The Meaning of 1 John 4:17 Explained

1 John 4:17

KJV: 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.

YLT: In 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;

Darby: Herein 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.

ASV: Herein 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 John 4:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Our love becomes complete in the sense that we can now have confidence as we anticipate our day of judgment (i.e, the evaluation of our works at Christ"s judgment seat; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12). The characteristic of God and Christians in view here is our love. We do not need to fear the judgment seat of Christ if we have demonstrated love to others. By loving we become like Jesus Christ our Judge. Therefore to give love is to gain boldness (confidence).
Here John said God"s love reaches perfection "with us" (Gr. meth hamon) whereas in 1 John 4:12 he wrote that His love reaches perfection "in us" (Gr. en hamin). When it reaches perfection in us, a proper relationship to other people exists, namely, no hate. When it reaches perfection with us, a proper relationship to God exists, namely, no fear.
As Jesus abode in His Father and consequently had confidence in the face of trials and death, so we can abide in Christ and have confidence in spite of the world"s hostility. Abiding in God gave Jesus confidence, and it gives us confidence too.

Context Summary

1 John 4:12-21 - The Test Of Our Love
If we are willing to be channels through which God's love flows to others, there need be no limit to the fullness of that holy current. In humility, selflessness, and gentleness, it will become perfected. The vessel placed beneath the waterfall is filled to overflowing.
Through our Savior we know the Father who sent Him, 1 John 4:14. See John 14:9-10. We first venture on God's love by faith; afterward we know it. Dare to affirm that God is love. Love is the wafted fragrance of Paradise. If thou lovest, heaven and earth will answer thee in terms of love. By strong, patient, selfless love thou wilt abide in unbroken touch with all pure and loving souls-whoever and wherever. Where love was crucified there was a garden. Where there is love, lonely places blossom as the rose. Be not afraid! Love on! Love always! "This is the true God, and eternal life." But one thought of hatred or ill-will will cause thy wholly happy experience to vanish. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 John 4

1  He warns them not to believe all who boast of the Spirit;
7  and exhorts to brotherly love

Greek Commentary for 1 John 4:17

Herein [εν τουτωι]
It is not clear whether the ινα — hina clause (sub-final use) is in apposition with εν τουτωι — en toutōi as in John 15:8 or the οτι — hoti clause (because) with the ινα — hina clause as parenthesis. Either makes sense. Westcott argues for the latter idea, which is reinforced by the preceding sentence. [source]
With us [μετ ημων]
Construed with the verb τετελειωται — teteleiōtai (is perfected). In contrast to εν ημιν — en hēmin (1 John 4:12, 1 John 4:16), emphasising cooperation. “God works with man” (Westcott). For boldness That is Christ as in 1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:3, 1 John 3:5, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:16. Same tense (present) as in 1 John 3:7. “Love is a heavenly visitant” (David Smith). We are in this world to manifest Christ. [source]
As he is [κατως εκεινος εστιν]
That is Christ as in 1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:3, 1 John 3:5, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:16. Same tense (present) as in 1 John 3:7. “Love is a heavenly visitant” (David Smith). We are in this world to manifest Christ. [source]
Herein [ἐν τούτῳ]
To what does this refer? Two explanations are given. (1.) To the following that we may have boldness. So Huther, who argues thus on the ground that 1 John 4:18shows that the drift of the writer's thought is toward the fearlessness of love. According to this, therefore, love has its fulfillment in freeing us from fear, and inspiring us with boldness even in view of the final judgment. (2.) To what precedes, viz., our dwelling in God and He in us. So Westcott: “The fellowship of God with man and of man with God, carries with it the consummation of love.” I prefer the latter, principally on the ground that in such phrases as ἐν τούτῳ inthis, διὰ τοῦτο onthis account, therefore, the pronoun usually refers to something preceding, though more fully developed in what follows. See John 5:16, John 5:18; John 6:65; John 8:47; John 10:17; John 12:18; John 16:15. [source]
Our love [ἡ ἀγάπη μεθ ' ἡμῶν]
The A.V. construes μεθ ' ἡμῶν withus, with love, making with us equivalent to our. In that case it might mean either the love which is between Christians, or the love which is between God and Christians. The Rev. construes with us with the verb: love is made perfect with us. The latter is preferable. I do not think it would be easy to point out a parallel in the New Testament to the expression ἀγάπη μεθ ' love that with us = our love. The true idea is that love is perfected in fellowship. The love of God is perfected with us, in communion with us, through our abiding in Him and He in us. “Love is not simply perfected in man, but in fulfilling this issue God works with man” (Westcott). Compare 2 John 1:3, “grace shall be with us ” (true reading); and Acts 25:4, “what things God had done with them.” See also Matthew 1:23; 1 Corinthians 16:24; Galatians 6:18. Μετά withis used constantly in the New Testament of ethical relations. See Matthew 20:2; Matthew 2:3; Luke 23:12; Acts 7:9; Romans 12:15; 1 John 1:6. [source]
Boldness [παῤῥησίαν]
See on 1 John 2:28. [source]
The day of judgment [τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως]
Lit., the day of judgment. The exact phrase occurs here only. Ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως dayof judgment, without the articles, is found Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:22, Matthew 11:24; Matthew 12:36; 2 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:7. The day is called the great day of their wrath (Revelation 6:17); the day of wrath and of revelation of the righteous judgement of God (Romans 2:5); the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12); the last day (John 6:39, John 6:40, John 6:44, John 6:54); that day (Matthew 7:22; Luke 6:23; Luke 10:12). The judgment is found Matthew 12:41, Matthew 12:42; Luke 10:14; Luke 11:31, Luke 11:32. [source]
Because []
Likeness to Christ is the ground of boldness. [source]
As [καθὼς]
Not absolutely, but according to our measure, as men in this world. [source]
He is []
The present tense is very significant. Compare 1 John 3:7, “is righteous even as He is righteous.” The essence of out being as He is lies in perfected love; and Christ is eternally love. “He that abideth in love abideth in God and God in him.” Compare 1 John 3:2. [source]
In this world []
This present economy, physical and moral. The phrase limits the conception of likeness. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 4:17

John 16:30 By this [ἐν τούτῳ]
Literally, in this. Compare 1 John 2:3, 1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:16, 1 John 3:19, 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:13, 1 John 4:17; 1 John 5:2. [source]
John 15:8 Herein [ἐν τούτῳ]
Commonly referred to what follows. My Father is glorified in this, namely, that ye bear much fruit. It is better to refer it back to John 15:7. In the perfect unity of will between the Son and the disciple, which results in the disciple's obtaining whatever he asks, the Father is glorified. To this effect is John 14:13, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The design of this glorification is that ( ἴνα ) you may bear much fruit. This retrospective reference of ἐν τούτῳ , in this, or herein, occurs in John 4:37; John 16:30; 1 John 4:17. [source]
John 14:26 He [ἐκεῖνος]
Setting the Advocate distinctly and sharply before the hearers. The pronoun is used in John's First Epistle, distinctively of our Lord. See 1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:3, 1 John 3:5, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:17. [source]
1 John 4:18 Perfect [τελεία]
Not perfected, as 1 John 4:17but perfect as the result of having been perfected. Compare Hebrews 5:14; James 1:4; James 3:2. [source]
1 John 2:28 We may have confidence [σχῶμεν παῤῥησίαν]
Rev., boldness. For the phrase have boldness, see 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:17; 1 John 5:14; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 10:19; Philemon 1:8. For the word παῤῥησία boldnesssee on John 7:13; see on Acts 2:29. It is opposed, as here, to αἰσχύνομαι tobe ashamed, in Proverbs 13:5, where the Septuagint reads “a wicked man is ashamed ( αἰσχύνεται ) and shall not have boldness ( παῤῥησίαν ). Also in Philemon 1:20. Compare 2 Corinthians 3:12. The idea of free, open speech lies at the bottom of the word: coming before God's bar with nothing to conceal. The thought is embodied in the general confession of the Book of Common Prayer: “That we should not dissemble nor cloke them before the face of Almighty God our Heavenly Father, but confess them.” So John Wesley's Hymn:“Jesus, Thy blood and righteousnessMy beauty are, my glorious dress: 'Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,-DIVIDER-
With joy shall I lift up my head.Bold shall I stand in Thy great day,For who aught to my charge shall lay? Fully absolved through these I am, - From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.” [source]

1 John 2:6 Even as he walked [κατως εκεινος περιεπατησεν]
Constative aorist active indicative summing up the life of Christ on earth with the emphatic use of the demonstrative εκεινος — ekeinos in reference to Christ as in 1 John 3:3, 1 John 3:5, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:17; John 7:11; John 9:12, John 9:28; John 19:21. [source]
1 John 4:12 If we love one another [εαν αγαπωμεν αλληλους]
Third-class condition with εαν — ean and the present active subjunctive, “if we keep on loving one another.”God abideth in us (ο τεος εν ημιν μενει — ho theos en hēmin menei). Else we cannot go on loving one another.His love More than merely subjective or objective (1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:9). “Mutual love is a sign of the indwelling of God in men” (Brooke).Is perfected (τετελειωμενη εστιν — teteleiōmenē estin). Periphrastic (see usual form τετελειωται — teteleiōtai in 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:17) perfect passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō (cf. 1 John 1:4). See 1 John 4:18 for “perfect love.” [source]
1 John 4:12 His love [η αγαπη αυτου]
More than merely subjective or objective (1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:9). “Mutual love is a sign of the indwelling of God in men” (Brooke).Is perfected (τετελειωμενη εστιν — teteleiōmenē estin). Periphrastic (see usual form τετελειωται — teteleiōtai in 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:17) perfect passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō (cf. 1 John 1:4). See 1 John 4:18 for “perfect love.” [source]
1 John 4:12 Is perfected [τετελειωμενη εστιν]
Periphrastic (see usual form τετελειωται — teteleiōtai in 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:17) perfect passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō (cf. 1 John 1:4). See 1 John 4:18 for “perfect love.” [source]
1 John 4:18 Perfect love [η τελεια αγαπη]
There is such a thing, perfect because it has been perfected (1 John 4:12, 1 John 4:17). Cf. James 1:4.Casteth out fear (εχω βαλλει τον ποβον — exō ballei ton phobon). “Drives fear out” so that it does not exist in real love. See εκβαλλω εχω — ekballō exō in John 6:37; John 9:34.; John 12:31; John 15:6 to turn out-of-doors, a powerful metaphor. Perfect love harbours no suspicion and no dread (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).Hath punishment Old word, in N.T. only here and Matthew 25:46. Τιμωρια — Timōria has only the idea of penalty, κολασις — kolasis has also that of discipline, while παιδεια — paideia has that of chastisement (Hebrews 12:7). The one who still dreads Bengel graphically describes different types of men: “sine timore et amore; cum timore sine amore; cum timore et amore; sine timore cum amore ” [source]

What do the individual words in 1 John 4:17 mean?

In this has been perfected - love with us so that confidence we may have the day - of judgment that just as He is also we are the world this
Ἐν τούτῳ τετελείωται ἀγάπη μεθ’ ἡμῶν ἵνα παρρησίαν ἔχωμεν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως ὅτι καθὼς ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ

τούτῳ  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τετελείωται  has  been  perfected 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: τελειόω  
Sense: to make perfect, complete.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀγάπη  love 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγάπη  
Sense: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.
ἡμῶν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
παρρησίαν  confidence 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: παρρησία  
Sense: freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech.
ἔχωμεν  we  may  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
ἡμέρᾳ  day 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
τῆς  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κρίσεως  of  judgment 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: κρίσις  
Sense: a separating, sundering, separation.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
καθὼς  just  as 
Parse: Adverb
Root: καθώς  
Sense: according as.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
κόσμῳ  world 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κόσμος  
Sense: an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.
τούτῳ  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.