1 John 4:17

Herein. This may refer back to verse 16 or forward to the clause “that we may have boldness.” Both interpretations are possible, but John’s style in this epistle favors the forward reference.

Our love. Literally, “the love with us.” This may be taken to refer to God’s love for us and our love for God, both of which may be said to come to perfection with us, that is, in our transformed lives. If “herein” refers back to verse 16, this interpretation of “with us” readily fits the thought of dwelling in love; if “herein” be referred forward, then John’s meaning may be that, in our case, love is perfected when we confidently face the day of judgment.

Make perfect. Gr. teleioō (see on 1 John 2:5).

That we may have. This points to one of the great objectives on which love has set its eyes. The love of God for man and the love of man for God have as a common purpose the preparation of man to face the day of judgment with confidence. Since the standard of judgment is the law (James 2:12), and since love is the fulfilling of the law (Rom. 13:10), the perfecting of our love is an essential process.

Boldness. Gr. parresia (see on 1 John 2:28).

The day of judgment. Literally, “the day of the judgment.” This is the only place where the full phrase with both articles is found in the NT. The effect of the articles is to emphasize both that it is a definite day or time and that there is one great judgment in which all cases are considered and decided. The two phases of the work of judgment (see on Rev. 14:7; 20:11-15) do not come under consideration here. John is expecting to appear before the judgment seat of Christ (cf. on 2 Cor. 5:10), and is preparing his readers also to be ready for that awful hour. See on Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 2:9.

Because. This points to the ultimate reason for the Christian’s confidence when confronted by the thought of the day of judgment. He can be confident because he is like Christ.

He. Gr. ekeinos, “that [one].” When applied to persons this pronoun uniformly refers to Christ in this epistle (1 John 2:6; 3:3, 5, 7, 16), and is clearly so intended here, although the immediate context would suggest a reference to God the Father. The thought of Christ comes to John’s mind doubtless because of Christ’s work in connection with the judgment (see on John 5:22, 27; Rom. 2:16).

So are we. John has already stressed the Christian’s likeness to the Saviour (see on 1 John 3:1-3), and he now again emphasizes the resemblance to bring assurance to his judgment-bound readers. Those who are truly like the Judge need not fear the judgment. The believer’s ground for confidence is not his own imperfect attainments, but the faultless character and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ his Saviour (see on Phil. 3:9; Titus 3:5; etc.).

World. Gr. kosmos (see on 1 John 2:15). Although John’s thought has reached to the day of judgment, he is primarily concerned with the Christian’s conduct in this present world. He, as firmly as any NT writer, refuses to postpone Christlikeness to an indefinite future, but insists on the possibility of its being a present reality (see on 1 John 3:2, 9). Here he declares that, even as Jesus is eternally righteous in His environment, so we are to be righteous in our present surroundings. The expression “in this world” implies the temporary nature of our sojourn here, but suggests that we are to be Christ’s representatives while we live on earth. Notice, however, that this description of our being like Christ in the world is conditional upon our dwelling in love and in God (verse 16). It is love that links us to the Master and makes us like Him (1 John 2:7-10; 3:10-18). Some have felt that this description cannot be applied to individual members of the church, since none continually makes his home in the realm of selfless love. They claim that the description can be true only of the church as a whole. But until all the members abide in love, the church cannot as a whole be like Christ in the world. It is the individual who is indwelt and guided, and through individuals the Lord upbuilds His church on earth (Eph. 2:19-22).