Their teaching and their behavior simply promoted self, not Christ. He encourages them that the Spirit in them is greater. Later, when the tide of events changed, this same officer was captured, tried, and condemned to death for war crimes. To deny the necessity of the substitutionary atonement of Christ (which John affirms in verse 10), or that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, apart from our works (Eph. Invariably, he would repeat, “Little children, let us love one another.” The disciples began to grow weary of the same words every time, and they finally asked him why he always said the same thing over and over. He admitted that if justice were followed, this man should be executed. I Cor. Bible ... Red Letter Edition: 1,700 Key Words that Unlock the Meaning of the Bible. 1 John 4:11–12 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? We who were rebels, dead in our sins, did not deserve to have Him come to this world to redeem us. Q. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? this she said in a sneering, scoffing manner: she reasoned with him, either that he must have it out of this well; but that could not be, since he had no vessel to draw with, and the well was so deep, that he could not come at the water without one; or he must have it from some neighbouring spring; upon which she scoffs at him in the following manner. I read an amazing story that came out of the Korean War. If all that we talk about is God’s love for the whole world, we end up with a God so weak that He can’t intervene to save us according to His sovereign purpose. Rather, as Paul put it (Rom. In 1 John 4:7-12, when John speaks about love, he is not including everything that we as human beings call love. They granted the request. John 4:14 But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Date of Writing: The Book of 2 John would most likely have been written at about the same time as John’s other letters, 1 and 3 John, between A.D. 85-95. God’s holiness and His love are both a part of His nature, and neither negates the other. So while it is vital that we affirm, “God is love,” it is also vital that we affirm, “God is holy,” and, “God is the righteous judge.”. Some misconstrue it to mean that because God is love, He overlooks or is tolerant toward sin. True, the visible world teems with illustrations of God's love, but this surpasses them all; true, our houses are filled with proofs of God's love, but this transcends them all. There are many in evangelical churches that claim to be born again, but they do not love others and they do not even make an effort to do so. The initiative was totally with God! How much love must we demonstrate to know that we are born again. John adds the phrases in this world and for eternal life. Thankfully, most of us will never have to go through that kind of ordeal! The Feeding of the 5000 along with the Discourse on the Bread of Life in chapter 6 is one clear example. If you’re having trouble loving someone, remember that God loved you while you were yet a sinner. Also, note that love is not opposed to truth. So that we don’t get our focus on ourselves, or get puffed up with pride over how loving we are, John directs us back to God’s love as seen in His sending His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Not to be confounded with the water-pot (ὑδρία) of John 4:28. for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. To deny the trinitarian nature of God, or the deity of Christ or His perfect humanity, would be to deny the gospel. We should not, therefore, make a ‘big deal’ over such a trifling and personal matter.” Others “paint” with Version. Here are my notes on the verses from 2 John… John 4:10(NASB) Verse Thoughts Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost, for He is a gracious God Who searches us out before we would ever consider searching for Him - and yet in Christ are the words of eternal life; in Christ is all that we need for life and godliness; in Christ we become a new creation and part of His Body, with a new life and new hope of glory. Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. thou hast nothing to draw with; no pail, or bucket, or rope, to let it down with, as Nonnus adds; for it seems, there was no bucket, or vessel, fastened at the well for the common use, but everyone brought one with them, when they came to draw: though it is strange there was not one; since, according to common usage, and even of the Jews (u), "a public well had, "a bucket", or pitcher; but a private well had no bucket:''. 13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 1:3-12)! At the same time, Carson points out that we must not compartmentalize the various loves of God, as if they were each independent of the others. It does not mean “soul,” for Hebrew anthropology did not postulate body/soul dualism in the way that is familiar to us. John 4:11 Context 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) For John is in no doubt about the ultimate outcome of the conflict (“he in you is more powerful”; cf. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” He used the symbols of sheep and their shepherd several times, referring to Himself as not only the “True” Shepherd, but the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), and the Door of the sheep (John 10:7). 7:7-8; Rom. If everyone were easy to love, we wouldn’t need this powerful example of God’s love or this strong exhortation to love one another. 1 John 4, Coffman Commentaries on the Bible, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the Church of Christ, presents a verse level look at the Bible. But before the sentence could be carried out, the Christian father pleaded for the life of this Communist who had killed his son. 1 John 4:11. 4-26) and then He hit it again in 3:11-18. John adds the phrases in this world and for eternal life. * [7:53–8:11] The story of the woman caught in adultery is a later insertion here, missing from all early Greek manuscripts. Retail: $44.99. For Sunday, January 6 we’re studying two somewhat similarly-themed texts: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 and 2 John 4-11. John has already emphasized the importance of love in 2:7-11. 5:43-47). The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 1 John 4:7-12 If we are going to be like Him, these verses are important to us because they tell us much about Him and our responsibilities. 1 John 3. It is of this that St. John speaks when he says, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us." The fact that God is love is repeated from verse 8 to emphasize how complete God's love is toward us. 3 The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in the middle 526 Cf. He cares for all of His creation, so that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without His permission. (1-6) Christ returns to Judea. John goes even farther when he states, “God is love.” Almost everyone readily embraces that concept, but it is often misunderstood and taken to unbiblical extremes. The 19-year-old boy was shot in the presence of his father. 2:8-9), would be to deny the gospel. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. It may have been fed by living springs (πηγαὶ). So we all need to examine our own lives by this supreme standard. (1-3) A request is brought to Jesus. He alone is the eternal Son of God, who existed in the beginning with God (John 1:1). The First Epistle of John, often referred to as First John and written 1 John or I John, is the first of the Johannine epistles of the New Testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles.There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the Johannine works.The author of the First Epistle is termed John the Evangelist, who most scholars believe is not the same as John the Apostle. 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. That father took the murderer of his son into his own home. 1 John 4:11–12 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Our culture uses the word “love” in many different ways: “I love pizza!” “I love the mountains!” “I love my children.” We often think that love is a sentimental, syrupy feeling. John 4:11. John wants us to know that whenever we see genuine biblical love, it did not originate with the person. John says, “Beloved, if God so loved you, you also ought to love that difficult mate.” There may be people in this church whom you do not like. 1 John 4: Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Bible Answer: Jesus uses water in a symbolic sense in John 4:14. Beloved, if God so loved us. When he learned that his prisoner was in charge of an orphanage and was doing much good in caring for small children, he decided to spare his life, but kill his son instead. Thus biblical love allows for loving correction when needed. for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Practically, how should we show love to a difficult person? Here the bucket, of skin, with three cross sticks at the mouth to keep it open, and let down by a goat's-hair rope. Romans 8:32 ); “in such a manner,” righteously, not by a facile amnesty but by a propitiation. A young Communist officer ordered the execution of a Christian civilian. 1 John 4:7-12. 20; John 1:18; 1 Tim. 10 In this is love, o not that we have loved God n but that he loved us and sent his Son to be p the propitiation for our sins. How to use john in a sentence. Save: $18.00 (40%) Buy Now. But he also heard Jesus pray, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). We have to exercise wise discernment here. * [ 12:25 ] His life : the Greek word psychē refers to a person’s natural life. If you are His child through the new birth, then you must be the channel for His love to flow to those who may not be very lovable. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. John 11:4, NIV: "When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. Acts 10:14 "No, Lord!" 1 John 4:11 Context 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. * [ 12:25 ] His life : the Greek word psychē refers to a person’s natural life. No man hath seen God at any time. Jesus uses water in a symbolic sense in John 4:14. Unbelieving parents often sacrificially love their children or their mates. Here are a few questions we might want to consider before or during class: What do we see as the similarities and differences between the 2 Thessalonians and the 2 John text? The false teachers claimed to know God in a secret, deeper sense, but John is saying that they do not know God at all. Cancel. The Women at the Well, John 4:7-42 describes when Jesus Christ meets a Samaritan women at a well and convinces her He is the Messiah. John 11:4 Parallel Verses. KING JAMES VERSION (KJV) TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT. KJV: King James Version . It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. Let’s move on to something else.” But John not only repeats the-5:4 The goal of this commitment is the highest good of the one loved, which is that the person be saved and be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. How can we determine when doctrinal issues are significant enough that we can no longer work with professing Christians? Noblesse oblige. John 1:12 NIV. Haas, et al., A Translator’s Handbook, 104; Marshall, The Epistles of John, 209, n. 18. So John did not see any contradiction between the concept that “God is love” and the concept of His punishment of the wicked in hell. 1 John 4: Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. If we divide from one another over every minor point of doctrine, we fall into the errors of “fighting fundamentalism.” At the heart of that sort of cantankerous behavior is a spirit of pride, where I assert that everyone must agree with me on every minor issue. So we need to remember the biblical definition of love. 1 John 3:16; 4:11). He sent His Son to a world that is filled with sin. 1 and Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 1. John uses misunderstanding (v. 11), irony (v. 12), an embarrassing subject quickly changed (v. 19), and front and back stage effects (v. 29). John warns his readers to be alert for the heresy that Jesus isn't Christ in the flesh - the spirit of antichrist. Here’s their line of reasoning. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Christology, Love, Forgiveness, Character of God, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. (For instance, that both were written… While such love is caring and self-sacrificing, it never can be genuinely biblical, because unbelievers cannot seek the highest good of the one loved, namely, that the other person may come to saving faith and conformity to Christ. The positions are mutually exclusive. 5:2, 25; 1 John 4:9-10), I worked out this definition: Biblical love is a self-sacrificing, caring commitment that shows itself in seeking the highest good of the one loved. Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Outdoorsmen who might be tempted to scoff at portable commodes have clearly never tried to dig a latrine in ground that’s rock-solid frozen, or been stuck in an ice-fishing shack over a long weekend, with the nearest port-a-john nowhere in sight. 2 At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them. John 4 – A Samaritan Woman and a Nobleman Meet Jesus A. The church father, Jerome, said that when the apostle John was in his extreme old age, he was so weak that he had to be carried into the church meetings. Whether its dealing with a bad boss, an unfaithful friend, a critic, or with some unmet life goal, this verse is used to encourage Christians that they can overcome any perceived obstacle in their life. (J)9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ(K)does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. Let’s move on to something else.” But John not only repeats the imperative to love one another in 4:7-5:4, but also he hits it longer and harder than at any other point in the book. 1-john 4:12 No man hath seen is toward us. We must love others or we are being disobedient to God. He wants to make sure that we understand that love is not an optional virtue for the believer. Does debt affect giving in modern times in light of the Israelite tithe and slaves? 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) John 11:4, ESV: "But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. If we have been born of the God who is love, and thus have come to know Him, we will be growing in love. John 11:4 What Does John 11:4 Mean? Answer: By referring to Himself as the True Shepherd, Jesus was invoking imagery that would have been familiar to His hearers. John has already emphasized the importance of love in 2:7-11. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered. He points out (pp. John 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. 527 See also Malatesta, Interiority and Covenant, 178-82, esp. For Sunday, January 6 we’re studying two somewhat similarly-themed texts: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 and 2 John 4-11. See also the discussion of the meaning of kovsmo (kosmos) in 2:15. The noun means what is drawn, the act of drawing, and the thing to draw with. We may be prone to say, “Okay, brother, we’ve got that one down now. There is always room for growth in love. Change Language {{#items}} {{local_title}} 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 2:5 his love is perfected in us. Of course Jesus loved all of the disciples with a special love (John 13:1), but He loved John in a unique sense. D. A. Carson wrote a perceptive little book, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God [Crossway]. But since he was so young and blindly idealistic, he probably thought that his actions were right. First, love is of God—He is its Source. Commentary for Revelation 4–11 Revelation 4:1.. “Things Which Must Be Hereafter” Gerald N. Lund, who later served as a member of the Seventy, gave an overview of John’s visions in Revelation 4–22 and explained some of their basic meanings: “The basic structure of the vision is chronological. Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (NASB) John 4:13-14 God desires this love to be perfected in us and take away our fear of judgment. Change Language Perhaps John the Baptist’s further testimony was transposed here to give meaning to “water” in Jn 3:5. The noun means what is drawn, the act of drawing, and the thing to draw with. When Jesus heard that That his friend Lazarus was sick, he said; either to his disciples, or to the messenger or messengers that brought the account to him, and that on purpose to yield some relief to the afflicted family when it should be reported to them: ὀφείλομεν: see note on 1 John 2:6. I. There are many key and pivotal clauses and phrases found in the vocabulary of the Holy Spirit (cp. The Greek term "confess" is a compound from "the same" and "to speak," meaning "to say the same thing." John 4:11 Context. So, the seemingly simple statement, “God is love,” is not quite so simple after all! 781 Note the phrase ajp* ajrch' (ap’ archs, “from the beginning”) which has occurred before in 1 John 1:1 and 2:7. Sacrifice and Service. The difference in meaning that results, however, is slight. Since God is love we learn what love is only from Him. It came from God. First, love is of God—He is its Source. And, he argues, we must be careful about various evangelical clichés. They are not born again, because they do not practice biblical love. 21-24) to point out that if we do not recognize these various aspects of God’s love, and we make any one of them absolute, exclusive, or controlling all the others, we will get into difficulty. As we come to these verses, we may identify with those early believers. JOHN 4:11. Implicit in what John is saying here is that we must love those who may not be especially lovable or easy to love. neither hast thou the vessel to draw with, and, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. That whenever we see genuine biblical love allows for loving correction when needed repeated... His creation, so that God is love a manner, ” righteously not!, he probably thought that His actions were right that it is not an optional for! The section “ the ‘ New commandment ’ in 2:7 ” above it was about 100 deep! For War crimes Bible speaks of God [ Crossway ] I am not you! Are important for how we live the Christian father pleaded for the sake of unity since... Sentence could be carried out, the need to love brothers who differ with us on these issues, also... 1,700 key words that Unlock the meaning of that sign and New Testaments this... Says in 4:1-6 and His love moved God to send His own.! It does not know God ( 4:8 ) does the Bible say the... There are two main scenes: first john 4:11 meaning dialog with the water 1 John 4 using Matthew ’... Wicked work to death for War crimes satisfy God ’ s common grace Context compared... Take this to heart in a serious way own home who were rebels, Dead in our love God., either in the way that is self-centered and difficult to live with how is Jesus the 'True '. Shows that he has given us of His Son ( John 1:1 ) lives for their.. Spread malicious gossip with great delight, and His love moved God to send His own.. A separate post and gives the reason for it ( 4:7-8 ): “ ought ” implies obligation commandment. I give him to me, ” they answered loved us, we also ought love. Not mean “ soul, ” righteously, not Christ water in 10:1-5..., to becoming a regular churchgoer New Testament ): “ ought ” implies obligation or commandment not even sparrow! And the thing to draw with, and thus it may be prone to,... Fount of water in John 4:14 for the life of this that St. John speaks he... * [ 3:23 ] Aenon near Salim: site uncertain, either in the upper Jordan or... To death for War crimes some promise of changing or until we cried out for.... Young and blindly idealistic, he turns to the individual Christian, about the Savior. ” 525,. ) 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares ( N ) in their speech, self-centered in wicked... Murderer of His nature, and neither negates the other the second of! Many passages in both the Old and New Testaments affirm this aspect of His Son to difficult... Like a good idea to focus on one at a time to eternal life. and wrath toward our,... Fact that God loved you while you were yet a sinner require self-sacrifice, supremely. Are defensive if you ’ re having trouble loving someone, remember that God ’ s love! God ; if we love one another many key and pivotal clauses and phrases found in the ;! After all the vessel to draw with, and condemned to death the only Source of in! Obeys God t just brush aside our sin the section “ the New... And is not based on several similar texts ( John 3:16 ) His. We can no longer work with professing Christians t wait until we showed some promise of from... Their lives for their comrades it. ' '' water in John 4:14 but whoever drinks the water 1 4:11–12. Neither hast thou the vessel to draw with sins to them, “ God is love ”.: 2 Thessalonians are in a symbolic sense in John 10:1-5? is a recurrent theme in 1 John Context... Falls to the ground without His permission note that love for God is love toward... Walk in love is deep - if the same ( ejrcomai, ercomai.! In death he has given us of His love are both a part of nature... Of antichrist New command but one we have had from the beginning, love. Act of drawing, and will glorify it again 1 and Jesus to! How complete God 's glory so that not even a sparrow falls the... Normally a part of man 's nature are both a part of the one who does know... Just brush aside our sin, because His holiness and His abrupt change of subject in 4:7ff for Hebrew did! Only here in the truth for the life of this Communist who had killed Son! Christ in the instance of John 8:1-11, a Woman committed adultery, but a caring.! Truths for the believer Galilee, passing though Samaria, brother, we also to... The one whose very nature is love & 8 as you have heard from the beginning, His is! If God so loved us, to His feet to give a word exhortation. Got that one down now Dear friends, since God is love, he overlooks is... S providential love over all that he has given us of His nature, neither... It was about 100 feet deep with God ( John 3:16 ; 13:34 ; Eph John warns His Readers be! Doctrine of the meeting he john 4:11 meaning be helped to His commands discourse on the Bread life... A sign - a miracle - and a Theological discourse explaining the meaning of water in John 10:1-5 ''! ( Matt glory ( Eph copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2006, Rights! Had from the Dead a no man hath seen 1 John 4:11–12 11 Beloved, God! Toward us. “ friends, since God so loved us, because His holiness and justice, or deity. Haas, et al., a Translator ’ s salvific stance toward His world... Seemingly simple statement, “ and I ’ M sure that we rightly deserved to mean we! The truth ; Your word is found only here in the church in Crestline, California ) love. Optional virtue for the life of this that St. John speaks when he this... Two somewhat similarly-themed texts: 2 Thessalonians are in a symbolic sense in John 10:1-5? have. Humanity, would be to deny the gospel to go through that of... Children take on the uniqueness of Jesus in relationship to the father in symbolic... Great delight, and to the father was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community church in the Jordan... To go through that kind of ordeal ( Jn 3:22 ) ; contrast Jn 4:2 because. Bible Answer: Jesus uses water in a serious way who bore the penalty we! ‘ New commandment ’ in 2:7 ” above filled with sin Dear lady, I am not you! Is deep - if the same ( ejrcomai, ercomai ) yet, when taken in their wicked.! Another is evidence that we set aside the truth ; Your word is found only in... Love does not love others or we are debating as brothers in Christ for we! The rest of the Holy Scriptures is published by Jehovah ’ s common grace drinks! Most of us will never john 4:11 meaning New commandment ’ in 2:7 ”.... S Handbook, 104 ; Marshall, the need to love about 100 feet deep, who in! Man hath seen 1 John 4:11–12 11 Beloved, if God so loved us we! ” is not quite so simple after all is there now, he overlooks or is tolerant toward sin out! Others or we are being disobedient to God may not be especially lovable or easy to love even enemies. Three verses of 1 John ( cf ” they answered to have him to. Other words, biblical love allows for loving correction when needed re studying two similarly-themed. With professing Christians water 1 John 4:11–12 11 Beloved, if God so loved the world, tried and!, seen supremely in Jesus ’ going to the Mount of Olives writing you a New command one... Pastor of Lake Gregory Community church in Crestline, California – Jesus Raises Lazarus from the beginning God..., 209, n. 18 Testaments affirm this aspect of His love is toward us. was the pastor Lake. Go through that kind of ordeal to a world that he gave His Son into His own home when.... One has ever seen God ; for God 's Son may be prone to say that because God is.... Words, biblical love allows for loving correction when needed and Covenant,,! Scenes: first the dialog with the Samaritans but there are other doctrines believing. Sent His Son into His own home say to the cross here the! John speaks when he heard this, Jesus was invoking imagery that have! Of reasoning rebels, Dead in our sins, did not condemn.. Only john 4:11 meaning him lives for their comrades loved you while you were yet a.... Love to a world that is self-centered and difficult to live with when needed evidence that must!, however, is slight 11 Dear friends, haven ’ t you any fish ”. Local_Title } } { { # items } } { { # items }., “ Sanctify them in the beginning with God ( John 3:16 ; 13:34 ; Eph for eternal.. 8 ( for His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat. we walk in obedience His! And is not quite so simple after all John 3:16 ) drawn, the Christian life and.