John 15:9
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love.
American King James Version (AKJV)
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Even as the Father has given me his love, so I have given my love to you: be ever in my love.
Webster's Revision
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
World English Bible
Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love.
Barnes's John 15:9 Bible Commentary
As the Father hath loved me - The love of the Father toward his only-begotten Son is the highest affection of which we can conceive. Compare Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5. It is the love of God toward his coequal Son. who is like him in all things, who always pleased him, and who was willing to endure the greatest sacrifices and toils to accomplish his purpose of mercy. Yet this love is adduced to illustrate the tender affection which the Lord Jesus has for all his friends.
So have I loved you - Not to the same degree, for this was impossible, but with the same kind of love - deep, tender. unchanging; love prompting to self-denials, toils, and sacrifices to secure their welfare.
Continue ye - The reason which he gives for their doing this is the strength of the love which he had shown for them. His love was so great for them that he was about to lay down his life. This constitutes a strong reason why we should continue in his love:
1. Because the love which he shows for us is unchanging.
2. It is the love of our best friend - love whose strength was expressed by toils, and groans, and blood.
3. As he is unchanging in the character and strength of his affection, so should we be. Thus only can we properly express our gratitude; thus only show that we are his true friends.
4. Our happiness here and forever depends altogether on our continuing in the love of Christ. We have no source of permanent joy but in that love.
In my love - In love to me. Thus it is expressed in the Greek in the next verse. The connection also demands that we understand it of our love to him, and not of his love to us. The latter cannot be the subject of a command; the former may. See also Luke 11:42; 1 John 2:5; Jde 1:21.
Wesley's John 15:9 Bible Commentary
15:9 Abide ye in my love - Keep your place in my affection. See that ye do not forfeit that invaluable blessing. How needless a caution, if it were impossible for them not to abide therein?