Theophylact of Ohrid, on 1John 4:11

“My dearest, if God hath so loved us; we also ought to love one another.”

“But if, he says, God so loved us, although we are by no means of the same nature as He, then much more ought we to love, to love those akin to us, and, having learned the surpassing quality of love, to show it to others. For just as one who does not choose what is worthy of choosing is blameworthy, so praise belongs to those who love those worthy of love, because they are beloved. And we, having disposed ourselves in this way, possess both: we are loved, because God loves us and has received us to Himself as children; and we are beloved, because we love our neighbors.”

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