‏ 1 John 4:8

 He that loveth not ( ο μη αγαπων ). Present active articular participle of  αγαπαω "keeps on not loving."

 Knoweth not God ( ουκ εγνω τον θεον ). Timeless aorist active indicative of  γινωσκω, has no acquaintance with God, never did get acquainted with him.

 God is love ( ο θεος αγαπη εστιν ). Anarthrous predicate, not  η αγαπη. John does not say that love is God, but only that God is love. The two terms are not interchangeable. God is also light (1:5) and spirit (Joh 4:24).

Copyright information for RWP