What Does 1 John 4:17 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Love reaches its goal in us now: the likeness that gives us boldness before judgment is already present in this world.
THE MEANING
Our love reaches its intended completion in us now, giving us boldness when the day of judgment comes. Its ground is the shared present the verse names: as he is, so are we in this world.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Likeness to him belongs only to a future hope; this verse places it in this world now.
THE ROOT
τετελείωται
teteleiōtai
GROWS FROM
τελ- (tel-, the word family of τέλος / telos)
τέλος (telos) means end, goal, or intended outcome.
“made perfect” in this verse is teteleiōtai. The verb carries the sense of love being brought to its goal, not merely being without flaw. The verse locates that completion in a present likeness, “as he is, so are we in this world”, and connects it to boldness before judgment.
ALSO GROWS
teleios: complete, mature, having reached its goal
τέλειος
It shares the idea of reaching a full measure, illuminating what “made perfect” means here.
epiteleō: bring to completion, carry through
ἐπιτελέω
This verb makes the movement toward an intended end explicit, echoing love reaching its goal in us.
κρίσεως
kriseōs
GROWS FROM
κριν- (krin-, from κρίνω / krinō)
κρίνω (krinō) means to distinguish, decide, or judge.
Judgment carries the sense of discernment and decision. The verse does not erase that reckoning; it places love’s completion and the confidence it brings within its horizon.
ALSO GROWS
krinō: distinguish, decide, judge
κρίνω
The verb reveals the action behind the noun: judgment involves making a distinction or decision.
krima: decision, verdict
κρίμα
This word names the outcome of judging, keeping the verse’s “day of judgment” in view.
kritēs: judge
κριτής
This word names the one who makes a decision, clarifying the relational setting in which boldness appears.
THE PATTERN
When love reaches its goal, presence with God yields openness rather than shame or fear.
They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.THE THREAD
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.“Perfect” in this verse and “made perfect” in 1 John 4:17 come from the same Greek word family of completion. The next verse names fear as what love’s completion casts out, opening the boldness of this verse as love’s present result.
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