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1 John 5 · a question people ask

"he who loves God should also love his brother" (4:21), and "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments." (5:2). How do these go together?

In the text

1 John sets down both, close together: the first in the last verse of chapter 4, and the second in the second verse of this chapter. These notes set them side by side and don't choose how they fit together.

The verses

“This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.”
1 John 4:21 · World English Bible
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.”
1 John 5:2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 John 5

1 John 5: This is the victory

In 5:4-5 the chapter speaks three times of overcoming the world: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world" (5:4), and 5:5 asks who overcomes it. The letter's last verse is "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (5:21).

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Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions