OET interlinear 1YHN (1JHN) 4:18

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

φόβος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ, ἀλλ’ ἡ τελεία ἀγάπη ἔξω βάλλει τὸν φόβον, ὅτι ὁ φόβος κόλασιν ἔχει

fear not is in ¬the love but the perfect love out /is/_casting ¬the fear because the fear punishment /is/_having

If it would be helpful in your language, you could put the third clause before the first clause, since the third clause gives the reason for the result that the first clause describes. Alternate translation: [Because fear has punishment, fear is not in love, but perfect love throws fear outside]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

φόβος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ, ἀλλ’ ἡ τελεία ἀγάπη ἔξω βάλλει τὸν φόβον, ὅτι ὁ φόβος κόλασιν ἔχει

fear not is in ¬the love but the perfect love out /is/_casting ¬the fear because the fear punishment /is/_having

If it would be helpful in your language, you could state explicitly what John means by fear, perfect love, and punishment, particularly in light of what he says in the previous verse. Alternate translation: [A person who thinks he is going to be punished is afraid, but no one who truly understands how much God loves him will be afraid, because when God’s love has achieved its purpose in our lives, we are confident that he has forgiven us and will accept us]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

φόβος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ

fear not is in ¬the love

John speaks as if Fear could be inside of love. Alternate translation: [no one who truly understands how much God loves him will be afraid]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡ τελεία ἀγάπη ἔξω βάλλει τὸν φόβον

the perfect love out /is/_casting ¬the fear

By perfect love, John means the same thing as when he speaks in the previous verse of love that “has been perfected.” See how you translated that expression. Alternate translation: [when God’s love has achieved its purpose in our lives, it keeps us from being afraid]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

ἡ τελεία ἀγάπη ἔξω βάλλει τὸν φόβον

the perfect love out /is/_casting ¬the fear

John speaks of love as if it could actively throw fear far away from us. Alternate translation: [when God’s love has achieved its purpose in our lives, it keeps us from being afraid]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ φόβος κόλασιν ἔχει

the fear punishment /is/_having

If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify the relationship between fear and punishment. Alternate translation: [fear has to do with punishment] or [people are afraid when they think they will be punished]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὁ δὲ φοβούμενος, οὐ τετελείωται ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ

the the_‹one› and fearing not /has_been/_perfected in ¬the love

See how you translated the similar expression in 2:5. Here, as there, love could mean: (1) God’s love for us. Alternate translation: So if someone is afraid, then God’s love has not achieved its purpose in his life] (2) our love for God. Alternate translation: [So if someone is afraid, then he does not yet love God perfectly] It could also mean both things, as in [3:17. If you must choose, then we recommend option (1). But if your translation can leave both possibilities open, that would be best. Alternate translation: [So if someone is afraid, then love is not yet fully working in his life]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ δὲ φοβούμενος, οὐ τετελείωται ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ

the the_‹one› and fearing not /has_been/_perfected in ¬the love

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what such a person fears. This is clear from the previous verse. Alternate translation: [So if someone is afraid that God has not forgiven him and that God will not accept him, then God’s love has not achieved its purpose in his life]