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

15If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. 16And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him. By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. 19We love because he loved us first.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Hereinἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• isτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
• ourμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• ·ἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• loveὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• we may haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• boldnessπαρρησίαparrhēsia · boldnessG3954
• the dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• of judgmentκρίσιςkrisis · judgmentG2920
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• heἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• soκαίkai · andG2532
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889

Cross-references for 1 John 4:17

• 1 John 4:12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
• 1 John 2:5But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.
• James 2:22You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.
• 1 John 2:28And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.
• 1 John 3:19And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence,
• James 2:13For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.
• Matthew 10:15I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!
• Matthew 11:22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you!
• Matthew 12:36I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak.
• 2 Peter 2:9– if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment,
• 2 Peter 3:7But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
• 1 John 3:3And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).
• Matthew 10:25It is enough for the disciple to 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 defame the members of his household!
• John 15:20Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too.
• Romans 8:29because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
• Hebrews 12:2keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat 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