1 John 4:18

There is no fear. John is here referring to craven fear (see on Rom. 8:15) and not to the desirable “fear of the Lord” that all believers possess (see on Acts 9:31; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1). Fear is the opposite of “boldness” (1 John 4:17), and will have no place in the mind of the Christian. As A. E. Brooke says in commenting on this verse, “Fear, which is essentially self-centered, has no place in love, which in its perfection involves completely self-surrender. The two cannot exist side by side” (The International Critical Commentary, The Johannine Epistles, pp. 124, 125).

But perfect love. Or, “on the other hand, the perfect love.” The word “love” occurring three times in this verse is in each case literally, “the love.” The apostle is speaking of Christian love that has already been perfected (verse 17).

Casteth out. Perfect love, which centers on God, cannot tolerate slavish fear, and does not need to, for “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (see on Rom. 8:31-39). He who truly loves has no fear of God and has no need to fear the machinations of men (Matt. 10:28; Heb. 13:6).

Torment. Gr. kolasis, “correction,” “punishment,” “penalty.” Fear, arising from a wrongly spent life, brings its own immediate punishment, apart from any penalty that the future may hold in store (cf. on Heb. 10:26, 27).

He that feareth. Rather, “but he that feareth,” or “and he that feareth.” The reference is to ungodly fear, and not to the reverential awe felt by the true worshiper for his Creator.

Is not made perfect. Since there is no fear in love, one who fears demonstrates that he is not yet made perfect in respect to the high form of love of which the apostle is speaking. Fortunately, development is possible. As we learn to know the Lord we begin to love Him, and our fear changes from a haunting dread of a powerful and avenging God to a “clean” (Ps. 19:9) fear that does not wish to disappoint a friend. The more we grow in love, the less we fear. When our love is perfectly developed and freed from all trace of self, we shall be without craven fear of God or man. We shall not fear God because we know that He is love. We shall not fear man because we know that our loving Friend will allow nothing to come upon us that will not be for our ultimate good, and that He will be with us whenever our path leads through trial or danger (Isa. 43:1-7; Rom. 8:28; Ed 255).