1 JOHN 4:18 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“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.”
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love — fear (phobos) and love (agapē) are mutually exclusive. Perfect love (teleia agapē) eliminates the fear of punishment (kolasis). Fear indicates incomplete love-transformation.
Church Fathers on 1 John 4:18
Now therefore concerning this same boldness, let us see what he says. Whence do we understand that charity is perfect? “There is no fear in charity.” 1 John 4:18 Then what say we of him that has begun to fear the day of judgment? If charity in him were perfect, he would not fear. For perfect charity would make perfect righteousness, and he would have nothing to fear: nay rather he would have something to desire; that iniquity may pass away, and God's kingdom come. So then,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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