1 John 4:18 (GNV)

Passage

There is no feare in loue, but perfect loue casteth out feare: for feare hath painefulnesse: and he that feareth, is not perfect in loue.

Nearby Context

1 John 4:16 And we haue knowen, and beleeued ye loue that God hath in vs. God is loue, and he that dwelleth in loue, dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:17 Herein is that loue perfect in vs, that we should haue boldnes in the day of iudgement: for as he is, euen so are we in this world.

1 John 4:18 There is no feare in loue, but perfect loue casteth out feare: for feare hath painefulnesse: and he that feareth, is not perfect in loue.

1 John 4:19 We loue him, because he loued vs first.

1 John 4:20 If any man say, I loue God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for how can he that loueth not his brother whom he hath seene, loue God whom he hath not seene?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "feare", "loue", "perfect", "casteth", and "hath". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "feare" and "loue", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Herein is that loue perfect in vs..." into verse 19's "We loue him because he loued vs...", so "feare" and "loue" belong inside that flow. In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "feare" and "loue" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.