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  • Brosend, William, "Unless Someone Guides Me," The Christian Century, 2000.
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  • Brusic, Robert M., "A River Ride with 1 John: Texts of the Easter Season," Word & World, 1997. (Section on this text begins on page 216.)
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  • Guroian, Vigen, "Salvation: Divine Therapy," Theology Today, 2004.
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  • Hartung, Bruce M., "Homiletical Helps on LW Series B - Epistles," Concordia Journal, 2006. (Section on this text begins on p. 219.)
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  • Hiebert, D. Edmond, "An Expositional Study of 1 John 4:7-21," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1990.
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  • Mesle, Bob, "A Friend's Love: Why Process Theology Matters," The Christian Century, 1987.
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  • Reynolds, Thomas E., "Love without Boundaries: Theological Reflections on Parenting a Child with Disabilities," Theology Today, 2005.
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  • Scholer, David M., "1 John 4:7-21," Review & Expositor, 1990.
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  • Thurston, Bonnie Bowman, "The Conquered Self: Emptiness and God in a Buddhist-Christian Dialogue," Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 1985.
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  • Tracy, David, "God Is Love: The Central Christian Metaphor," The Living Pulpit, 1992.
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  • Yaqob, Olga, MVM, "The Face of God in Suffering: Iraq," Theology Today, 2006.
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  • Yarid, Jay R., Jr., "Reflections of the Upper Room Discourse in 1 John," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2003.
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• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Love Shack," Jacqui Lewis, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2009.
  • "The Golden Rule," (1 John 4:16, Matthew 7:12), by Paul Tillich. From The New Being (1955), at Religion On-Line.
  • "What is Truth?" Paul Tillich. From The New Being (1955), at Religion OnLine.
  • "Four Steps Toward Finding the Real You," Dr. John Landgraf, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1999.
  • "It's About Love, Love, Love," Pastor Edward F. Marquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "God in His Grace," the Rev. Russell E. Mase, Day 1, 1998.
  • "Discerning Reality," the Rt. Rev. Robert Johnson, Day 1, 1998.
• With Children:
  • "Four Corners of God's Love," Talks to Children, Rev. Donald McCorkindale, Dalgety Parish Church, Fife, Scotland.
  • "Show Your Love," "Who Has Seen the Wind?" and "He Loves Me - He Loves Me Not," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "John Writes His Own Version of Jesus' Story," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Let Us Love One Another," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • "How Much Are We Worth?" Chris Dickens, sermons4kids.com.
• Drama:
  • "Who Is Jesus?" Nina Wallestad, Dramatic License. Conditions of Use.
• Liturgy:
  • Litany: For the Whole People of God, the Mental Health & Disabilities Program, Mennonite Central Committee, Canada.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, 1 John 4:16, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • 1 John 4:9-10, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:16, 1 John 4:19, 1 John 4:19, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: 1 John 4:8, 14, 16, 18, 19. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Give Me the Bible
    • I Will Sing of Jesus' Love
    • I've Found a Friend
    • Just as I Am
    • My Jesus, I Love Thee
    • O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
    • The God of Abraham Praise
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies Listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Love
  • Sacrifice
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 John