7 pairs
1 John 4:1 warns believers to test the spirits to see whether they are from God, similar to Jesus' warning in Matthew 7:15-20 about false prophets and recognizing them by their fruits.
Thematic focusDiscernment, False Prophets.
1 John 4:4 emphasizes that believers have overcome the world because the One in them is greater than the one in the world, echoing Jesus' assurance in John 16:33 that He has overcome the world.
Thematic focusVictory in Christ, Overcoming the World.
1 John 4:7-8 calls believers to love one another, as love is from God, paralleling Jesus' new commandment in John 13:34-35 to love one another as He has loved us.
Thematic focusLove, Commandment of Love.
1 John 4:9-10 describes God's love manifested in sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice, which aligns with Romans 5:8 where God's love is demonstrated by Christ dying for us while we were still sinners.
Thematic focusAtonement, God's Love.
1 John 4:12 states that no one has seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us, which complements John 1:18 where it is said that no one has seen God, but the Son has made Him known.
Thematic focusGod's Presence, Love Manifested.
1 John 4:18 speaks of perfect love casting out fear, which is related to Romans 8:15 where believers are not given a spirit of fear but of adoption as children of God.
Thematic focusFearlessness, Perfect Love.
1 John 4:19 states that we love because He first loved us, which is echoed in John 15:16 where Jesus says He chose us, emphasizing the initiative of God's love.
Thematic focusInitiative of God's Love, Chosen by God.