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NASB | 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God's judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God's love]. |
Bible Question: God asked me to do something and I struggled with it because I felt intimidated by those of a higher place than I and I let fear stop me. Does this mean I do not love my brothers and sisters as I should? Is this what this verse implies? |
Bible Answer: I find this a fascinating scripture. The word kolasis in Greek is often translated "punishment" or as the KJV puts it "torment". Thayers definition is "correction, punishment, penalty". In the context of this passage I think a more accurate translation may be "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has a correction, (namely love), and the one who fears is not perfected in love." See how three literal translations deal with this passsage: YLT reads: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment; and the one fearing has not been perfected in love." LITV reads: "fear is not in the love, but the perfect love doth cast out the fear, because the fear hath punishment, and he who is fearing hath not been made perfect in the love." ALT reads: " [There] is no fear in love, _but_ perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. But the one fearing has not been perfected in that love." I think the emphasis should be on the fact that fear has a "correction, punishment, penalty". That correction, punishment or penalty is love. Love is the correction or remedy for fear in our lives. If you read the entire passage with that in mind I think you will see that it fits the context well. In answer to your question, I think the fact that you were intimidated by those in a higher place is an indication that perhaps you have a fear of man, not that you do not have love, but that love has not yet been perfected in you. The remedy or correction for that problem (that many of us deal with) is getting filled up with God's love. Blessings to you and may you overcome this fear of man through the realization of His wonderful love for you. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for 1 John 4:18 | Author | ||
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1summers@bellsouth.net | ||
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jbw | ||
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hilary234 | ||
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Loosed | ||
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Searcher56 | ||
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BJay | ||
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Wofa Ato |