You asked

if 'god is love,' what implications does this have for how we understand and engage with those who don't believe in god?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

1 John 4:8

“He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.”

This verse comes from a letter attributed to John, written to early Christian communities in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) towards the end of the first century. It emphasizes the foundational nature of love within the Christian understanding of God and its practical implications for believers' lives.

If God's nature is love, what ways might this shape how we see and interact with every person, regardless of their beliefs?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Luke 10:27
This passage summarizes the law as loving God and loving one's neighbor, extending love to all.
Romans 2:4
It speaks of God's kindness leading people to repentance, suggesting love as a path to understanding.
Matthew 5:44-45
Jesus encourages loving enemies and praying for persecutors, mirroring God's impartial care for all.

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