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1 John 4:18 cpdv — Fear is not in love. Instead, perfect love casts out fear, for fear pertains to punishment. And whoever fears is not pe…

Catholic Public Domain Version

"Fear is not in love. Instead, perfect love casts out fear, for fear pertains to punishment. And whoever fears is not perfected in love."

— 1 John 4:18, Catholic Public Domain Version

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1 John 4:18 in Other Translations

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1 John 4 — Context

15

Whoever has confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

16

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love. And he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him.

17

In this way, the love of God is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment. For as he is, so also are we, in this world.

18

Fear is not in love. Instead, perfect love casts out fear, for fear pertains to punishment. And whoever fears is not perfected in love.

19

Therefore, let us love God, for God first loved us.

20

If anyone says that he loves God, but hates his brother, then he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he does see, in what way can he love God, whom he does not see?

21

And this is the commandment that we have from God, that he who loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 4:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 John 4:18 say?
1 John 4:18 in the Catholic Public Domain Version reads: “Fear is not in love. Instead, perfect love casts out fear, for fear pertains to punishment. And whoever fears is not perfected in love.”
Where is 1 John 4:18 in the Bible?
1 John 4:18 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 John, chapter 4, verse 18.
Who wrote 1 John?
1 John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of 1 John about?
John writes to help believers know they have eternal life. Three tests run through the letter: do you walk in the light, love one another, and confess that Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh? Where these are present, assurance follows.
What are the major themes of 1 John?
1 John explores themes including Assurance, Love, Light, Truth vs. Error, Eternal Life. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 John 4:18.
What translation should I read 1 John 4:18 in?
1 John 4:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 John 4:18?
1 John 4:18 reads (CPDV): “Fear is not in love. Instead, perfect love casts out fear, for fear pertains to punishment. And whoever fears is not perfected in love.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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