How does 1 John define love (what is love)?

It says love is shown by Jesus laying down his life for others. It then applies this to practical help rather than words only. See 1 John 3:16–18.

Passage context

In 1 John 3:16–18 the writer defines what love looks like by pointing to a concrete example: “he” laid down his life for “us.” That example sets a moral obligation for the community to act similarly toward “the brothers.” The argument then moves from the extreme case (life laid down) to an everyday test: if someone has resources and sees a fellow believer in. These verses sit inside a longer section where the writer contrasts two ways of life: one marked by harm and one marked by care for fellow believers.

Why it matters

These verses define love by pointing to a costly, concrete act: “he laid down his life for us” (verse 16). The text treats that act as the clearest way “we know love.” From that example, the writer draws a moral conclusion: “we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (verse 16).

Read carefully

A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.

Keep reading

Start with 1 John 3:16-18, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.