1 John 4 · Verse 17

1 John 4:17

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.
1 John 4:17, King James Version

1 John 4:17 in other translations

BSBIn this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.
WEBIn this, love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so we are in this world.
ASVHerein 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.
YLTIn this made perfect hath been the love with us, that boldness we may have in the day of the judgment, because even as He is, we--we also are in this world;
DARBYHerein has love been perfected with us that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, that even as he is, we also are in this world.
BBEIn this way love is made complete in us, so that we may be without fear on the day of judging, because as he is, so are we in this world.
WebsterIn this 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.

What does 1 John 4:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 John 4:17-18
17-18. (Compare 1Jo 3:19-21.) our love--rather as the Greek, "LOVE (in the abstract, the principle of love [Alford]) is made perfect (in its relations) with us." Love dwelling in us advances to its consummation "with us" that is, as it is concerned with us: so Greek. Lu 1:58, "showed mercy upon (literally, 'with') her": 2Jo 2, the truth "shall be with us for ever." boldness--"confidence": the same Greek as 1Jo 3:21, to which this passage is parallel. The opposite of "fear," 1Jo 4:18. Herein is our love perfected, namely, in God dwelling in us, and our dwelling in God (1Jo 4:16), involving as its result "that we can have confidence (or boldness) in the day of judgment" (so terrible to all other men, Ac 24:25; Ro 2:16). because, &c.--The ground of our "confidence" is, "because even as He (Christ) is, we also are in this world" (and He will not, in that day, condemn those who are like Himself), that is, we are righteous as He is righteous, especially in respect to that which is the sum of righteousness, love (1Jo 3:14). Christ IS righteous, and love itself, in heaven: so are we, His members, who are still "in this world." Our oneness with Him even now in His exalted position above (Ep 2:6), so that all that belongs to Him of righteousness, &c., belongs to us also by perfect imputation and progressive impartation, is the ground of our love being perfected so that we can have confidence in the day of judgment. We are in, not of, this world.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. Herein is our love made perfect. Marg., love with us. The margin accords with the Greek--μεθημων. The meaning is, "the love that is within us, or in us, is made perfect." The expression is unusual; but the general idea is, that love is rendered complete or entire in the manner in which the apostle specifies. In this way love becomes what it should be, and will prepare us to appear with confidence before the judgment-seat. Comp. 1Jn 4:12.

That we may have boldness in the day of judgment. By the influence of love in delivering us from the fear of the wrath to come, 1Jn 4:18. The idea is, that he who has true love to God will have nothing to fear in the day of judgment, and may even approach the awful tribunal where he is to receive the sentence which shall determine his everlasting destiny without alarm.

Because as he is, so are we in this world. That is, we have the same traits of character which the Saviour had, and, resembling him, we need not be alarmed at the prospect of meeting him.

(1) "Herein is our love" "love with us"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Herein is our love made perfect - By God dwelling in us, and we in him; having cast out all the carnal mind that was enmity against himself, and filled the whole heart with the spirit of love and purity. Thus the love is made perfect; when it thus fills the heart it has all its degrees; it is all in all; and all in every power, passion, and faculty of the soul. May have boldness in the day of judgment - Παρῥησιαν· Freedom of speech, and liberty of access; seeing in the person of our Judge, him who has died for us, regenerated our hearts, and who himself fills them. As he is - Pure, holy, and loving; so are we in this world; being saved from our sins, and made like to himself in righteousness and true holiness. No man can contemplate the day of judgment with any comfort or satisfaction but on this ground, that the blood of Christ hath cleansed him from all sin, and that he is kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. This will give him boldness in the day of judgment.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 4:14-21

The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a…

Read the full comment on 1 John 4:14-21 →

1 John 4:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐνenInG1722
τούτῳtoutōthisG3778
τετελείωταιteteleiōtaihas been perfectedG5048
ἡhē<the>G3588
ἀγάπηagapēloveG26
μεθ᾽meth᾽withG3326
ἡμῶν,hēmōnus,G3165
ἵναinaso thatG2443
παρρησίανparrēsianconfidenceG3954
ἔχωμενechōmenwe may haveG2192
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
ἡμέρᾳhēmeradayG2250
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
κρίσεως,kriseōsof judgment,G2920
ὅτιhotithatG3754
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
ἐκεῖνόςekeinosHeG1565
ἐστινestinisG1510
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165
ἐσμενesmenareG1510
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtō<the>G3588
κόσμῳkosmōworldG2889
τούτῳ.toutōthis.G3778

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 John 4:17

  • 1 John 4:12

    No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

  • 1 John 2:28

    And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

  • Romans 8:29

    For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

  • 1 John 3:3

    And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

  • 1 John 2:5

    But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

  • 1 John 3:19-21

    And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

  • John 15:20

    Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

  • 1 John 3:1

    Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

  • 1 Peter 4:13-14

    But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

  • 2 Peter 3:7

    But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

  • Matthew 12:36

    But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

  • 1 Peter 4:1-3

    Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
our love. Gr. love with us. made.
12; 2:5; Jas 2:22
we may.
2:28; 3:19-21; Jas 2:13
the day.
Mt 10:15; 11:22,24; 12:36; 2Pe 2:9; 3:7
as.
3:3; Mt 10:25; Joh 15:20; Ro 8:29; Heb 12:2,3; 1Pe 3:16-18
1Pe 4:1-3,13,14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 John 4:16

    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.

  • 1 John 4:17

    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.

  • 1 John 4:18

    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.

Read all of 1 John 4

1 John 4:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		En esto es perfecto el amor con nosotros, para que tengamos confianza en el día del juicio; pues como él es, así somos nosotros en este mundo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		En ceci est consommé l’amour avec nous, afin que nous ayons toute assurance au jour du jugement, c’est que, comme il est, lui, nous sommes, nous aussi, dans ce monde.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Hierin ist die Liebe mit uns vollendet worden, damit wir Freimütigkeit haben an dem Tage des Gerichts, daß, gleichwie er ist, auch wir sind in dieser Welt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In hoc perfecta est caritas Dei nobiscum, ut fiduciam habeamus in die judicii: quia sicut ille est, et nos sumus in hoc mundo.