1 John 4:17
What does 1 John 4:17 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 4:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 4:17 means
Love reaches its goal among believers so that they may have boldness in the day of judgment. When God’s love matures in us, fear of condemnation gives way to confidence, because our lives mirror—however imperfectly—the character of Christ. “As he is, even so are we in this world” points to a real conformity to Jesus’ ways here and now, flowing from union with Him. This likeness is evidence of belonging. Boldness is not presumption but fruit of perfected love, which rests in Christ’s work and displays His life. The coming judgment is faced with peace, because love has displaced anxiety rooted in guilt.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Herein 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949In this way love is made complete in us, so that we may be without fear on the day of judging, because as he is, so are we in this world.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862In this made perfect hath been the love with us, that boldness we may have in the day of the judgment, because even as He is, we--we also are in this world;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Herein has love been perfected with us that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, that even as he is, we also are in this world.
Context
Verse 17 describes the practical effect of abiding love: confidence before God’s judgment. It follows the insistence that God is love and that believers abide in love (v. 16), and it sets up verse 18’s contrast between love and fear. The flow shows that assurance is not bare doctrine but a transformed life that reflects Christ, bringing courage rather than dread.
v.16And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.
v.17This passage
v.18There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 3:3
And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
- James 2:22
Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;
- 1 John 2:5
but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:
- Matthew 10:15
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
- Matthew 10:25
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!
- John 15:20
Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
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