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 shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. In this 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. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, 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

• Inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• thisτούτῳtoutō · to thisG5129
• ourμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• ourἡμῶνhēmōn · of usG2257
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• perfectτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• boldnessπαρρησίαparrhēsia · boldnessG3954
• dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• judgmentκρίσιςkrisis · judgmentG2920
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• heἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• isἐστίesti · he isG2076
• soκαίkai · andG2532
• areἐσμένesmen · we areG2070
• weἡμεῖςhēmeis · weG2249
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889

Cross-references for 1 John 4:17

• 1 John 4:12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
• 1 John 2:5But whoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: by this we know that we are in him.
• James 2:22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
• 1 John 2:28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
• 1 John 3:19And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
• James 2:13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
• Matthew 10:15Verily I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
• Matthew 11:22But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
• Matthew 12:36But I say to you, That for every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account for it in the day of judgment.
• 2 Peter 2:9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished:
• 2 Peter 3:7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire for the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
• 1 John 3:3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
• Matthew 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he should be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
• John 15:20Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
• Romans 8:29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
• Hebrews 12:2Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set 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