1
Ἀγαπητοί, μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε, ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα εἰ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν, ὅτι πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τὸν κόσμον.
Beloved, 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.
A fresh address (Ἀγαπητοί) opens the spirit-testing unit: against indiscriminate belief, the readers are to discern the source of every prophetic claim — for the secessionists' departure (2:19) has loosed many false prophets into the world.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἈγαπητοίbelovedVocativevocative of addressἀγαπητός: 'beloved'; the affectionate address opens the section and anticipates the love-theme of vv.7–21.
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ imperative)
παντὶeveryDativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'every'; the distributive 'every spirit' warns against credulity toward any inspired claim.
πνεύματιspiritDativedat. complement of πιστεύετεπνεῦμα: 'spirit'; the inspiring power behind a prophet, whether the Spirit of God or a deceiving spirit.
πιστεύετεbelievePres Act Impv 2 Pl · πιστεύωmain verb (prohibition)→ present prohibition (ongoing)πιστεύω: 'believe, trust'; the present prohibition forbids habitual, undiscerning credence.
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction
δοκιμάζετεtestPres Act Impv 2 Pl · δοκιμάζωmain verb (positive command)→ customary presentδοκιμάζω: 'test, examine, prove' (as assaying metal); the believer's duty of discernment.
τὰtheAccusativearticle
πνεύματαspiritsAccusativedirect objectπνεῦμα: 'spirits'; the various inspiring powers claiming a prophetic voice.
εἰwhetherconjunction (indirect question)εἰ: introduces an indirect question — the content of the testing.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)θεός: God; 'from God' marks the true source — the criterion of authenticity in this letter.
ἐστινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of indirect question→ stative present
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
πολλοὶmanyNominativeattributive adjectiveπολύς: 'many'; the false prophets are not a marginal threat but a widespread one.
ψευδοπροφῆταιfalse prophetsNominativesubjectψευδοπροφήτης: 'false prophet' (ψευδής + προφήτης); inspired teachers whose source and message are not of God.
ἐξεληλύθασινhave gone outPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (causal clause)→ extensive perfect (abiding result)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; the perfect (cf. 2:19) marks the secessionists' departure as an accomplished, abiding fact.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
κόσμονworldAccusativeobject of εἰς (goal)κόσμος: 'world'; here the sphere of humanity in its alienation from God — the arena into which the false prophets have spread.
2
ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκετε τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ θεοῦ· πᾶν πνεῦμα ὃ ὁμολογεῖ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐν σαρκὶ ἐληλυθότα ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν,
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
The doctrinal test: the Spirit of God is identified by a christological confession — that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (the perfect ἐληλυθότα marking an abiding incarnate state), aimed squarely at the docetic denial of the secessionists.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἐνbypreposition + dative (means)
τούτῳthisDativeobject of ἐν (means; cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; the recurring ἐν τούτῳ formula — here forward-pointing to the confession that follows.
γινώσκετεyou knowPres Act Indic 2 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (or impv.)→ customary presentγινώσκω: 'know, recognize'; the form may be indicative ('you know') or imperative ('know!'), the indicative taken.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
πνεῦμαSpiritAccusativedirect objectπνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; here the Spirit of God, recognized by the confession it inspires.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of source/possession
πᾶνeveryNominativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'every'; the universal subject of the confession-test.
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject (nom. of predication)
ὃthatNominativerelative pronoun (subject of rel. clause)
ὁμολογεῖconfessesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁμολογέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ customary presentὁμολογέω: 'confess, acknowledge' (lit. 'say the same'); open profession of the incarnation, the test of authentic Spirit.
ἸησοῦνJesusAccusativeaccusative subject of ptc. (object of ὁμολογεῖ)Ἰησοῦς: 'Jesus'; the historical, embodied Lord whose flesh-coming is denied by the opponents.
ΧριστὸνChristAccusativeapposition / titleΧριστός: 'Christ'; 'Jesus Christ' confessed as one — the Messiah identical with the man Jesus.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/state)
σαρκὶfleshDativeobject of ἐν (state of coming)σάρξ: 'flesh'; genuine human nature — the incarnation against which docetic denial breaks (cf. John 1:14).
ἐληλυθόταhaving comePerf Act Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · ἔρχομαιpredicate participle in indirect discourse→ extensive perfect (abiding state)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the perfect participle marks the incarnation as an enduring reality — he came and remains incarnate, not a transient appearance.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predication)→ stative present
3
καὶ πᾶν πνεῦμα ὃ μὴ ὁμολογεῖ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν· καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ τοῦ ἀντιχρίστου, ὃ ἀκηκόατε ὅτι ἔρχεται, καὶ νῦν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἐστὶν ἤδη.
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.
The dark obverse of v.2: the spirit that withholds the confession is not from God but is the very spirit of antichrist — heard of as future yet already present, the eschatological foe at work now in the deniers.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πᾶνeveryNominativeattributive adjective
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject
ὃthatNominativerelative pronoun (subject of rel. clause)
μὴnotnegative particle (qualitative)μή: the negative with the indicative ὁμολογεῖ stresses the characteristic class — the kind of spirit that withholds confession.
ὁμολογεῖconfessesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁμολογέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ customary presentὁμολογέω: 'confess'; failure to confess Jesus is itself the mark of antichrist (cf. 2:22).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἸησοῦνJesusAccusativedirect objectἸησοῦς: 'Jesus'; the bare 'Jesus' (best text) makes the whole incarnate person the object of confession; a patristic variant reads λύει τὸν Ἰησοῦν ('annuls Jesus').
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predication)→ stative present
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τοῦτόthisNominativesubject (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'this'; resuming the non-confessing spirit just described.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (equative)→ stative present
τὸthe (spirit)Nominativepredicate nominative (article w/ implied πνεῦμα)the neuter article substantivizes 'the [spirit] of antichrist,' πνεῦμα understood from context.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
ἀντιχρίστουantichristGenitivegenitive of source/relationshipἀντίχριστος: 'antichrist' (ἀντί + Χριστός); the eschatological adversary, here a spirit/disposition embodied in the deniers (cf. 2:18).
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀκηκόατε)
ἀκηκόατεyou have heardPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (rel. clause)→ extensive perfect (received report stands)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the perfect marks teaching already received about the coming antichrist (cf. 2:18).
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of hearing)
ἔρχεταιis comingPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of ὅτι clause→ futuristic presentἔρχομαι: 'come'; the expected future advent of antichrist, here ironically already realized.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
νῦνnowadverb of timeνῦν: 'now'; the realized-eschatology note — the future foe is present already.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῷtheDativearticle
κόσμῳworldDativedat. of placeκόσμος: 'world'; the arena where the antichrist spirit is already operative.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predication)→ stative present
ἤδηalreadyadverb of timeἤδη: 'already'; emphasizing the present reality of the foe.
4
ὑμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστε, τεκνία, καὶ νενικήκατε αὐτούς, ὅτι μείζων ἐστὶν ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν ἢ ὁ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ.
You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
The emphatic ὑμεῖς turns to the faithful: they belong to God and have already conquered the false prophets — the perfect νενικήκατε grounding their victory not in themselves but in the greater One indwelling them.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ὑμεῖς: 'you'; the emphatic pronoun sets the believers in sharp contrast to the world's spirits.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)
ἐστεarePres Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predication)→ stative present
τεκνίαlittle childrenVocativevocative of addressτεκνίον: 'little child' (diminutive of τέκνον); John's tender pastoral address for his readers.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
νενικήκατεyou have conqueredPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · νικάωmain verb→ extensive perfect (settled victory)νικάω: 'conquer, overcome'; the perfect marks a decisive, abiding triumph over the false prophets.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object (the false prophets)
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
μείζωνgreaterNominativepredicate adjective (comparative)μέγας (compar. μείζων): 'greater'; the fronted comparative stresses the superior power of the indwelling One.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predication)→ stative present
ὁthe oneNominativesubstantival article (subject)ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν: 'he who is in you' — God/the Spirit indwelling the believers (cf. v.13).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
ὑμῖνyouDativeobject of ἐν (place)
ἢthanparticle of comparison
ὁthe oneNominativesubstantival article (object of comparison)ὁ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ: 'he who is in the world' — the antichrist spirit / the evil one ruling the world (cf. 5:19).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῷtheDativearticle
κόσμῳworldDativeobject of ἐν (place)κόσμος: 'world'; the realm dominated by the hostile power, lesser than the indwelling God.
5
αὐτοὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου εἰσίν· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου λαλοῦσιν καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτῶν ἀκούει.
They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
The opponents' pedigree explains their reception: being of the world, their speech is worldly, and the world — its kin — gives them a hearing. Source determines message and audience alike.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)αὐτοί: 'they'; the false prophets of v.1, set against the emphatic ὑμεῖς of v.4.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
κόσμουworldGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)κόσμος: 'world'; their origin and allegiance lie in the godless order.
εἰσίνarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predication)→ stative present
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause)
τοῦτοthisAccusativeobject of διά (διὰ τοῦτο = 'therefore')διὰ τοῦτο: 'on account of this, therefore'; drawing the consequence from their worldly origin.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
κόσμουworldGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source of speech)
λαλοῦσινthey speakPres Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωmain verb→ customary presentλαλέω: 'speak, utter'; their teaching springs from and reflects the world's outlook.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
κόσμοςworldNominativesubjectκόσμος: 'world'; the unbelieving order that recognizes its own voice in them.
αὐτῶνto themGenitivegenitive complement of ἀκούει (source heard)
ἀκούειlistensPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ customary presentἀκούω: 'hear, heed'; with the genitive, 'give a hearing to' — the world heeds its own.
6
ἡμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν· ὁ γινώσκων τὸν θεὸν ἀκούει ἡμῶν, ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἀκούει ἡμῶν. ἐκ τούτου γινώσκομεν τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πλάνης.
We are from God; the one who knows God listens to us, whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Over against v.5, the apostolic 'we' is from God, and reception of their witness sorts the hearers: this is the discriminating test by which the Spirit of truth is told from the spirit of error — closing the unit (vv.1–6).
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; the apostolic/eyewitness circle (cf. 1:1–4), the trustworthy bearers of the message.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)
ἐσμενarePres Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predication)→ stative present
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
γινώσκωνwho knowsPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · γινώσκωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary presentγινώσκω: 'know'; the one in genuine relationship with God recognizes and heeds the apostolic witness.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object of ptc.
ἀκούειlistensPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ customary presentἀκούω: 'hear, heed'; with the genitive ἡμῶν, 'listens to us.'
ἡμῶνto usGenitivegenitive complement of ἀκούει
ὃςwhoeverNominativerelative pronoun (subject)ὅς: here generalizing, 'whoever' — the one not of God.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (rel. clause)→ stative present
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἀκούειlistensPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ customary presentἀκούω: 'hear, heed'; refusal to heed the apostolic word betrays an origin not in God.
ἡμῶνto usGenitivegenitive complement of ἀκούει
ἐκbypreposition + genitive (means/source)
τούτουthisGenitiveobject of ἐκ (ἐκ τούτου = 'by this')οὗτος: 'this'; the criterion just stated — reception of the apostolic witness.
γινώσκομενwe knowPres Act Indic 1 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb→ customary presentγινώσκω: 'know, discern'; the means of distinguishing the two spirits.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
πνεῦμαSpiritAccusativedirect objectπνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; here qualified as 'of truth,' the Spirit that inspires the true confession.
τῆςofGenitivearticle
ἀληθείαςtruthGenitivegenitive of quality/sourceἀλήθεια: 'truth'; the Spirit of truth (cf. John 14:17; 16:13).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheAccusativearticle
πνεῦμαspiritAccusativedirect object (coordinate)
τῆςofGenitivearticle
πλάνηςerrorGenitivegenitive of quality/sourceπλάνη: 'error, deceit, wandering'; the deceiving spirit behind the false prophets.
7
Ἀγαπητοί, ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους, ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀγαπῶν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ γεγέννηται καὶ γινώσκει τὸν θεόν.
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been begotten of God and knows God.
A renewed address (Ἀγαπητοί) opens the love-section: the imperative to mutual love is grounded in love's divine origin — to love is the mark of one begotten of God and knowing him.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἈγαπητοίbelovedVocativevocative of addressἀγαπητός: 'beloved'; opening the great love-passage with the very word it expounds.
ἀγαπῶμενlet us lovePres Act Subj 1 Pl · ἀγαπάωhortatory subjunctive→ customary presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the hortatory subjunctive ('let us love') makes the writer one with his readers in the duty.
ἀλλήλουςone anotherAccusativedirect object (reciprocal pronoun)ἀλλήλων: 'one another'; the mutual love within the community (cf. John 13:34).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἀγάπηloveNominativesubjectἀγάπη: 'love'; self-giving love, which has its source and pattern in God.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predication)→ stative present
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πᾶςeveryoneNominativeadjective w/ substantival ptc.πᾶς: 'every, all'; the universal scope — without exception.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἀγαπῶνwho lovesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; loving is the evidential mark of divine begetting.
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source of begetting)
γεγέννηταιhas been begottenPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · γεννάωmain verb→ extensive perfect (abiding state)γεννάω: 'beget, give birth'; the perfect marks the new birth as an accomplished, abiding reality issuing in love.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
γινώσκειknowsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb→ customary presentγινώσκω: 'know'; relational knowledge of God, evidenced by love.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεόνGodAccusativedirect object
8
ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν οὐκ ἔγνω τὸν θεόν, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν.
The one who does not love did not come to know God, because God is love.
The negative converse of v.7, capped by the chapter's great predication: ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν. Because love is God's very nature, the loveless person has simply never come to know him.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ ptc.)
ἀγαπῶνwho lovesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the loveless person — the negation defining the false claimant.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἔγνωcame to knowAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb→ constative aorist (ingressive nuance)γινώσκω: 'know'; the aorist 'did not come to know' denies any genuine entry into relationship with God.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεόνGodAccusativedirect object
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (articular → subject of equative)θεός: God; the articular noun is the subject — 'God is love,' not 'love is God.'
ἀγάπηloveNominativepredicate nominative (anarthrous, qualitative)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the anarthrous predicate states a defining quality of God's being — not that love exhausts God, but that all he does is loving.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίequative verb→ stative present
9
ἐν τούτῳ ἐφανερώθη ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ἡμῖν, ὅτι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἀπέσταλκεν ὁ θεὸς εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα ζήσωμεν δι' αὐτοῦ.
By this the love of God was manifested among us, that God has sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
Love's invisible nature is shown in a visible act: the sending of the only Son into the world for our life. The perfect ἀπέσταλκεν stresses the abiding effect of the mission.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
ἐνbypreposition + dative (means)
τούτῳthisDativeobject of ἐν (cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing forward to the ὅτι-clause that names the demonstration.
ἐφανερώθηwas manifestedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · φανερόωmain verb→ constative aoristφανερόω: 'make manifest, reveal'; God's love became visible in the historical sending of the Son.
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἀγάπηloveNominativesubjectἀγάπη: 'love'; God's love, here shown in saving action.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivesubjective genitive (God's love)
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere)
ἡμῖνusDativedat. of sphere ('among/in us')
ὅτιthatconjunction (epexegetic of τούτῳ)ὅτι: explanatory — unpacking 'this' as the sending of the Son.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
υἱὸνSonAccusativedirect object of ἀπέσταλκενυἱός: 'Son'; God's own Son, the gift in which his love is displayed.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
μονογενῆonlyAccusativeattributive adjectiveμονογενής: 'only, unique, one-of-a-kind' (μόνος + γένος); the only-begotten Son (cf. John 3:16) — the costliness of the gift.
ἀπέσταλκενhas sentPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (ὅτι clause)→ extensive perfect (abiding result)ἀποστέλλω: 'send with commission'; the perfect marks the sending as an accomplished mission with continuing effect.
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of ἀπέσταλκεν
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
κόσμονworldAccusativeobject of εἰς (goal)κόσμος: 'world'; the object of God's saving love, into which the Son was sent.
ἵναso thatconjunction (purpose, + subjunctive)
ζήσωμενwe might liveAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ζάωverb of purpose clause→ ingressive aoristζάω: 'live'; eternal life, the goal of the sending — gained 'through him.'
δι'throughpreposition + genitive (agency/means)
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of διά (means of life)
10
ἐν τούτῳ ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη, οὐχ ὅτι ἡμεῖς ἠγαπήκαμεν τὸν θεόν, ἀλλ' ὅτι αὐτὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἱλασμὸν περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν.
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a propitiation for our sins.
The decisive direction of love: it originates not in our love for God but in his prior love, supremely in the sending of the Son as ἱλασμός — the propitiation for our sins (cf. 2:2).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/respect)
τούτῳthisDativeobject of ἐν (cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing forward to the οὐχ...ἀλλά clause defining love.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predication)→ stative present
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἀγάπηloveNominativesubjectἀγάπη: 'love'; love in its essence, defined by God's initiative.
οὐχnotnegative particle
ὅτιthatconjunction (epexegetic)
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; the emphatic pronoun sharpens the antithesis — not our love but his.
ἠγαπήκαμενhave lovedPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀγαπάωverb of ὅτι clause→ extensive perfectἀγαπάω: 'love'; the perfect, here negated, denies any prior or settled human love as love's source.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεόνGodAccusativedirect object
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunction
ὅτιthatconjunction (epexegetic)
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (intensive pronoun)αὐτός: 'he himself'; God as the active subject — love's true origin.
ἠγάπησενlovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωverb of ὅτι clause→ constative aoristἀγαπάω: 'love'; the aorist looks to the decisive act of love in the sending of the Son.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb of ὅτι clause (coordinate)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send'; the concrete act in which the love consisted.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
υἱὸνSonAccusativedirect objectυἱός: 'Son'; sent as the means of atonement.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἱλασμὸνpropitiationAccusativeobject complement / accusative of purposeἱλασμός: 'propitiation, expiation, means of atonement'; the Son sent to deal with sin — averting wrath and removing guilt (cf. 2:2; LXX of the kapporeth).
περὶforpreposition + genitive (reference)περί: 'concerning, for'; the cultic 'for sins' idiom (cf. LXX περὶ ἁμαρτίας).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ἁμαρτιῶνsinsGenitiveobject of περί (reference)ἁμαρτία: 'sin'; the object dealt with by the propitiation.
ἡμῶνourGenitivepossessive genitive
11
Ἀγαπητοί, εἰ οὕτως ὁ θεὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἡμεῖς ὀφείλομεν ἀλλήλους ἀγαπᾶν.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
The ethical inference from vv.9–10: God's measureless love (οὕτως) lays on the loved an obligation (ὀφείλομεν) to love one another — divine love generates and demands answering love.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ἈγαπητοίbelovedVocativevocative of addressἀγαπητός: 'beloved'; the address itself enacts the love being urged.
εἰifconjunction (first-class condition)εἰ: 'if'; the first-class condition assumes the protasis true — 'since God so loved.'
οὕτωςsoadverb of manner/degreeοὕτως: 'thus, so'; pointing back to the magnitude of love in vv.9–10.
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject
ἠγάπησενlovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωverb of protasis→ constative aoristἀγαπάω: 'love'; recalling the decisive act of v.10.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
καὶalsoadverbial/ascensive conjunction
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; the loved ones now bound to love in turn.
ὀφείλομενoughtPres Act Indic 1 Pl · ὀφείλωmain verb (apodosis)→ stative present (standing obligation)ὀφείλω: 'owe, be obligated'; the language of moral debt — love received becomes love owed.
ἀλλήλουςone anotherAccusativedirect object of infinitive (reciprocal)ἀλλήλων: 'one another'; the horizontal expression of the vertical love received.
ἀγαπᾶνto lovePres Act Inf · ἀγαπάωcomplementary infinitive→ customary presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the content of the obligation.
12
θεὸν οὐδεὶς πώποτε τεθέαται· ἐὰν ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους, ὁ θεὸς ἐν ἡμῖν μένει καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη αὐτοῦ τετελειωμένη ἐν ἡμῖν ἐστιν.
No one has ever beheld God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love has been perfected in us.
Though God remains unseen, mutual love makes him known and present: it is the visible evidence that the invisible God abides in us and that his love reaches its goal (τετελειωμένη) in us.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object (fronted for emphasis)θεός: God; the fronted object stresses that God himself has never been seen (cf. John 1:18).
οὐδεὶςno oneNominativesubject (negative substantive)οὐδείς: 'no one'; absolute denial of any direct vision of God.
πώποτεeveradverb of timeπώποτε: 'ever yet, at any time'; reinforcing the absolute negation.
τεθέαταιhas beheldPerf Mid Indic 3 Sg · θεάομαιmain verb→ extensive perfect (abiding fact)θεάομαι: 'behold, gaze at'; the perfect — no one has ever attained a beholding of God (cf. v.20).
ἐὰνifconjunction (third-class condition)ἐάν: 'if'; the third-class condition with subjunctive — 'if we (should) love.'
ἀγαπῶμενwe lovePres Act Subj 1 Pl · ἀγαπάωverb of protasis→ customary presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; ongoing mutual love is the condition of the perceptible indwelling.
ἀλλήλουςone anotherAccusativedirect object (reciprocal)ἀλλήλων: 'one another'.
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
ἡμῖνusDativeobject of ἐν (place)
μένειabidesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · μένωmain verb (apodosis)→ customary/durative presentμένω: 'remain, abide'; the Johannine keyword for the permanent mutual indwelling of God and believer.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἀγάπηloveNominativesubjectἀγάπη: 'love'; his love (αὐτοῦ), brought to its intended goal in the loving community.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (subjective: God's love, or 'love for him')αὐτοῦ: 'his'; most likely God's own love now reaching its goal in us, though 'love for him' is grammatically possible.
τετελειωμένηperfectedPerf Pass Ptc · Nom Sg Fem · τελειόωpredicate participle (periphrastic w/ ἐστιν)→ extensive perfect (completed state)τελειόω: 'bring to completion, perfect'; love reaches its appointed end/goal when it issues in mutual love (cf. vv.17–18).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
ἡμῖνusDativeobject of ἐν (place)
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary (periphrastic perfect)→ stative present
13
Ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ μένομεν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ἡμῖν, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος αὐτοῦ δέδωκεν ἡμῖν.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us: because he has given us of his Spirit.
The first ground of assurance of the mutual abiding: the gift of the Spirit. The partitive ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος ('of his Spirit') signals participation in the one Spirit God has bestowed.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
Ἐνbypreposition + dative (means)
τούτῳthisDativeobject of ἐν (cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing forward to the gift of the Spirit.
γινώσκομενwe knowPres Act Indic 1 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb→ customary presentγινώσκω: 'know'; assurance is a present knowledge grounded in the Spirit.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of ἐν (place)
μένομενwe abidePres Act Indic 1 Pl · μένωverb of ὅτι clause→ durative presentμένω: 'abide'; the mutual indwelling of believer and God.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (intensive pronoun; verb supplied)αὐτός: 'he'; 'and he in us,' the verb μένει understood.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
ἡμῖνusDativeobject of ἐν (place)
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (partitive)ἐκ: here partitive — 'of/from his Spirit,' a share in the one Spirit.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
πνεύματοςSpiritGenitiveobject of ἐκ (partitive)πνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; the gift of the Holy Spirit is the inward evidence of abiding (cf. 3:24).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
δέδωκενhe has givenPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (causal clause)→ extensive perfect (abiding gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; the perfect marks the Spirit's bestowal as an abiding endowment.
ἡμῖνusDativeindirect object
14
καὶ ἡμεῖς τεθεάμεθα καὶ μαρτυροῦμεν ὅτι ὁ πατὴρ ἀπέσταλκεν τὸν υἱὸν σωτῆρα τοῦ κόσμου.
And we have beheld and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
The second ground: the apostolic eyewitness confession (cf. 1:1–3). The 'we' who beheld now testify to the Father's sending of the Son as Savior of the world — answering the docetists' denial.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; the eyewitness apostolic circle (cf. 1:1–4).
τεθεάμεθαhave beheldPerf Mid Indic 1 Pl · θεάομαιmain verb→ extensive perfect (abiding witness)θεάομαι: 'behold, gaze at'; the perfect — the apostles' beholding of the incarnate Son grounds their abiding testimony (cf. 1:1).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
μαρτυροῦμενtestifyPres Act Indic 1 Pl · μαρτυρέωmain verb→ customary presentμαρτυρέω: 'bear witness, testify'; the present, ongoing proclamation built on the past beholding.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of testimony)
ὁtheNominativearticle
πατὴρFatherNominativesubjectπατήρ: 'Father'; the sender, in relation to the Son sent.
ἀπέσταλκενhas sentPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb of ὅτι clause→ extensive perfect (abiding mission)ἀποστέλλω: 'send with commission'; the perfect (as v.9) marks the abiding effect of the sending.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
υἱὸνSonAccusativedirect objectυἱός: 'Son'; sent to be the world's Savior.
σωτῆραSaviorAccusativeobject complement (double accusative)σωτήρ: 'savior, deliverer'; the Son's mission and title — Savior of the whole world.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κόσμουworldGenitiveobjective genitive (whom he saves)κόσμος: 'world'; the universal scope of the saving mission (cf. 2:2; John 4:42).
15
ὃς ἐὰν ὁμολογήσῃ ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, ὁ θεὸς ἐν αὐτῷ μένει καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν τῷ θεῷ.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.
The confession joins the spirit-test (vv.1–6) to the abiding theme: to acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God is the doctrinal condition of the mutual indwelling — faith and abiding are inseparable.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ὃςwhoeverNominativerelative pronoun (indefinite, w/ ἐάν)ὃς ἐάν: 'whoever' — the generalizing relative.
ἐὰν-everparticle (generalizing, + subjunctive)
ὁμολογήσῃconfessesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ὁμολογέωverb of indefinite rel. clause→ constative aoristὁμολογέω: 'confess, acknowledge'; open confession of the Son's identity is the mark of true faith.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of confession)
ἸησοῦςJesusNominativesubject of confessed clauseἸησοῦς: 'Jesus'; the man Jesus identified as the divine Son.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίequative verb (confessed clause)→ stative present
ὁtheNominativearticle
υἱὸςSonNominativepredicate nominativeυἱός: 'Son'; 'the Son of God' — the full christological confession.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (apodosis)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of ἐν (place)
μένειabidesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · μένωmain verb (apodosis)→ durative presentμένω: 'abide'; the mutual indwelling consequent on confession.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (verb supplied)αὐτός: 'he'; 'and he in God,' μένει understood.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῷtheDativearticle
θεῷGodDativeobject of ἐν (place)
16
καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐγνώκαμεν καὶ πεπιστεύκαμεν τὴν ἀγάπην ἣν ἔχει ὁ θεὸς ἐν ἡμῖν. ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν, καὶ ὁ μένων ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐν τῷ θεῷ μένει καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἐν αὐτῷ μένει.
And we have come to know and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
The believing knowledge of God's love issues in the repeated predication ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν (cf. v.8), now drawn into the abiding formula: to abide in love is to abide in the God who is love.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; the confessing community.
ἐγνώκαμενhave come to knowPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb→ extensive perfect (abiding knowledge)γινώσκω: 'know'; the perfect — a knowledge gained and retained.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πεπιστεύκαμενhave believedPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · πιστεύωmain verb→ extensive perfect (abiding faith)πιστεύω: 'believe, trust'; knowledge and faith conjoined, both perfect — a settled, abiding trust in God's love.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ἀγάπηνloveAccusativedirect object (of both verbs)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the object known and believed — God's love for us.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔχει)
ἔχειhasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb (rel. clause)→ durative presentἔχω: 'have, hold'; God's continuing disposition of love toward his people.
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of ἔχει
ἐνforpreposition + dative (advantage; ἐν ≈ 'toward/among')ἐν ἡμῖν: here 'in/among/toward us' — the love God exercises in our regard.
ἡμῖνusDativeobject of ἐν
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (articular → subject of equative)θεός: God; the articular subject of the predication 'God is love' (cf. v.8).
ἀγάπηloveNominativepredicate nominative (qualitative)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the anarthrous predicate naming the defining quality of God's being.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίequative verb→ stative present
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μένωνwho abidesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · μένωsubstantival participle (subject)→ durative presentμένω: 'abide'; abiding in love is abiding in God.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἀγάπῃloveDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the sphere of life that coincides with abiding in God.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῷtheDativearticle
θεῷGodDativeobject of ἐν (place)
μένειabidesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · μένωmain verb→ durative presentμένω: 'abide'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of ἐν (place)
μένειabidesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · μένωmain verb→ durative presentμένω: 'abide'; the reciprocal indwelling completed.
17
ἐν τούτῳ τετελείωται ἡ ἀγάπη μεθ' ἡμῶν, ἵνα παρρησίαν ἔχωμεν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως, ὅτι καθὼς ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ.
In this love has been perfected with us, that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world.
Love's perfection has a forward aim: confidence at the judgment. The ground is the believer's likeness to Christ — 'as he is, so are we in this world' — present conformity that secures future boldness.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (respect)
τούτῳthisDativeobject of ἐν (respect; refers to the abiding of v.16)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing to the mutual abiding just stated as the realm of love's perfection.
τετελείωταιhas been perfectedPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · τελειόωmain verb→ extensive perfect (completed state)τελειόω: 'bring to completion, perfect'; love reaches its goal in producing confidence before God.
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἀγάπηloveNominativesubjectἀγάπη: 'love'; brought to completion 'with us.'
μεθ'withpreposition + genitive (association)μετά: 'with'; 'with us' — love perfected in the sphere of the divine-human fellowship, not in isolation.
ἡμῶνusGenitiveobject of μετά (association)
ἵναthatconjunction (purpose/result, + subjunctive)
παρρησίανboldnessAccusativedirect objectπαρρησία: 'boldness, confidence, freedom of speech'; assured confidence before God at the judgment (cf. 2:28; 3:21).
ἔχωμενwe may havePres Act Subj 1 Pl · ἔχωverb of purpose clause→ durative presentἔχω: 'have, hold'; the goal — present and abiding confidence.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (time)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedat. of timeἡμέρα: 'day'; the day of judgment, when love's perfection yields fearless confidence.
τῆςofGenitivearticle
κρίσεωςjudgmentGenitivegenitive of description (whose day)κρίσις: 'judgment'; the eschatological assize before God.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
καθὼςascomparative conjunctionκαθώς: 'just as'; correlating the believer's character with Christ's.
ἐκεῖνόςheNominativesubject (demonstrative; = Christ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that one'; John's customary designation for Christ (cf. 2:6; 3:3, 5, 7).
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of comparison clause→ stative present
καὶalsoadverbial/correlative conjunction
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; those conformed to Christ even now.
ἐσμενarePres Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (correlative clause)→ stative present
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῷtheDativearticle
κόσμῳworldDativedat. of placeκόσμος: 'world'; the present sphere in which the likeness to Christ is lived out.
τούτῳthisDativeattributive demonstrativeοὗτος: 'this'; 'this world' — the present age, contrasted with the coming judgment.
18
φόβος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ, ἀλλ' ἡ τελεία ἀγάπη ἔξω βάλλει τὸν φόβον, ὅτι ὁ φόβος κόλασιν ἔχει, ὁ δὲ φοβούμενος οὐ τετελείωται ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment, and the one who fears has not been perfected in love.
The negative corollary of perfected love (v.17): love and the fear of judgment are mutually exclusive. Perfect love expels the dread that attends punishment; lingering fear betrays love not yet brought to completion.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
φόβοςfearNominativesubjectφόβος: 'fear, dread'; here the cringing dread of judgment, not reverent awe.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential)→ stative present
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἀγάπῃloveDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the sphere from which fear is excluded.
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
τελείαperfectNominativeattributive adjectiveτέλειος: 'complete, perfect, mature'; the love brought to its goal (cf. τελειόω, vv.12, 17).
ἀγάπηloveNominativesubject
ἔξωoutadverb of placeἔξω: 'outside, out'; with βάλλει, 'casts out, expels.'
βάλλειcastsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · βάλλωmain verb→ gnomic/customary presentβάλλω: 'throw, cast'; perfect love drives fear out entirely.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
φόβονfearAccusativedirect objectφόβος: 'fear'; the dread expelled by mature love.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
φόβοςfearNominativesubject
κόλασινpunishmentAccusativedirect objectκόλασις: 'punishment, penalty'; fear is bound up with the expectation of punishment, hence incompatible with confident love.
ἔχειhasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb→ stative presentἔχω: 'have'; 'fear has punishment' — i.e. is concerned with / anticipates it.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
δὲanddevelopmental conjunction
φοβούμενοςwho fearsPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · φοβέομαιsubstantival participle (subject)→ durative presentφοβέομαι: 'fear, be afraid'; the one still gripped by dread.
οὐnotnegative particle
τετελείωταιhas been perfectedPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · τελειόωmain verb→ extensive perfect (state)τελειόω: 'perfect, complete'; lingering fear shows love has not yet reached its goal in that person.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἀγάπῃloveDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the sphere of maturity not yet attained by the fearful.
19
ἡμεῖς ἀγαπῶμεν, ὅτι αὐτὸς πρῶτος ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς.
We love, because he first loved us.
The terse summary of the whole section: our love is wholly derivative and responsive — God's prior love (πρῶτος) is its source and cause. The object of ἀγαπῶμεν is left open, embracing both God and the brethren.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; emphatic — the loved who now love.
ἀγαπῶμενlovePres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀγαπάωmain verb (object unexpressed)→ customary presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the bare verb (best text) leaves the object open — both God and brother are in view; some witnesses supply αὐτόν or τὸν θεόν.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (intensive pronoun)αὐτός: 'he himself'; God, the prior lover and source of all love.
πρῶτοςfirstNominativepredicate adjective (adverbial: 'first')πρῶτος: 'first'; God's love precedes and causes ours — priority in time and in initiative.
ἠγάπησενlovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωmain verb (causal clause)→ constative aoristἀγαπάω: 'love'; the decisive prior act (cf. vv.9–10).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
20
ἐάν τις εἴπῃ ὅτι Ἀγαπῶ τὸν θεόν, καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ μισῇ, ψεύστης ἐστίν· ὁ γὰρ μὴ ἀγαπῶν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ὃν ἑώρακεν, τὸν θεὸν ὃν οὐχ ἑώρακεν οὐ δύναται ἀγαπᾶν.
If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love the God whom he has not seen.
The practical test exposing false claims to love God: hatred of the visible brother proves the claim a lie. The argument moves a fortiori — the seen brother is the necessary proving-ground for love of the unseen God.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
ἐάνifconjunction (third-class condition)ἐάν: 'if'; the hypothetical claim about to be exposed.
τιςanyoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)τις: 'anyone'; the would-be claimant of love for God.
εἴπῃsaysAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λέγωverb of protasis→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the verbal profession set against the contrary conduct.
ὅτιthatconjunction (recitative, introduces quotation)ὅτι: recitative — introducing direct speech.
ἈγαπῶI lovePres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀγαπάωmain verb (quoted claim)→ durative presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the professed love for God.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεόνGodAccusativedirect object (quoted)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (concessive nuance)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativedirect object of μισῇἀδελφός: 'brother'; the fellow believer, the proving-ground of love.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive
μισῇhatesPres Act Subj 3 Sg · μισέωverb of protasis (coordinate)→ durative presentμισέω: 'hate'; in John's stark antithesis, the absence of love is hatred — no neutral middle.
ψεύστηςliarNominativepredicate nominativeψεύστης: 'liar'; the verdict on the profession contradicted by conduct (cf. 1:6; 2:4).
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (apodosis)→ stative present
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ ptc.)
ἀγαπῶνlovingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle (subject)→ durative presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the one failing to love the visible brother.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativedirect object of ptc.ἀδελφός: 'brother'; the visible neighbor whom love can reach.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἑώρακεν)
ἑώρακενhe has seenPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (rel. clause)→ extensive perfect (state)ὁράω: 'see'; the brother is visibly present — love for him is testable.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object of ἀγαπᾶνθεός: God; the unseen object of professed love.
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἑώρακεν)
οὐχnotnegative particle
ἑώρακενhe has seenPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (rel. clause)→ extensive perfect (state)ὁράω: 'see'; God remains unseen (cf. v.12) — love for him must be shown in the visible brother.
οὐnotnegative particle
δύναταιis ablePres Mid Indic 3 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb→ durative presentδύναμαι: 'be able'; the impossibility is moral and logical — loveless toward the seen, he cannot love the unseen.
ἀγαπᾶνto lovePres Act Inf · ἀγαπάωcomplementary infinitive→ durative presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the act he is incapable of.
21
καὶ ταύτην τὴν ἐντολὴν ἔχομεν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν θεὸν ἀγαπᾷ καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ.
And this commandment we have from him: that the one who loves God love his brother also.
The section closes with the binding command that fuses the two loves: love of God and love of brother are not separable options but one divine ἐντολή — the vertical necessarily issuing in the horizontal.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ταύτηνthisAccusativeattributive demonstrative (cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing forward to the ἵνα-clause naming the commandment.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ἐντολὴνcommandmentAccusativedirect objectἐντολή: 'commandment'; the binding charge from God (or Christ) uniting love of God and brother.
ἔχομενwe havePres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἔχωmain verb→ durative presentἔχω: 'have, hold'; the command is a present possession of the community.
ἀπ'frompreposition + genitive (source)
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source)αὐτοῦ: 'him'; God (or Christ) as the giver of the commandment.
ἵναthatconjunction (content of command, + subjunctive)ἵνα: introducing the content of the ἐντολή ('that…').
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἀγαπῶνwho lovesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle (subject)→ durative presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the one professing love for God, now bound to love the brother.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object of ptc.
ἀγαπᾷlovePres Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωverb of ἵνα clause→ customary presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the commanded love for the brother, inseparable from love for God.
καὶalsoadverbial/ascensive conjunction
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativedirect object of ἀγαπᾷἀδελφός: 'brother'; the fellow believer, the necessary object of the love that loves God.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive