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1 John 4:17-21
New International Version
1 John 4:17-21
New International Version
17 This is how love is made complete(A) among us so that we will have confidence(B) on the day of judgment:(C) In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,(D) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.(E) 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister(F) is a liar.(G) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,(H) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(I) 21 And he has given us this command:(J) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.(K)
1 John 4:17-21
Amplified Bible
1 John 4:17-21
Amplified Bible
17 In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]. 19 We love, because [a]He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.
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- 1 John 4:19 Because God bestowed on humanity a free will, man is not forced to love Him, but rather consciously and freely chooses the response he makes to God’s love.
1 John 4:17-21
English Standard Version
1 John 4:17-21
English Standard Version
17 By this (A)is love perfected with us, so that (B)we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because (C)as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but (D)perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not (E)been perfected in love. 19 (F)We love because he first loved us. 20 (G)If anyone says, “I love God,” and (H)hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God (I)whom he has not seen. 21 And (J)this commandment we have from him: (K)whoever loves God must also love his brother.
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- 1 John 4:20 Some manuscripts how can he
1 John 4:17-21
The Message
1 John 4:17-21
The Message
To Love, to Be Loved
17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.
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1 John 4:17-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
1 John 4:17-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.(A) 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love[a] because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(B) 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
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- 4.19 Other ancient authorities add him or God
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Amplified Bible (AMP) 
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.