1 John 4:18

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:17-18

The victory of love over fear. "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, etc. Our text authorizes the following observations. I. THAT A GREAT DAY OF JUDGMENT AWAITS US IN THE FUTURE . St. John speaks of "the day of judgment." The evidence for the coming of such a day is various and strong. 1. The administration of moral government in this world requires it. In this present state the distribution of good and evil,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:18

Love implies attraction, fear repulsion; therefore fear exists not in love. Love here means the principle of love in general; it must not be limited to God's love to us, or our love to God, or our love of the brethren. Love and fear coexist only where love is not yet perfect. Perfect love will absolutely exclude fear as surely as perfect union excludes all separation. It is self-interested love that fears; pure and unselfish love has no fear. Yet nothing but perfect love must be allowed to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love - Love is not an affection which produces fear. In the love which we have for a parent, a child, a friend, there is no fear. If a man had perfect love to God, he would have no fear of anything - for what would he have to dread? He would have no fear of death, for he would have nothing to dread beyond the grave. It is guilt that makes people fear what is to come; but he whose sins are pardoned, and whose heart is filled with the love of God, has nothing to dread in this... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 4:18-19

1 John 4:18-19. There is no fear in love No slavish or tormenting fear, diffidence, or distrust, can be where love reigns; but perfect, mature love casteth out such fear, because such fear hath torment And so is inconsistent with the happiness of love. He that feareth is not made perfect in love In the sense above explained. Study therefore to increase more and more in that noble affection of love to God, and you will find your happiness increasing in proportion to it. Observe,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:7-21

The character of Christian love (4:7-5:5)It is God’s nature to love. Love in human nature has been spoiled by sin, but when people are born again by the work of God, they learn to love as God loves (7-8). The character of God’s love is seen in his act of giving his Son to die for those who have rebelled against him. They are worthy of death, but Jesus died to bear the judgment of sin on their behalf. As a result they can now have life (9-10). People cannot see God, but they can see that he... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 John 4:18

no = not, 1 John 4:3 . perfect . App-125 . torment = punishment. Greek. kolasia. See Matthew 25:46 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 John 4:18

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.The apostle John here presents one after another "all but impossible levels of Christian attainment";[44] (1) the love of all people with a self-sacrificing love like that of Christ; (2) the living of a life free from every sin; (3) confidence in the hour of the final judgment when people are pleading for the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them; and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 John 4:18

1 John 4:18. There is no fear in love, &c.— "This perfect love is of such a delightful nature, that though it be ever attended with a holy filial reverence of God, and cautious filial fear of offending; yet there is no distrustful or terrifying fear of God in it, as if he were our enemy. But this perfect love to him, and to our fellow-christians for his sake, when thus exalted to so high a pitch and fervour under a strong assurance of his love to us, banishes all diffident and slavish fear... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:18

18. Fear has no place in love. Bold confidence ( :-), based on love, cannot coexist with fear. Love, which, when perfected, gives bold confidence, casts out fear (compare Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 2:15). The design of Christ's propitiatory death was to deliver from this bondage of fear. but—"nay" [ALFORD]. fear hath torment—Greek, "punishment." Fear is always revolving in the mind the punishment deserved [ESTIUS]. Fear, by anticipating punishment (through consciousness of deserving it), has it even... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 4:17-19

E. Having Boldness at Christ’s Judgment Seat 4:17-19John drew a conclusion from what he had written about the importance of believers abiding in God. It is the conclusion that he introduced in the theme verse of the body of the epistle: "And now, little children, abide in Him, so that whenever He should appear, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming" (1 John 2:28)."How can a believer know that his love for the Father is being perfected? This paragraph of 1... read more

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