1 John 4:17

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — John writes to a community of believers, positioning this verse as the pivot between knowing God's love (v.16) and the absence of fear (v.18).

The words — τετελεσμαι (teteleiōtai), aorist passive perfect of teleō, means "has been brought to completion" — the same verb John uses for "It is finished" (John 19:30). It signals a finished state with present, ongoing results.

The thread — The same verb appears in 1 John 4:12, where God's love is "perfected" in us through mutual love, and the "just like Him" claim echoes Romans 8:29's conformation to the image of the Son.

Why it lands — The verse asks the reader to locate their confidence for judgment day in a love already completed in them, not in their own ongoing performance. It is a present-tense identity claim ("we are just like Him") doing the work of future assurance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 John 2:28 And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.
1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
1 John 2:5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:
1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
1 John 3:19 And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:
1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.