¹⁷ In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment,^(A) for we are as He is in this world.^{(B) 18} There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear,^(C) because fear involves punishment.^[a] So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.^{(D) 19} We love^[b] because He first loved us.^(E)