ἡμεῖς, here “you and I,” we believers. Observe the three stages: (1) “get to know” (γινώσκειν), (2) “believe” (πιστεύειν), (3) “confess” (ὁμολογεῖν). ἐν ἡμῖν, see note on 1 John 4:9.

Another incentive to love: it casts out fear. τῇ ἀγάπῃ, “the love just mentioned”. Cf. τὸν φόβον, ὁ φόβος (1 John 4:18).

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Old Testament