Font Size
1 John 4:12-21
New Living Translation
1 John 4:12-21
New Living Translation
12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other[a] because he loved us first.
20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer,[b] that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.[c]
Read full chapter
1 John 4:12-21
New International Version
1 John 4:12-21
New International Version
12 No one has ever seen God;(A) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.(B)
13 This is how we know(C) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.(D) 14 And we have seen and testify(E) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.(F) 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,(G) God lives in them and they in God.(H) 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love.(I) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.(J) 17 This is how love is made complete(K) among us so that we will have confidence(L) on the day of judgment:(M) In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,(N) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.(O) 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister(P) is a liar.(Q) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,(R) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(S) 21 And he has given us this command:(T) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.(U)
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.