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 come to know and rely on[a] the love that God has for us. God is love, and the person who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 This is how love has been perfected among us: we will have confidence on the day of judgment because, during our time in this world, we are just like him. 18 There is no fear where love exists.[b] Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love.

19 We love[c] because God[d] first loved us.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:16 Lit. believe in
  2. 1 John 4:18 Lit. in love
  3. 1 John 4:19 Other mss. read love him; still other mss. read love God
  4. 1 John 4:19 Lit. he