ἀγαπῶμεν has no accus. The thought is that the amazing love of God in Christ is the inspiration of all the love that stirs in our hearts. It awakens within us an answering love a grateful love for Him manifesting itself in love for our brethren (cf. 1 John 4:11). The insertion of αὐτόν is a clumsy and unnecessary gloss. Neither should οὖν be inserted and ἀγαπῶμεν taken as hortat. subjunctive. Vulg.: “Nos ergo diligamus Deum, quoniam Deus prior dilexit nos”.

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Old Testament