John Calvin Commentary 1 John 4:18

"There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love." — 1 John 4:18 (ASV)

There is no fear. He now commends the excellence of this blessing by stating the contrary effect, for he says that we are continually tormented until God delivers us from misery and anguish by the remedy of His own love toward us. The meaning is, that as there is nothing more miserable than to be harassed by continual restlessness, we obtain by knowing God’s love toward us the benefit of a peaceful calmness beyond the reach of fear. Thus it appears what a singular gift of God it is to be favored with His love. Moreover, from this doctrine, he will soon draw an exhortation; but before he exhorts us to duty, he commends to us this gift of God, which by faith removes our fear.

This passage, I know, is explained otherwise by many; but I regard what the Apostle means, not what others think. They say that there is no fear in love because, when we voluntarily love God, we are not constrained by force and fear to serve Him. Then according to them, servile fear is here set in opposition to voluntary reverence; and from this has arisen the distinction between servile and filial fear. I indeed grant it to be true that, when we willingly love God as a Father, we are no longer constrained by the fear of punishment; but this doctrine has nothing in common with this passage, for the Apostle only teaches us that when the love of God is seen and known by us through faith, peace is given to our consciences, so that they no longer tremble and fear.

It may, however, be asked: when does perfect love expel fear? For since we are endowed with only some taste of divine love toward us, can we ever be wholly freed from fear? To this I answer that, though fear is not wholly shaken off, yet when we flee to God as to a quiet harbor, safe and free from all danger of shipwreck and tempests, fear is really expelled, for it gives way to faith. Then, fear is not expelled to such an extent that it ceases to assail our minds; rather, it is expelled in such a way that it does not torment us nor impede the peace we obtain by faith.

Fear hath torment. Here the Apostle further amplifies the greatness of that grace of which he speaks; for as it is a most miserable condition to suffer continual torments, there is nothing more to be wished for than to present ourselves before God with a quiet conscience and a calm mind. What some say—that servants fear because they have punishment and the rod before their eyes, and that they do not do their duty except when forced—has nothing to do, as has already been stated, with what the Apostle says here. So in the next clause, the exposition given—that he who fears is not perfect in love because he does not submit willingly to God, but would rather free himself from His service—does not fit at all with the context. For the Apostle, on the contrary, reminds us that when anyone fears (that is, has a disturbed mind), it is due to unbelief; for the love of God, truly known, tranquilizes the heart.