16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment,(A) because as he is, so also are we 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 is not complete in love.(D) 19 We love[b] because he first loved us.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:18 Or fear has its own punishment or torment
  2. 4:19 Other mss add him

16 We have known and have believed the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them. 17 This is how love has been perfected in us, so that we can have confidence on the Judgment Day, because we are exactly the same as God is in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love because God first loved us.

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