Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Ver. 10. Not that we loved, &c.] Deus prior nos amavit, tantus, tantum, et gratis, tantillos et tales. God, though so great, loved us first and freely, though such and so worthless. "He loved us, because he loved us," saith Moses, Deuteronomy 7:7,8, the ground of his love being wholly in himself. He works for his own name's sake, Ezekiel 20:9; Ezekiel 20:14; Ezekiel 20:22; Ezekiel 20:44, four different times, notwithstanding his word and oath, Ezekiel 20:13; Ezekiel 20:15; Ezekiel 20:23 .