1 John 48

1 John 4:8 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, which is part of the First Epistle of John. The verse states, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (New International Version). This verse is a central tenet of Christian theology, emphasizing that love is an essential attribute of God and that those who do not love do not truly understand or know God. The Greek text of this verse is "ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν οὐκ ἔγνω κὰὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν". In Hebrew, it can be translated as "הַגָּם לֹא אֹהֵב לֹא יָדַע וְהָאֱלֹהִים אַהֲבָה הוּא". The verse is often interpreted as a call to Christians to embody love in their lives, as it reflects the nature of God. Contextually, this verse is part of a larger discussion in 1 John about the importance of love, both for fellow believers and as a sign of genuine faith. The epistle contrasts the love that comes from God with the false teachings and lack of love exhibited by those who do not follow God's commandments.