20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother or sister,(A) he is a liar.(B) For the person who does not love his brother or sister(C) whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.[a] 21 And we have this command from him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,(D) and everyone who loves the Father[b] also loves the one born of him.

Footnotes

  1. 4:20 Other mss read has seen, how is he able to love ... seen? (as a question)
  2. 5:1 Or loves the one who has given birth

20 Those who say, “I love God” and hate their brothers or sisters are liars. After all, those who don’t love their brothers or sisters whom they have seen can hardly love God whom they have not seen! 21 This commandment we have from him: Those who claim to love God ought to love their brother and sister also.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God. Whoever loves someone who is a parent loves the child born to the parent.