The author of the book of 1 John makes a powerful statement when he writes that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). This short phrase encapsulates one of the central messages of the Bible, and has profound implications for how we understand and relate to God. So, what is the author's purpose for writing that God is love? One possible explanation is that he is trying to convey the idea that God's essence is love. In other words, love is not just one of God's attributes, but is at the very…