经文研读
1 John 4:18 — Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
Perfect love removes fear, while fear that anticipates punishment shows that love has not reached its full effect in a person.
经文
- 18.愛 裡 沒 有 懼 怕 ； 愛 既 完 全 ， 就 把 懼 怕 除 去 。 因 為 懼 怕 裡 含 著 刑 罰 ， 懼 怕 的 人 在 愛 裡 未 得 完 全 。There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.
这段经文的意思
The verse states that fear is not present in love and that perfect love casts it out. Love, as described in this context, is connected with abiding in God, who is love, and with confidence on the day of judgment.
The reason given is that fear has punishment: the person who remains dominated by fear has not reached the completeness of love described here. The verse therefore connects the removal of fear with love's maturity rather than treating fear as a neutral response.
The passage does not describe love as denial of judgment. Instead, it contrasts fear that carries punishment with the boldness associated with love made perfect, so the decisive issue is the character of the love in which a person abides.
背景
The surrounding passage says that God is love, that those who abide in love abide in God, and that God abideth in them. It also says that love is made perfect so believers may have boldness in the day of judgment.
The following verses explain the source and practice of love: we love because God first loved us, love of God cannot be claimed alongside hatred of a brother, and the commandment is to love God and one's brother.
常见问题
What does 1 John 4:18 mean by perfect love?
In the surrounding passage, perfect love is the love made complete in those who abide in God, producing boldness in the day of judgment and casting out fear that carries punishment.
Does 1 John 4:18 say that believers never feel fear?
The verse says there is no fear in love and that perfect love casts out fear. It contrasts love with fear that has punishment, rather than promising an emotion in which every believer never feels afraid.
How is fear connected with punishment in this verse?
The verse states, “because fear hath punishment,” and then says that the person who fears has not been made perfect in love. Fear here is therefore presented as the opposite of the confidence associated with perfected love.