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Read the Bible

1 John 4:18

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Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Assurance;   Fear of God;   God;   Love;   Righteousness;   The Topic Concordance - Fear;   Love;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Assurance;   Love to God;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Fear;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Holy, Holiness;   Second Death;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - John, the Epistles of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Fear;   John, the Letters of;   Judgment Day;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Brotherly Love;   Fear;   John, Epistles of;   Love, Lover, Lovely, Beloved;   Sanctification, Sanctify;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Benedictus;   Boldness;   Character of Christ;   Example;   Fear;   John Epistles of;   Mark, Gospel According to;   Punishment;   Regeneration;   Sanctify, Sanctification;   Torment;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - John the Baptist;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fear;   John, the Epistles of;   Painfulness;   Sanctification;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for March 30;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 16;   Every Day Light - Devotion for November 28;  

Contextual Overview

17 Here is how love has been brought to maturity with us: as the Messiah is, so are we in the world. This gives us confidence for the Day of Judgment. 17 Herein 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. 17 In this love has been 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. 17 This is how love has been perfected among us: we will have confidence on the day of judgment because, while we are in this world, we are just like him.James 2:13; 1 John 2:28;">[xr] 17 And in this is his love perfected with us, that openness of face we might have in the day of judgment; because that as He was, so also we are in this world. 17 And hereby is his love perfected with us; that we may have open countenances in the day of judgment; because as he was, so also are we in this world. 17 Herein 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. 17 In 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. 17 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. 17 Herein is that loue perfect in vs, that we should haue boldnes in the day of iudgement: for as he is, euen so are we in this world.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

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.
is no Luke 1:74,75; Romans 8:15; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 12:28
fear hath
Job 15:21; Psalms 73:19; 88:15,16; 119:120; James 2:19
He that
12
Reciprocal: Exodus 14:10 - sore afraid;  Luke 19:21 - I feared;  Galatians 5:6 - faith;  James 1:4 - perfect and;  James 2:13 - and;  James 2:22 - faith made;  1 John 2:5 - in him

Cross-References

Genesis 5:21
And Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methushelah.
Genesis 5:21
After Enoch was 65 years old, he had a son named Methuselah.
Genesis 5:21
Hanokh lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Metushelach.
Genesis 5:21
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begot Methuselah.
Genesis 5:21
And Enoch was sixty-five years old when he became the father of Methuselah:
Genesis 5:21
Henoch lyued sixtie and fiue yeres, & begate Methuselah.
Genesis 5:21
Also Henoch liued sixtie & fiue yeeres, and begate Methushelah.
Genesis 5:21
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begot Methuselah;
Genesis 5:21
When Enoch was 65, he had a son, Methuselah.
Genesis 5:21
And Enoch lived an hundred and sixty and five years, and begat Mathusala.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

There is no fear in love,.... In the love of the brethren; where that is, there is no fear: so far as that prevails and gains ground, fear removes; not the filial fear of God, the new covenant grace of fear, which is the beginning of wisdom, and is consistent with faith, hope, love, and spiritual joy; but either the fear of men, which brings a snare: those that truly love Christ, his Gospel, and his people, they are not afraid of men; the spirit of power, love, and of a sound mind, is opposite to a spirit of fear, nor can they stand together; and such strength there is sometimes in brotherly love, that the saints are not afraid of death itself, but freely lay down their lives for one another; see 1 John 3:16; or it may be rather, that they are not afraid of the day of judgment, and of hell and damnation; where hatred of the brethren has place, there is a fear and dread of these things, as were in Cain; but those that love the brethren, they know they are passed from death to life, and shall not enter into condemnation, and therefore are in no fear of any of these things:

but perfect love casteth out fear; when love to the brethren appears to be perfect, that is, genuine and sincere, and a man knows that from the bottom of his heart he sincerely loves the saints, he concludes from hence, as he may, the truth of his faith, which works in this way; and this frees him from the fears of men and devils, and of the future judgment and wrath to come. The Jews have a saying,

"worthy is his portion that rules over the place of fear, for lo, there is nothing that rules over the degree of "fear" but "love".'

Because fear hath torment: it distresses a man, fills him with anguish, and makes him restless and uneasy, and keeps him in servitude; through the fear of men, of the devil, death, judgment, and hell, he is all his lifetime, or as long as this fear lasts, subject to bondage: or "fear has punishment", as it may be rendered, and is by the Vulgate Latin version; it is a punishment itself to a man; and its being criminal deserves punishment, and is punishable; see Revelation 21:8;

he that feareth is not made perfect in love; or "by love"; that is, he that is possessed, and under the power of a servile fear of punishment, is one who is not, by the love to the brethren, made to appear to himself to be a sincere lover of God, and true believer in Christ; for was he, he would not be in fear of destruction and death, since whoever truly loves God, and believes in Christ, shall certainly be saved; though such persons, at times, may not be without their doubts and fears.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

There is no fear in love - Love is not an affection which produces fear. In the love which we have for a parent, a child, a friend, there is no fear. If a man had perfect love to God, he would have no fear of anything - for what would he have to dread? He would have no fear of death, for he would have nothing to dread beyond the grave. It is guilt that makes people fear what is to come; but he whose sins are pardoned, and whose heart is filled with the love of God, has nothing to dread in this world or the world to come. The angels in heaven, who have always loved God and one another, have no fear, for they have nothing to dread in the future; the redeemed in heaven, rescued from all danger, and filled with the love of God, have nothing to dread; and as far as that same loves operates on earth, it delivers the soul now from all apprehension of what is to come.

But perfect love casteth out fear - That is, love that is complete, or that is allowed to exert its proper influence on the soul. As far as it exists, its tendency is to deliver the mind from alarms. If it should exist in any soul in an absolutely perfect state, that soul would be entirely free from all dread in regard to the future.

Because fear hath torment - It is a painful and distressing emotion. Thus men suffer from the fear of poverty, of losses, of bereavement, of sickness, of death, and of future woe. From all these distressing apprehensions, that love of God which furnishes an evidence of true piety delivers us.

He that feareth, is not made perfect in love - He about whose mind there lingers the apprehension of future wrath, shows that love in his soul has not accomplished its full work. Perhaps it never will on any soul until we reach the heavenly world, though there are many minds so full of love to God, as to be prevailingly delivered from fear.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

There is no fear in love - The man who feels that he loves God with all his heart can never dread him as his Judge. As he is now made a partaker of his Spirit, and carries a sense of the Divine approbation in his conscience, he has nothing of that fear that produces terror or brings torment. The perfect love - that fullness of love, which he has received, casteth out fear - removes all terror relative to this day of judgment, for it is of this that the apostle particularly speaks. And as it is inconsistent with the gracious design of God to have his followers miserable, and as he cannot be unhappy whose heart is full of the love of his God, this love must necessarily exclude this fear or terror; because that brings torment, and hence is inconsistent with that happiness which a man must have who continually enjoys the approbation of his God.

He that feareth - He who is still uncertain concerning his interest in Christ; who, although he has many heavenly drawings, and often sits with Christ some moments on a throne of love, yet feels from the evils of his heart a dread of the day of judgment; is not made perfect in love - has not yet received the abiding witness of the Spirit that he is begotten of God; nor that fullness of love to God and man which excludes the enmity of the carnal mind, and which it is his privilege to receive. But is the case of such a man desperate? No: it is neither desperate nor deplorable; he is in the way of salvation, and not far from the kingdom of heaven. Let such earnestly seek, and fervently believe on the Son of God; and he will soon give them another baptism of his Spirit, will purge out all the old leaven, and fill their whole souls with that love which is the fulfilling of the law. He who is not yet perfect in love may speedily become so, because God can say in a moment, I will, be thou clean; and immediately his leprosy will depart. Among men we find some that have neither love nor fear; others that have fear without love; others that have love and fear; and others that have love without fear.

  1. Profligates, and worldly men in general, have neither the fear nor love of God.
  • Deeply awakened and distressed penitents have the fear or terror of God without his love.
  • Babes in Christ, or young converts, have often distressing fear mixed with their love.
  • Adult Christians have love without this fear; because fear hath torment, and they are ever happy, being filled with God. See Mr. Wesley's note on this place.
  • We must not suppose that the love of God shed abroad in the heart is ever imperfect in itself; it is only so in degree. There may be a less or greater degree of what is perfect in itself; so it is with respect to the love which the followers of God have; they may have measures or degrees of perfect love without its fullness. There is nothing imperfect in the love of God, whether it be considered as existing in himself, or as communicated to his followers.
  • We are not to suppose that the love of God casts out every kind of fear from the soul; it only casts out that which has torment.
  • A filial fear is consistent with the highest degrees of love; and even necessary to the preservation of that grace. This is properly its guardian; and, without this, love would soon degenerate into listlessness, or presumptive boldness.
  • Nor does it cast out that fear which is so necessary to the preservation of life; that fear which leads a man to flee from danger lest his life should be destroyed.
  • Nor does it cast out that fear which may be engendered by sudden alarm. All these are necessary to our well-being. But it destroys,
  • The fear of want;
  • The fear of death; and
  • 3. The fear or terror of judgment. All these fears bring torment, and are inconsistent with this perfect love.


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