Devine Scripture

1 John 4:18

What does 1 John 4:18 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 4:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 4:18 means

Fear and love are incompatible at the deepest level. Perfected love expels fear, particularly fear of punishment, because love assures us we are reconciled to God. Ongoing dread reveals that love has not yet done its full work in the heart. This does not deny reverence; it addresses the fear that expects judgment. As believers grasp God’s initiating, atoning love and live it out, anxiety diminishes. Security in God’s fatherly favor frees us to love others without self-protection. The gospel replaces servile fear with filial confidence, producing a community marked by peace, honesty, and courageous service.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

There 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

There 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

There is no fear in love: true love has no room for fear, because where fear is, there is pain; and he who is not free from fear is not complete in love.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

fear is not in the love, but the perfect love doth cast out the fear, because the fear hath punishment, and he who is fearing hath not been made perfect in the love;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath sin. And he that feareth is not perfected in charity.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has torment, and he that fears has not been made perfect in love.

Context

Building on verse 17’s promise of boldness, verse 18 explains why: mature love drives out fear tied to punishment. This keeps the focus on God’s prior love and its sanctifying effect. The next verse (v. 19) returns to the source—God’s initiating love—ensuring that confidence is grounded not in our performance but in God’s grace, which then shapes our love toward others.

v.17Herein 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.

v.18This passage

v.19We love, because he first loved us.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Job 15:21

    A sound of terrors is in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

  • Luke 1:74

    To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

  • Hebrews 12:28

    Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:

  • Psalms 88:15

    I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

  • Psalms 119:120

    My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. ע AYIN.

  • Psalms 73:19

    How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.

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