He Loved Us First (1 John 4)

1 John 4:19-21 (Tyndale New Testament, 1534)

“We love him, for he loved us first.

If a man say, I love God, and yet hate his brother he is a liar.

For how can he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we of him: that he which loveth God / should love his brother also.” (MODERN SPELLING)

The King James Bible translation of these verses is nearly identical. One noticeable difference is the first phase has been changed. Personally, I think Tyndale’s “We love him, for he loved us first” is more direct than: “We love him, because he first loved us.” I will admit to being biased toward Tyndale though.

Here is the entire passage from the King James Bible.

We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:

for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

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