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1 John 4:9
ESV In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
NIV This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
NASB By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him.
CSB God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
NLT God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.
KJV In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
NKJV In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

What does 1 John 4:9 mean?

John condenses quite a bit of information into this verse. God revealed His love through Jesus, who John describes with some very specific details.

First, God's love is not hidden; it was revealed. Jesus' life and sacrifice are the ultimate proof that God truly loves His people.

Second, God sent Jesus. This uses words similar to what John wrote in his Gospel (John 3:16). Jesus didn't merely appear to us, or visit us. He was "sent" with a purpose and for a reason.

Third, Jesus is the only Son of God. This uses the Greek word monogenē, which means "one and only." It also speaks to Jesus' divine nature. The term means something of the "exact same nature," meaning Jesus is not a creation of God, but shares an identical divine nature.

Fourth, Jesus came to our world. This implies more than the fact that He was born as a man. This also includes the idea that He existed before He came to earth. Jesus was not created. Jesus was in the beginning with God and is God (John 1:1).

John also shares the reason Jesus was sent: "so that we might live through him." Jesus came to give us life. This includes eternal life (John 3:16) and an abundant, "abiding" life now. In John 10:10 Jesus taught, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." A person experiences life at its fullest only by believing in Jesus and living for Him.
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