Focused Passage

1 John 4:17-21

Testing the Spirits, Confessing the Son, and Abiding in God’s Love

The chapter moves from testing spiritual claims by the confession of Jesus Christ come in the flesh to living in the love of God revealed through the sending of the Son and confirmed by the Spirit.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

17 In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

19 We love because He first loved us.

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Cross-references

1 John 2:28 Classic cross-references 1 John 4:12 Classic cross-references 1 John 2:5 Classic cross-references Romans 8:29 Classic cross-references 1 John 3:3 Classic cross-references Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links John 13:34-35 OliveGrove study links Romans 8:1 OliveGrove study links

Original words

In Ἐν G1722 Preposition this [way] τούτῳ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular - ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular love ἀγάπη G26 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular has been perfected τετελείωται G5048 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular among μεθ’ G3326 Preposition us ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction we may have ἔχωμεν G2192 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural confidence παρρησίαν G3954 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular on ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular day ἡμέρᾳ G2250 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of judgment κρίσεως G2920 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular for ὅτι G3754 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition this τούτῳ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular world κόσμῳ G2889 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction we ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural are ἐσμεν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural just like καθὼς G2531 Adverb Him ἐκεῖνός G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

Verse 18

Cross-references

2 Timothy 1:7 Classic cross-references Romans 8:15 Classic cross-references 1 John 4:12 Classic cross-references Luke 1:74 Classic cross-references Hebrews 12:28 Classic cross-references Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links John 13:34-35 OliveGrove study links Romans 8:1 OliveGrove study links

Original words

There is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular no οὐκ G3756 Adverb fear Φόβος G5401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular love ἀγάπῃ G26 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular but ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction - ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular perfect τελεία G5046 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular love ἀγάπη G26 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular drives βάλλει G906 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular out ἔξω G1854 Adverb - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular fear φόβον G5401 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular fear φόβος G5401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular involves ἔχει G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular punishment κόλασιν G2851 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction The [one who] ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular fears φοβούμενος G5399 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb has not been perfected τετελείωται G5048 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular love ἀγάπῃ G26 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

John 3:16 Classic cross-references John 14:15 Classic cross-references 1 John 4:10 Classic cross-references Romans 8:28 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 2:9 Classic cross-references Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links John 13:34-35 OliveGrove study links Romans 8:1 OliveGrove study links

Original words

We Ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural love ἀγαπῶμεν G25 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction He αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular first πρῶτος G4413 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular loved ἠγάπησεν G25 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular us ἡμᾶς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural

BSB notes

BYZ and TR We love Him

Verse 20

Cross-references

John 13:35 Classic cross-references 1 John 4:7 Classic cross-references 1 John 3:17 Classic cross-references Matthew 5:22 Classic cross-references 1 John 2:9 Classic cross-references Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links John 13:34-35 OliveGrove study links Romans 8:1 OliveGrove study links

Original words

If Ἐάν G1437 Conjunction anyone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular says εἴπῃ G2036 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I love Ἀγαπῶ G25 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular God Θεόν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [but] καὶ G2532 Conjunction hates μισῇ G3404 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular brother ἀδελφὸν G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular he is ἐστίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a liar ψεύστης G5583 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction anyone who ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb does not love ἀγαπῶν G25 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular brother ἀδελφὸν G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular whom ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular he has seen ἑώρακεν G3708 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb cannot δύναται G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular love ἀγαπᾶν G25 Verb - Present Infinitive Active - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular God Θεὸν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular whom ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular vvv οὐχ G3756 Adverb he has not seen ἑώρακεν G3708 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

Galatians 6:2 Classic cross-references John 15:12 Classic cross-references John 13:34 Classic cross-references Matthew 22:37 Classic cross-references Mark 12:31 Classic cross-references Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links John 13:34-35 OliveGrove study links Romans 8:1 OliveGrove study links

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction we have ἔχομεν G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural this ταύτην G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular commandment ἐντολὴν G1785 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular from ἀπ’ G575 Preposition Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - ἵνα G2443 Conjunction Whoever ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular loves ἀγαπῶν G25 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular God Θεὸν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular must love ἀγαπᾷ G25 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular brother ἀδελφὸν G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular as well καὶ G2532 Conjunction

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