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 know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

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. 19 We love each other[a] because he loved us first.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:19 Greek We love. Other manuscripts read We love God; still others read We love him.