1 John 2:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What is the perfection of love? To love even enemies, and to love them so that they may become brothers. For our love must not be according to the flesh. To wish temporal well-being for someone is good. But if that is absent, let the soul remain whole and preserved.

Do you wish life for your friend? You do well. Do you rejoice at the death of your enemy? You do badly. Yet perhaps the life you wish for your friend is unprofitable for him, and the death you wish for your enemy was profitable for him.

Whether this life is profitable or unprofitable for anyone is unknown. But the life that is with God is undoubtedly profitable. Love your enemies so that you desire to make them brothers. Love your enemies so that they may heed the call to be in communion with you.

For so loved He who, hanging on the Cross, said: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Lk 23:34). He did not say, "Father, let them live long. Though they kill Me, let them live."

What did He say? "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." By His all-merciful prayer and surpassing authority, He drove eternal death away from them. Many of them believed, and the blood of Christ which they had shed was forgiven them.

First, in frenzy, they shed it. Now, with faith, they drink it. Therefore we know that we are in Him, if we are perfected in Him. Giving instruction about this perfection of love for enemies, the Lord said: "Therefore be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt 5:48).

"The love of God has been perfected." This does not mean that love has reached the final degree of perfection. In this life it can gradually become more perfect according to the model of divine love, which is all-perfect, but it cannot reach the final limit.

Rather, it means that love attested by the fulfillment of God's commandments is true love, pleasing to God and saving for the soul.

"By this we know that we are in Him." The keeping of the word of God, or the fulfillment of God's commandments, shows true love for God. It also testifies that the one who keeps the commandments is in union with God, that God is well pleased with him, and that the grace of God overshadows him.

If such active love for God is in us, sincerely zealous for the fulfillment of God's commandments, then this shows, according to the word of the Theologian, that we are in God. It shows that the grace of God overshadows us and acts in us.

"Truly the love of God": this is the love of God the Father and the love of Christ, reflected in the love of such a person. It is according to Christ's own saying: "That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us" (Jn 17:21 and parallels).

What is meant is the moral communion of believers with God in Christ, by the power both of man's love for God and of God's love for man.

"Has been perfected," or is perfect: not in the sense that love has reached the final degree of perfection. In this present life it cannot attain perfect fullness, and can only be gradually perfected according to the image of divine love, which is full and all-perfect.

Rather, it means that love attested by fulfillment of the commandments is true and saving love.

"By this we know," and so forth: the keeping of Christ's commandments, or His word, in the sense of the whole collection of the commandments of His law (v. 5; 1:10), shows that a person has true love for God. It also testifies that the one who fulfills His commandments is in communion, or union, with God in Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Christ prayed concerning this: "That they all may be one, as We are with Thee, Father" (Jn 17:21).

Second, true knowledge of God is the keeping of His word out of love for Him. "Whoever says, 'I have known Him,'" that is, God, "but does not keep His commandments, is false." Such a person's knowledge is cold and dead. It only puffs up and does not save. "But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected." That is, perfect and saving love is seen in him as the fruit of living knowledge of God (1 Jn 2:4-8).

Third, true walking in the light consists in loving one's brother. "Whoever loves his brother abides in the light," and is a true Christian. "But whoever hates his brother is in darkness" (1 Jn 2:9-11). That is, he is in the darkness of ignorance concerning true Christianity, because the fundamental principle of Christian life has not yet touched his own life.

Of course, in life there are infinitely many degrees of love. Yet the apostle speaks of opposites and speaks absolutely: either love, or hatred.

Further reproducing the Lord's farewell discourse, the apostle raises the fulfillment of the commandments to the fundamental principle indicated there, that is, to love. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father," says Jesus Christ (Jn 14:21). The apostle says something similar in verses 5 and 6 (cf. Jn 13:34).