16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.(A) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.(B) 17 This is how love is made complete(C) among us so that we will have confidence(D) on the day of judgment:(E) In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,(F) 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.(G)

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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