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16 (A)And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has (B)in us. (C)God is love, and the one who (D)abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, (E)love has been perfected with us, so that we may have (F)confidence in (G)the day of judgment, because (H)as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but (I)perfect love casts out fear, because fear [a]involves punishment, and the one who fears is not (J)perfected in love. 19 (K)We love, because He first loved us.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:18 Lit has

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.