1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.
There is no fear in love
The phrase begins with a profound declaration that love, in its truest form, is devoid of fear. The Greek word for "fear" here is "phobos," which can denote terror or dread. In the context of a relationship with God, this fear is not the reverential awe that believers are encouraged to have, but rather a fear of judgment or punishment. Historically, the early Christians faced persecution, and this assurance would have been a source of comfort. The love referred to is "agape," a selfless, sacrificial love that mirrors God's love for humanity. This love is complete and unconditional, leaving no room for fear.

but perfect love drives out fear
The term "perfect" is translated from the Greek "teleios," meaning complete or mature. This suggests a love that has reached its full potential, a love that is fully developed and mature. Such love "drives out" or "casts out" fear, using the Greek word "ballo," which implies a forceful expulsion. This imagery is powerful, suggesting that mature love actively removes fear from the believer's life. In a historical context, this would have been a radical concept, as many religious systems of the time were based on fear and appeasement of deities.

because fear involves punishment
Here, "punishment" is translated from the Greek "kolasis," which refers to correction or penalty. The apostle John is emphasizing that fear is tied to the anticipation of punishment. In a scriptural context, this punishment is the judgment that comes from sin. However, for those who are in Christ, this punishment has been borne by Jesus on the cross. Thus, the believer's relationship with God is not one of fear of retribution, but of love and grace. This would have been a transformative message for early Christians who were transitioning from a legalistic understanding of God to one of grace.

The one who fears has not been perfected in love
This concluding phrase serves as both a challenge and an encouragement. The Greek word for "perfected" is again "teleioo," indicating a process of maturation. The presence of fear is an indication that one's love has not yet reached its full maturity. This is not a condemnation but an invitation to grow deeper in understanding and experiencing God's love. Historically, this would have encouraged believers to pursue a deeper relationship with God, moving beyond a fear-based faith to one rooted in love. The apostle John is calling believers to a higher standard of love, one that reflects the perfect love of God and transforms their lives.

Persons / Places / Events
1. John the Apostle
The author of 1 John, one of Jesus' original twelve disciples, known for his close relationship with Jesus and his emphasis on love in his writings.

2. Early Christian Communities
The recipients of John's letter, likely facing challenges of false teachings and needing reassurance of God's love and truth.

3. God's Love
Central theme in John's writings, emphasizing the transformative power of divine love in the believer's life.
Teaching Points
Understanding Perfect Love
Perfect love is mature and complete, reflecting God's nature. It is not merely an emotion but a transformative force that aligns us with God's will.

Fear and Punishment
Fear is often linked to the anticipation of punishment. In Christ, believers are freed from the fear of judgment because of the assurance of salvation.

Living in Love
To be perfected in love means to live in a way that reflects God's love to others, fostering a community of trust and fearlessness.

Overcoming Fear
Believers are called to confront and overcome fear by deepening their understanding and experience of God's love.

Practical Love
Demonstrating love in practical ways can help dispel fear in our relationships and communities, embodying the love of Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's perfect love help you overcome specific fears in your life?

2. In what ways can you demonstrate perfect love in your daily interactions with others?

3. How does the assurance of salvation through Christ impact your perspective on fear and punishment?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to grow in love and reduce fear in your spiritual journey?

5. How do other scriptures, such as Romans 8:15 and 2 Timothy 1:7, reinforce the message of 1 John 4:18 about fear and love?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 John 4:16-17
These verses provide context, emphasizing that God is love and those who abide in love abide in God. This connection highlights the relationship between love and fearlessness.

Romans 8:15
Paul speaks of the spirit of adoption, not fear, which complements John's message about the absence of fear in God's love.

2 Timothy 1:7
Paul reminds Timothy that God has given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline, not fear, aligning with John's teaching on perfect love.

Matthew 25:46
Discusses punishment, providing a contrast to the fear of punishment mentioned in 1 John 4:18.

1 John 2:5
Talks about being perfected in love, which is a recurring theme in John's epistle.
A Soul-Tormenting Fear and a Fear-Expelling LoveD. Thomas, D. D.1 John 4:18
FearDean Alford.1 John 4:18
Fear and LoveW. Bright, D. D.1 John 4:18
Fear has Many Eyes. Fear Hath PunishmentCambridge Bible for Schools1 John 4:18
Love and FearA. Maclaren, D. D.1 John 4:18
Love and FearJ. M. Gibbon.1 John 4:18
Love and FearA. Maclaren, D. D.1 John 4:18
Perfect LoveSamuel Dunn.1 John 4:18
Perfect LoveG. D. Watson.1 John 4:18
The Place of Fear in the GospelDean Vaughan.1 John 4:18
The Spirit of FearJames Freeman Clarke.1 John 4:18
Threefold Recommendation of the Duty of Loving One AnotherR. Finlayson 1 John 4:7-21
The Victory of Love Over FearW. Jones 1 John 4:17, 18
People
John, Jude
Places
Ephesus
Topics
TRUE, Casteth, Casts, Complete, Drives, Element, Fear, Feareth, Fearing, Fears, Free, Gives, Imperfect, Involves, Love, Pain, Perfect, Perfected, Punishment, Room, Torment
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 John 4:18

     5766   attitudes, to life
     8322   perfection, human
     8754   fear

1 John 4:7-21

     8115   discipleship, nature of
     8348   spiritual growth, nature of

1 John 4:9-19

     6512   salvation, necessity and basis

1 John 4:16-18

     4942   fulness

1 John 4:16-19

     1100   God, perfection

1 John 4:18-19

     8296   love, nature of

Library
Love of God and Man
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. Eversley. Chester Cathedral, 1872. 1 John iv. 16, 21. "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. . . . And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." This is the first Sunday after Trinity. On it the Church begins to teach us morals,--that is, how to live a good life; and therefore she begins by teaching us the foundation of all morals,--which is love,--love to God and love to man. But which
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

First Sunday after Trinity God is Love.
Text: 1 John 4, 16-21. 16 God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him. 17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Christ's Mission the Revelation of God's Love
'Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.'--1 John iv. 10. This is the second of a pair of twin verses which deal with substantially the same subject under two slightly different aspects. The thought common to both is that Christ's mission is the great revelation of God's love. But in the preceding verse the point on which stress is laid is the manifestation of that love, and in our text the point mainly brought out is its
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Servant as his Lord
'... As He is, so are we in this world.'--1 John iv. 17. Large truths may be spoken in little words. Profundity is often supposed to be obscurity, but the deepest depth is clear. John, in his gospel and epistles, deals with the deepest realities, and with all things in their eternal aspects, but his vocabulary is the simplest in the New Testament. God and the world, life and death, love and hate, light and darkness, these are the favourite words round which his thoughts gather. Here are nine little
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Love and Fear
'There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.'--1 John iv. 18. John has been speaking of boldness, and that naturally suggests its opposite--fear. He has been saying that perfect love produces courage in the day of judgment, because it produces likeness to Christ, who is the Judge. In my text he explains and enlarges that statement. For there is another way in which love produces boldness, and that is by its
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Ray and the Reflection
'We love Him, because He first loved us.'--1 John iv. 19. Very simple words! but they go down into the depths of God, lifting burdens off the heart of humanity, turning duty into delight, and changing the aspect of all things. He who knows that God loves him needs little more for blessedness; he who loves God back again offers more than all burnt offering and sacrifices. But it is to be observed that the correct reading of my text, as you will find in the Revised Version, omits 'Him' in the first
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

May the Sixth the Perfecting of Love
"Herein is our love made perfect." --1 JOHN iv. 11-21. How? By dwelling in God and God in us. Love is not a manufacture; it is a fruit. It is not born of certain works; it springs out of certain relations. It does not come from doing something; it comes from living with Somebody. "Abide in Me." That is how love is born, for "love is of God, and God is love." How many people are striving who are not abiding. They live in a manufactory, they do not live in a home. They are trying to make something
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Love's Logic
But, dear friends, I trust after many years of instruction in the doctrines of our holy faith, I need not keep to the beaten doctrinal track, but may lead you in a parallel path, in which the same truth may be from another point. I purpose to preach an experimental sermon, and possibly this will be even more in accordance with the run of the passage and the mind of its writer, than a doctrinal discourse. We shall view the text as a fact which we have tested and proved in our own consciousness. Under
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

A Psalm of Remembrance
Let me add another figure to render this truth yet more apparent. Suppose an eloquent foreigner, from a sunny clime, should endeavour to make you appreciate the fruits of his nation. He depicts them to you. He describes their luscious flavour, their cooling juice, their delicious sweetness; but how powerless will be his oration, compared with your vivid remembrance, if you have yourself partaken of the dainties of his land. It is even so with the good things of God; describe them as we may, we cannot
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Love
Can you imagine a being placed halfway between this world and heaven? Can you conceive of him as having such enlarged capacities that he could easily discern what was done in heaven, and what was done on earth? I can conceive that, before the Fall, if there had been such a being, he would have been struck with the singular harmony which existed between God's great world, called heaven, and the little world, the earth. Whenever the chimes of heaven rang, the great note of those massive bells was love;
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Dark Times
1 JOHN iv. 16-18. We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. Have we learnt this lesson? Our reading, and thinking, and praying, have been in vain, unless
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

"And if Christ be in You, the Body is Dead Because of Sin; but the Spirit is Life Because of Righteousness. "
Rom. viii. 10.--"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." God's presence is his working. His presence in a soul by his Spirit is his working in such a soul in some special manner, not common to all men, but peculiar to them whom he hath chosen. Now his dwelling is nothing else but a continued, familiar and endless working in a soul, till he hath conformed all within to the image of his Son. The soul is the office house, or workhouse,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak Though the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son,"
Rom. viii. 3.--"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak though the flesh, God sending his own Son," &c. Of all the works of God towards man, certainly there is none hath so much wonder in it, as the sending of his Son to become man; and so it requires the exactest attention in us. Let us gather our spirits to consider of this mystery,--not to pry into the secrets of it curiously, as if we had no more to do but to satisfy our understandings; but rather that we may see what this concerns
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Torment of Fear
(First Sunday after Trinity.) 1 John iv. 16, 18. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. The text tells us how to get one of the greatest blessings;
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons

"The Fruit of the Spirit is Love"
I want to look at the fact of a life filled with the Holy Spirit more from the practical side, and to show how this life will show itself in our daily walk and conduct. Under the Old Testament you know the Holy Spirit often came upon men as a divine Spirit of revelation to reveal the mysteries of God, or for power to do the work of God. But He did not then dwell in them. Now, many just want the Old Testament gift of power for work, but know very little of the New Testament gift of the indwelling
Andrew Murray—Absolute Surrender

Scriptural Predictions of an Apostasy.
Who has not wondered, as they read of the Savior's and the apostles' warnings of "false teachers," grievous wolves, delusive powers, and deceptive lights, what it all could mean? These things certainly are not without meaning. Jesus says, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

The Established Christian Urged to Exert Himself for Purposes of Usefulness.
1, 2. A sincere love to God will express itself not only in devotion, but in benevolence to men.--3. This is the command of God.--4. The true Christian feels his soul wrought to a holy conformity to it.--5. And therefore will desire instruction on this head.--6. Accordingly, directions are given for the improvement of various talents: particularly genius and learning.--7. Power.--8. Domestic authority.--9. Esteem.--10. Riches.--11. Several good ways of employing them hinted at.--12, 13. Prudence
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Manifestation of Holy Love.
"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us." --1 John iv. 16. The question which now presents itself is: In what way is the divine, majestic act of making man a partaker of true love accomplished? We answer that this is-- 1. Prepared by the Father in Creation. 2. Made possible by the Son in Redemption. 3. Effectually accomplished by the Holy Spirit in Sanctification. There is in this respect, first a work of the Father, which the Heidelberg Catechism designates, "Of God the Father
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Love in the Triune Being of God.
"God is Love."--1 John iv. 8. Between natural love even in its highest forms and Holy Love there is a wide chasm. This had to be emphasized so that our readers might not mistake the nature of Love. Many say that God is Love, but measure His Love by the love of men. They study love's being and manifestations in others and in themselves, and then think themselves competent to judge that this human love, in a more perfect form, is the Love of God. Of course they are wrong. Essential Love must be studied
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

I May Briefly Reduce the Chief Persuading Motive to this So Needful and So Much...
I may briefly reduce the chief persuading motive to this so needful and so much desiderated grace into some three or four heads. All things within and without persuade to it, but especially the right consideration of the love of God in Christ, the wise and the impartial reflection on ourselves, the consideration of our brethren whom we are commanded to love, and the thorough inspection into the nature and use of the grace itself. In consideration of the First, a soul might argue itself into a complacency
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Dwelling in Love
"We love Him, because He first loved us."--1 John iv. 19. Mechthild of Hellfde, 1277. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 I rejoice that I cannot but love Him, Because He first loved me; I would that measureless, changeless, My love might be; A love unto death and for ever; For, soul, He died for thee. Give thanks that for thee He delighted To leave His glory on high; For thee to be humbled, forsaken, For thee to die. Wilt thou render Him love for His loving? Wilt thou die for Him who died? And so by
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

Whether Initial Fear Differs Substantially from Filial Fear
Whether Initial Fear Differs Substantially from Filial Fear We proceed to the eighth article thus: 1. It seems that initial fear differs substantially from filial fear. For filial fear is caused by love, whereas initial fear is the beginning of love, according to Ecclesiasticus 25:12: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of love." Initial fear is therefore other than filial fear. 2. Again, initial fear fears punishment, which is the object of servile fear. Thus it seems that initial fear is the
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Here Some one Will Say, this is Now not to Write of virginity...
52. Here some one will say, This is now not to write of virginity, but of humility. As though truly it were any kind of virginity, and not that which is after God, which we had undertaken to set forth. And this good, by how much I see it to be great, by so much I fear for it, lest it be lost, the thief pride. Therefore there is none that guardeth the virginal good, save God Himself Who gave it: and God is Charity. [2211] The Guardian therefore of virginity is Charity: but the place of this Guardian
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

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