And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. John defines love not as emotion or sentiment but as obedience: "this is love, that we walk after his commandments" (Greek autē estin hē agapē hina peripatōmen kata tas entolas autou, αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη ἵνα περιπατῶμεν κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ). The verb "walk" (peripatōmen) again denotes continuous lifestyle, not isolated acts. The preposition "after" (Greek kata, κατά) indicates conformity—shaping our conduct according to divine commands.
Love for God manifests through obedience to His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, 1 John 5:3). Similarly, love for others finds expression not primarily in feelings but in actions that conform to God's revealed will. This corrects both ancient and modern distortions that separate love from truth or obedience. John insists authentic love operates within boundaries established by God's commands—it is not autonomous, subjective, or self-defined.
"This is the commandment" (singular) refers to the encompassing command to love, which John then clarifies: "as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." The pronoun "it" (Greek en autē, ἐν αὐτῇ, literally "in it") likely refers to love—believers should walk in love. However, love itself means walking according to God's commandments. This creates a beautiful circularity: love is defined as obedience, and obedience is motivated by love. The commandments give love its content and shape; love provides the motive and heart for keeping commandments. Neither exists authentically without the other.
Historical Context
Antinomian tendencies appeared early in church history—some claimed that grace freed believers from moral obligation or that spiritual maturity transcended ethical commands. Conversely, legalistic groups reduced Christianity to external rule-keeping divorced from heart transformation. Both errors persisted into the first-century church's experience.
Gnostic teachers particularly promoted ethical relativism. They claimed that since matter was evil and only spirit mattered, physical actions had no moral significance. This led some to libertinism (license to sin since the body was irrelevant) and others to asceticism (severe bodily denial to escape material existence). Both rejected the biblical integration of spiritual truth with ethical obedience.
John's insistence that love necessarily involves obedience to divine commands preserved Christianity's moral substance. Against antinomians, he affirms that grace establishes rather than abolishes God's moral requirements. Against legalists, he grounds obedience in love—commands are not burdensome when fulfilled from hearts transformed by grace (1 John 5:3). Against Gnostics, he asserts that spiritual reality manifests in ethical practice—one cannot claim to love God or others while disregarding divine commandments. This teaching became foundational for Christian ethics: authentic faith produces obedience motivated by love.
Questions for Reflection
How does modern culture's definition of love differ from John's definition, and what are the practical consequences?
In what situations might we face tension between loving someone and holding to God's commands, and how should we respond?
How does understanding that God's commands are an expression of His love change our attitude toward obedience?
Analysis & Commentary
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. John defines love not as emotion or sentiment but as obedience: "this is love, that we walk after his commandments" (Greek autē estin hē agapē hina peripatōmen kata tas entolas autou, αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη ἵνα περιπατῶμεν κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ). The verb "walk" (peripatōmen) again denotes continuous lifestyle, not isolated acts. The preposition "after" (Greek kata, κατά) indicates conformity—shaping our conduct according to divine commands.
Love for God manifests through obedience to His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, 1 John 5:3). Similarly, love for others finds expression not primarily in feelings but in actions that conform to God's revealed will. This corrects both ancient and modern distortions that separate love from truth or obedience. John insists authentic love operates within boundaries established by God's commands—it is not autonomous, subjective, or self-defined.
"This is the commandment" (singular) refers to the encompassing command to love, which John then clarifies: "as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." The pronoun "it" (Greek en autē, ἐν αὐτῇ, literally "in it") likely refers to love—believers should walk in love. However, love itself means walking according to God's commandments. This creates a beautiful circularity: love is defined as obedience, and obedience is motivated by love. The commandments give love its content and shape; love provides the motive and heart for keeping commandments. Neither exists authentically without the other.