1 John 4:20

4:20 If anyone says 1  “I love God” and yet 2  hates his fellow Christian, 3  he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian 4  whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 5 

1 tn Grk “if anyone should say…”

2 tn “Yet” is supplied to bring out the contrast.

3 tn See note on the phrase “fellow Christian” in 2:9.

4 tn See note on the phrase “fellow Christian” in 2:9.

5 sn In 4:20 the author again describes the opponents, who claim to love God. Their failure to show love for their fellow Christians proves their claim to know God to be false: The one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.