1 John 4:17

1 John 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
• New International Version (NIV)This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
• English Standard Version (ESV)By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

Context of 1 John 4:17

15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. 16We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, we also are in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19We love, because He first loved us.

1 John 4:17 word by word

ἐν τούτῳ τετελείωται ἡ ἀγάπη μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν, ἵνα παρρησίαν ἔχωμεν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως, ὅτι καθὼς ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ.Read the interlinear

• By thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• is perfectedτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
• with us, soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• we may haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• confidenceπαρρησίαparrhēsia · boldnessG3954
• the dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• of judgmentκρίσιςkrisis · judgmentG2920
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• as He is, we alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889

Cross-references for 1 John 4:17

• 1 John 4:12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
• 1 John 2:5but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
• James 2:22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
• 1 John 2:28Now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not draw back from Him in shame at His coming.
• 1 John 3:19We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will set our heart at ease before Him,
• James 2:13For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
• Matthew 10:15Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.
• Matthew 11:22Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
• Matthew 12:36But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment.
• 2 Peter 2:9then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
• 2 Peter 3:7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
• 1 John 3:3And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
• Matthew 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!
• John 15:20Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they followed My word, they will follow yours also.
• Romans 8:29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters;
• Hebrews 12:2looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Commentaries on 1 John 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Herein is our love made perfect - By God dwelling in us, and we in him; having cast out all the carnal mind that was enmity against himself, and filled the whole heart with the spirit of love and purity. Thus the love is made perfect; when it thus fills the heart it has all its degrees; it is all in all; and all in every power, passion, and faculty of the soul. May have boldness in the day of judgment - ̔· Freedom of speech, and liberty of access; seeing…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Herein is our love made perfect - Margin, “love with us.” The margin accords with the Greek - ̓ ̔͂ meth'hēmōnThe meaning is, “the love that is within us, or in us, is made perfect.” The expression is unusual; but the general idea is, that love is rendered complete or entire in the manner in which the apostle specifies. In this way love becomes what it should be, and will prepare us to appear with confidence before the judgment-seat. Compare the notes at…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a day of universal judgment…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17love has been perfected: The Greek word translated as has been perfected means mature and complete. It does not mean without flaw. This confidence motivates us to mature in our relationship with God, and God's love completes our love. Experiencing and expressing God's love and doing what it requires does not make us acceptable to God. But it guarantees us that we have been accepted, and our fears of the final judgment disappear.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-1817-18. (Compare 1Jo 3:19-21.) our love--rather as the Greek, "LOVE (in the abstract, the principle of love [Alford]) is made perfect (in its relations) with us." Love dwelling in us advances to its consummation "with us" that is, as it is concerned with us: so Greek. Lu 1:58, "showed mercy upon (literally, 'with') her": 2Jo 2, the truth "shall be with us for ever." boldness--"confidence": the same Greek as 1Jo 3:21, to which this passage is parallel. The…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 4:17

• Boldness
• Fear of God
• God
• Judgment
• Love
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Day of Judgment
• Benevolence
• Fear
• Love
• Perfect
• Boldness
• Herein
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of
• judge, judgment

Commentaries on 1 John 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings