1 John — Chapter 4
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1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17Herein 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.
18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19We love him, because he first loved us.
20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the [spirit] of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.
4Ye are of God, [my] little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
5They are of the world: therefore speak they [as] of the world, and the world heareth them.
6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.
8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.
10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:
13hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.
15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.
16And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.
17Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.
18There 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.
19We love, because he first loved us.
20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.
21And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God,
3but every spirit that refuses to confess Jesus, that spirit is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.
4You are from God, little children, and have conquered them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
5They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them.
6We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
7Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God.
8The person who does not love does not know God because God is love.
9By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him.
10In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.
12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit.
14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
15If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God.
16And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.
17By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.
18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.
19We love because he loved us first.
20If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
21And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.
1Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.
4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
5They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.
6We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God.
8He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.
9By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.
12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.
13By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
14We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.
15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.
16We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
17In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world.
18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
19We love him, because he first loved us.
20If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.
Summary
John commands believers to test the spirits (every spirit confessing Jesus Christ came in the flesh is from God), declares "God is love" and that His love was demonstrated in sending His Son as propitiation — "perfect love casteth out fear."
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik covers testing spirits, God as love, love's definition, perfect love casting out fear, and the inseparability of loving God and loving brothers.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "God Is Love" on v.8 (MTP Vol. 7, No. 392) "God IS love — not God has love, not God shows love — God IS love. Love is not one of His attributes among many — it is His very essence. Everything He does flows from love. His justice is loving justice. His holiness is loving holiness. Even His wrath is the wrath of love against what destroys the beloved. And if God is love, then to know God is to know love, and to not love is to not know God." Sermon: "Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear" on v.18 (MTP Vol. 23, No. 1391) "Perfect love casteth OUT fear — not suppresses it, not manages it — casts it out. Evicts it. Fear and love cannot occupy the same heart. If you fear God's judgment, you haven't yet understood His love. If you fear His rejection, you haven't yet grasped His acceptance. Let His love fill you and fear will have no room to stay."
Videos
The Bible Project — 1 John Overview
Animated overview of the book's literary structure, themes, and theological message. Excellent visual introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)
Reflection
- 1. "Try the spirits" (v.1). Do you test what you hear against Scripture? Not every spiritual-sounding message is from God. How do you discern truth from error?
- 2. "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (v.4). The Spirit in you is greater than any force against you. Do you live in this confidence or in fear of the enemy?
- 3. "God is love" (v.8). Not just loving — love itself. How does this shape your understanding of everything God does — including discipline, silence, and allowing suffering?
- 4. "Perfect love casteth out fear" (v.18). Where does fear still grip you — fear of judgment, rejection, failure? Let God's love cast it out. You are loved; you are accepted; you are secure.
- 5. "We love him, because he first loved us" (v.19). Your love for God is a response to His love for you. Are you responding? Is His love producing love in you — for Him and for others?