1 John 4:9

The Incarnation is a manifestation of the love of God because it is a manifestation of the divine nature, and the divine nature is love. ἐν ἡμῖν, “in our souls” an inward experience. Cf. Galatians 1:16 : ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοί. μονογενῆ, cf. Luke 7:12; Luke 8:42; Luke 9:38. St. John applies the term exclusively to Jesus. It carries the idea of preciousness; cf. LXX Psalms 22:20; Psalms 35:17, where יְחִידָתִי, “my dear life,” is rendered τὴν μονογενῆ μου. ἀπέσταλκεν. “hath sent as an ἀπόστολος ” (cf. Hebrews 3:1). An apostle is not simply nuntius, but nuntius vices mittentis gerens. Cf. Bab. Ber. 34, 2: “Apostolus cujusvis est sicut ipse a quo deputatur”. The perf. is used here because the influence of the Incarnation is permanent. ζήσωμεν, ingressive or inceptive aor. Cf. Luke 15:24; Luke 15:32; Revelation 20:4-5. ἵνα ζήσωμεν reconciles ἐφανερώθη ἡ ἀγάπη with ἡ ζωὴ ἐφανερώθη (1 John 1:2). The Incarnation manifested the love of God, and the love was manifested that we might get life. Eternal Life is not future but present: we get it here and now. Cf. John 17:3. Amiel: “The eternal life is not the future life; it is life in harmony with the true order of things life in God”.