18 There is no fear in love, but (A)perfect love drives out fear, because fear [a]involves punishment, and the one who fears is not (B)perfected in love.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:18 Lit has

18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

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18 A real love for others will chase those worries away. The thought of being punished is what makes us afraid. It shows we have not really learned to love.

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18 Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love takes away fear. It is his punishment that makes a person fear. So his love is not made perfect in the one who has fear.

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