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    1 John 4 (KJV)

    Read 1 John chapter 4 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    1 John 4

    Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

    1 John 4:4

    "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: beca…"

    1 John 4:18

    "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:…"

    1 John 4:7-8

    "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and ev…"

    1 John 4:19

    "We love him, because he first loved us.…"

    1 John 4:8

    "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.…"

    1 John 4:7

    "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and ev…"

    1 John 4:10

    "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us,…"

    1 John 4:16

    "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.…"

    Popular Verses in 1 John 4

    Most searched verses from this chapter, with KJV text and context.

    1 John 4:8 KJV

    God's Love

    1 John 4:19 KJV

    God's Love

    1 John 4:7 KJV

    God's Love

    1 John 4:10 KJV

    God's Love

    1 John 4:16 KJV

    God's Love

    1 John 4:18 KJV

    Love & Relationships

    1 John 4:4 KJV

    General Epistles & Revelation

    1 John 4:18 KJV

    General Epistles & Revelation

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    1 John 4 Summary

    First John 4 contains some of the Bible's most profound statements about love. 'God is love' — not merely that God loves, but that love is the very essence of His nature. John argues that genuine love is the distinguishing mark of those who truly know God: 'Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God.'

    The chapter also addresses spiritual discernment — testing spirits to see whether they are from God. The test is Christological: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ came in the flesh is of God. John concludes with the famous declaration, 'There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear,' teaching that experiencing God's love drives out anxiety and dread.

    Key Themes

    God is LoveTesting SpiritsPerfect Love Casts Out FearLoving One Another

    Key Verses in 1 John 4

    "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

    — 1 John 4:8

    The definitive statement on God's essential nature — love is not just what God does but who He is.

    "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment."

    — 1 John 4:18

    A liberating truth — God's perfect love eliminates the terror of judgment and insecurity.

    "We love him, because he first loved us."

    — 1 John 4:19

    All human love is a response to God's initiative — He loved first.

    Life Application

    If you struggle with fear — fear of judgment, rejection, the future — let God's perfect love address it. Fear and love cannot coexist at full strength. The more you understand how deeply God loves you, the less power fear has over you. And that love must overflow to others.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does 'God is love' mean?

    It means love is not just an attribute of God but is central to His very nature. Everything God does flows from love. This doesn't mean love is God (that reverses the equation), but that the truest definition of love is found in God's character.

    How does perfect love cast out fear?

    When you deeply grasp God's unconditional love — that He sent His Son for you and nothing can separate you from Him — fear of punishment, rejection, and the future dissolves. Security in God's love replaces insecurity and dread.

    Read the full summary of 1 John

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