1 John 4:7

Of God (ek tou qeou). Even human love comes from God, "a reflection of something in the Divine nature itself" (Brooke). John repeats the old commandment of Ephesians 2:7 . Persistence in loving (present tense agapwmen indicative and agapwn participle) is proof that one "has been begotten of God" (ek tou qeou gegennhtai as in Ephesians 2:29 ) and is acquainted with God. Otherwise mere claim to loving God accompanied by hating one's brother is a lie ( Ephesians 2:9-11 ).