Augustine of Hippo, on 1John 4:10

“In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.”

“"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us:" we did not love Him first: for to this end loved He us, that we may love Him: "And sent His Son to be the Atoner for our sins:" "litatorem," i.e. one that sacrifices. He sacrificed for our sins. Where did He find the sacrifice? Where did He find the victim which he would offer pure? Other He found none; His own self He offered.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.