1 Johannes 5:2

2 Daran erkennen wir, daß wir Gottes Kinder lieben, wenn wir Gott lieben und seine Gebote halten.

1 Johannes 5:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 5:2

By this we know that we are the children God
The Ethiopic version reads, "by this know that we love God"; which, in connection with what follows, makes a tautology, and is a proving "idem per idem": whereas the apostle's view is to show when love to the saints is right; and that is,

when we love God, and keep his commandments:
love to the brethren may arise from such a cause, as may show that it is not brotherly love, or of a spiritual kind; it may arise from natural relation, or civil friendship, or from a benefit or favour received from them, and from some natural external excellency seen in them; and a man may do acts of love and kindness to the brethren, from what may be called good nature in himself, or with sinister views; but true love to the brethren springs from love to God: such who love the saints aright, and by which they may know they do so, they love them because they themselves love God, and in obedience to his command; they love them because they belong to God, and are the objects of his love; because his grace is wrought in them, and his image stamped upon them.

1 Johannes 5:2 In-Context

1 Wer da glaubt, daß Jesus sei der Christus, der ist von Gott geboren; und wer da liebt den, der ihn geboren hat, der liebt auch den, der von ihm geboren ist.

2 Daran erkennen wir, daß wir Gottes Kinder lieben, wenn wir Gott lieben und seine Gebote halten.

3 Denn das ist die Liebe zu Gott, daß wir seine Gebote halten; und seine Gebote sind nicht schwer.

4 Denn alles, was von Gott geboren ist, überwindet die Welt; und unser Glaube ist der Sieg, der die Welt überwunden hat.

5 Wer ist aber, der die Welt überwindet, wenn nicht, der da glaubt, daß Jesus Gottes Sohn ist?