1 John 2:10

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

He that loveth {G25} his {G846} brother {G80} abideth {G3306} in {G1722} the light {G5457}, and {G2532} there is {G2076} none {G3756} occasion of stumbling {G4625} in {G1722} him {G846}.

The person who keeps loving his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him that could make him trip.

Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.

Commentary on 1 John 2:10 (KJV)

1 John 2:10 (KJV): "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."

Context and Meaning

This verse continues John's theme contrasting walking in "light" (truth, righteousness, fellowship with God) and walking in "darkness" (sin, falsehood, separation from God). John is writing to believers, likely facing false teachings that denied the humanity of Christ and downplayed the importance of moral conduct and love for fellow believers. Here, John links love for one's Christian "brother" (fellow believer) directly to abiding in the light.

Key Themes

  • Love as Evidence: Genuine love for fellow believers is presented as a primary indicator that a person is truly in God's light and knows Him (1 John 3:14, 1 John 4:7-8). It's not just an emotion but an action reflecting God's nature.
  • Abiding in the Light: To "abide" (Greek: meno) means to remain, dwell, or continue in a state. Loving others shows a stable, ongoing connection with God's truth and presence.
  • Absence of Stumbling: The phrase "none occasion of stumbling in him" (Greek: skandalon, meaning a trap, offense, or cause for falling) suggests that someone who genuinely loves their brother is less likely to fall into sin themselves, particularly sins related to how they treat others (hatred, deceit, selfishness). Their internal state of love removes the motive or opportunity for such spiritual failure and also avoids being a cause of stumbling for others.

Linguistic Insight

The word for "loveth" is agapao (ἀγαπᾷ), referring to a self-sacrificial, benevolent love, the kind of love God has for humanity and which believers are called to show one another. This is in contrast to purely emotional love.

Practical Application

This verse challenges believers to examine their relationships within the Christian community. Is love for fellow believers a tangible reality in their lives? If so, it serves as confirmation of their walk with God. Cultivating this love helps protect against sin and fosters a healthy, supportive environment where believers are less likely to cause or experience spiritual stumbling blocks.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 John 3:14

    ¶ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.

  • Romans 9:32

    Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

  • Romans 9:33

    As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

  • Romans 14:13

    Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

  • Hosea 6:3

    Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.

  • John 8:31

    ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;

  • Matthew 13:21

    Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

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