In this we know that we abide in him, and he in us: because he hath given us of his spirit.
εν τουτω γινωσκομεν οτι εν αυτω μενομεν και αυτος εν ημιν οτι εκ του πνευματος αυτου δεδωκεν ημιν
11 Church Fathers comment on this verse
If there is nothing unfitting in this, then this holy man also properly proves from the effect that God is in us. What is this effect? Pure love for our neighbors. It is the sign of our abiding in Him and of His abiding in us, also because He has given us of His Spirit. For the pure begets what is pure and blameless. Through pure love we have communion with Him.
Therefore, if, when the Spirit dwells in us through communion, the One Who dwells is God, and we become those who abide in Him, while He in turn abides in us, because we bear the Spirit within ourselves, how then is the Spirit not God?
He has essentially in Himself all the distinctive properties of the Father and God, Whose Spirit He is, and through the Son He is given to creation.
Good, thanks be to God. We know that He dwells in us. But how do we know this? How do we know that we know He dwells in us? From what John said: that He has given us of His Spirit. How do we know that He has given us of His Spirit? Ask your inward self. If you are filled with love, then the Holy Spirit is in you. But why do we know that from this we may recognize that the Holy Spirit dwells in us? Ask the apostle Paul: “The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom 5:5).
We come to know of the existence of many things invisible to us through their actions. It does not matter that no one has seen the soul. From the actions and movements it produces, a man knows that it is within us. In this way we also know God's love for us through a certain movement and action.
We know that through love for our neighbors we enter into close communion, or union, with God, abide in Him, and He in us, from those gifts of the Spirit of God which He gives us. We spoke earlier of these gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Jn 3:19-24).
The most excellent of these gifts of the Spirit of God is love. Therefore it also serves as clear proof that a man has been regenerated by God, adopted by God, and brought into sincere communion and union with Him.
Conversely, where this love for neighbors is absent, love for God is also absent. Such a man has no communion with God, since he is alien to love. “If someone says, ‘I love God,’” says the Theologian, “and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he sees, how can he love God Whom he does not see?” (1 Jn 4:20). Therefore, he who truly loves his neighbor abides in God, and God abides in him (1 Jn 4:16).
And so that we might have testimony within ourselves that God abides in us and we in God, He has made us partakers of His Spirit. Through Him we have known the words of God's life. We have seen the incarnate Word who came down to us. We work signs and wonders, and we proclaim to the whole world that God sent His Son to save the world by Himself. And we believe that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“He has given us of His Spirit.” The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles had, besides enlightenment and consolation, another purpose: to bear witness concerning Jesus Christ Himself as the true Son of God (Jn 15:26). “And we have seen,” the apostle adds (1 Jn 4:14), “and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.”
That we abide in Him and He in us, and so forth. This is an intensification and repetition of the statement, so that it may be impressed more strongly on the memory. It also gives some explanation. On the mutual abiding of God in the believer and of the believer in God, see 1 Jn 3:24 and parallels.
From where do the children of God draw assurance of their knowledge of God and union with Him? “By this,” says the Apostle, “we know, because He has given us of His Spirit” (1 Jn 4:13).
The manifestation of this is, on the one hand, our firm confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. On the other hand, it is love, which casts out every fear of punishment and instead inspires confidence that we shall one day appear justified at God’s judgment.
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God... Love is perfected with us in this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment... There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 Jn 4:14-18).
John speaks of God’s incomprehensibility in order to show that love for one’s neighbor is one means of communion with God, and at the same time of knowing Him.
According to John’s teaching, the knowledge of God and love for Him are one and the same. So too, communion with God and love for neighbors are one and the same, because the fullness and perfection of love for neighbors are impossible apart from the fundamental Source of love, God (cf. Jn 13:33-35).
Another proof of abiding in God must be the previously mentioned anointing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are communicated to all, and were sent down with special abundance upon the apostles, to whom John next turns.
As for the apostle’s words that no one has ever seen God, this must be understood of the essence of God. All visions of God were in forms, while in His essence “it is impossible for man to see God,” as the Church hymn sings.
Our assurance that God is in closest communion with us through love for our neighbors is not fantasy or self-deception, but reality. This is evident from the fruits of this communion. Such fruits are the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of His grace, which enlightens, sanctifies, purifies, prophesies, and works wonders. The last two gifts of grace belong to the extraordinary gifts in which the Church abounded in apostolic times.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS