1 John 4:18

Context

1 John has traditionally been regarded as a letter written by the apostle John, although scholars hold a range of views on the question of authorship. The community that received the letter was troubled by teaching that denied that Jesus had come in the flesh (1 John 4:2-3).

Verses 7–21 of chapter 4 develop an exhortation to love one another, centered on the confession that "God is love" (4:8, 16). The preceding verse, 17, states that as a result of love being made perfect, believers "may have boldness in the day of judgment." Verse 18 continues this line of thought, explaining that love and fear cannot coexist. The "fear" in this verse is therefore read primarily as fear in the face of the Last Judgment. The Greek word kolasis, rendered "torment" in the KJV, denotes punishment.

Interpretation

• Whose love is meant: Commentators are divided over whether this love is God's love for the believer or the believer's love for God and neighbor. Some hold that it encompasses both. Verses 12 and 17, which speak of God's love being "perfected" in the believer, are cited together in support.
• Connection to the assurance of salvation: In the Reformed and evangelical traditions, the verse is often explained as meaning that believers who have come to know God's love do not fear judgment but gain boldness.
• Augustine's reading: In his homilies on 1 John, Augustine is known to have distinguished between "servile fear," which dreads punishment, and "chaste fear," which reveres God. He also held that the former kind of fear prepares a place for love to enter and then withdraws.
• The Wesleyan reading: John Wesley used "perfect love" as a key expression for describing Christian perfection, and this verse serves as one of its proof texts. Denominations that carry on Wesleyan theology, such as the Methodist and Holiness churches, explain it in connection with their teaching on sanctification and holiness.

Debates and Issues

• Relationship to reverent fear: Scripture also contains verses that speak positively of fear, such as "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10) and "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). For this reason, a widely used explanation limits the fear cast out in verse 18 to dread of punishment and distinguishes it from the reverent fear that honors God.
• The scope of "perfection": The Wesleyan tradition holds that perfect love can be attained in this life, whereas the Reformed tradition tends to hold that such perfection is not realized in this world.
• Quotation out of context: The verse is sometimes cited as psychological comfort for overcoming anxiety or fear in general. Some have pointed out that such an application goes beyond the original context, which concerns fear of judgment.

In the Korean Church

The verse is frequently cited in sermons addressing the assurance of salvation, boldness in the Christian life, and the overcoming of anxiety. In Holiness and Methodist circles, it is also used as a text for explaining holiness and perfect love.

Related Passages

• 1 John 4:9-12
• 1 John 4:16-17
• Romans 8:15
• 2 Timothy 1:7
• Proverbs 9:10