1 John 4 · Verse 14

1 John 4:14

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:14, King James Version

1 John 4:14 in other translations

BSBAnd we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
WEBWe have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.
ASVAnd we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
YLTAnd we--we have seen and do testify, that the Father hath sent the Son--Saviour of the world;
DARBYAnd we have seen, and testify, that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.
BBEAnd we have seen and give witness that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
WebsterAnd we have seen and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

What does 1 John 4:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. And we--primarily, we apostles, Christ's appointed eye-witnesses to testify to the facts concerning Him. The internal evidence of the indwelling Spirit (1Jo 4:13) is corroborated by the external evidence of the eye-witnesses to the fact of the Father having "sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world." seen--Greek, "contemplated," "attentively beheld" (see on 1Jo 1:1). sent--Greek, "hath sent": not an entirely past fact (aorist), but one of which the effects continue (perfect tense).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. And we have seen. 1Jn 1:1.

And do testify. 1Jn 1:3. That is, we who are apostles bear witness to you of this great truth, that God has sent his Son to be a Saviour. Comp. Jn 20:31. The reason why this is referred to here is not quite apparent, but the train of thought in this passage would seem to be this: The writer is discoursing of the love of God, and of its manifestation in the gift of the Saviour, and of the proper influence which it should have on us. Struck with the greatness and importance of the subject, his mind adverts to the evidence on which what he was saying rested--the evidence that the Father had really thus manifested his love. That evidence he repeats, that he had actually seen him who had been sent, and had the clearest demonstration that what he deemed so important had really occurred.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 And we have seen - Jesus Christ manifested in the flesh; see 1Jn 1:1, etc.; and do testify - bear witness, in consequence of having the fullest conviction, that the Father sent the son to be the Savior of the world. We have had the fullest proof of this from his doctrine and miracles, which we heard and saw during the whole time that he sojourned among men.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 4:14-21
The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a day of universal judgment. Happy those who shall have holy boldness before the Judge at that day; knowing he is their Friend and Advocate! Happy those who have holy boldness in the prospect of that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's appearance! True love to God assures believers of God's love to them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, 2Ti 2:12. We must distinguish between the fear of God and being afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly. It is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts, fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth stand amazed at his love. He sent his word to invite sinners to partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory. The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion. This must be tried by its effects on their temper, and their conduct to their brethren. If a man professes to love God, and yet indulges anger or revenge, or shows a selfish disposition, he gives his profession the lie. But if it is plain that our natural enmity is changed into affection and gratitude, let us bless the name of our God for this seal and earnest of eternal happiness. Then we differ from the false professors, who pretend to love God, whom they have not seen, yet hate their brethren, whom they have seen.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 John 4:14 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165
τεθεάμεθαtetheamethahave seenG2300
καὶkaiandG2532
μαρτυροῦμενmarturoumentestifyG3140
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ὁhotheG3588
πατὴρpatērFatherG3962
ἀπέσταλκενapestalkenhas sentG649
τὸνtontheG3588
υἱὸνhuionSon [as]G5207
σωτῆραsōtēraSaviorG4990
τοῦtouof theG3588
κόσμου.kosmouworld.G2889

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 John 4:14

  • 1 John 4:10

    Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

  • John 3:16-17

    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

  • John 4:42

    And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

  • John 1:14

    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

  • John 1:29

    The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

  • 1 John 2:1-2

    My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

  • John 15:26-27

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

  • 1 John 5:9

    If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

  • 1 Peter 5:12

    By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

  • John 3:34

    For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

  • John 12:47

    And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

  • 1 John 1:1-3

    That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
we have.
1:1-3; 5:9; Joh 1:14; 3:11,32; 5:39; 15:26,27; Ac 18:5; 1Pe 5:12
the Father.
10; Joh 3:34; 5:36,37; 10:36
the Saviour.
2:1,2; Joh 1:29; 3:16,17; 4:42; 12:47

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 John 4:13

    Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

  • 1 John 4:14

    And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

  • 1 John 4:15

    Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

Read all of 1 John 4

1 John 4:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y nosotros hemos visto y testificamos que el Padre ha enviado al Hijo para ser Salvador del mundo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et nous, nous avons vu et nous témoignons que le Père a envoyé le Fils pour être le Sauveur du monde.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und wir haben gesehen und bezeugen, daß der Vater den Sohn gesandt hat als Heiland der Welt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et nos vidimus, et testificamur quoniam Pater misit Filium suum Salvatorem mundi.