約翰壹書 4:3-5 CUNPTS

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:4

Verse 4 4Ye are of God He had spoken of one antichrist; he now mentions many. But the many were the false prophets who had come forth before the head appeared. (83) But the Apostle’s object was to animate the faithful, that they might courageously and boldly resist impostors, for alacrity is weakened when the issue of the contest is doubtful. Besides, it might have caused the good to fear, when they saw that hardly the kingdom of Christ had been set up, when enemies stood ready to suppress it.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:5

Verse 5 5They are of the world It is no small consolation that they who dare to assail God in us, have only the world to aid and help them. And by the world the Apostle means that portion of which Satan is the prince. Another consolation is also added, when he says that the world embraces through the false prophets that which it acknowledges as its own. (85) We see what great propensity to vanity and falsehood there is in men. Hence false doctrines easily penetrate and spread far and wide. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-3

Tests of true or false prophets. Connecting link: The apostle had just declared that, in a life of obedience to and of like spirit with God, we had a twofold seal—firstly, that we are of the truth; and secondly, that God abideth in us. But it was not to be supposed that all this would remain unimpugned from without, however clear it might be to the spirit within. At the same time, we are not to be easily moved from our ground. But should any attempt to seduce us from the faith, we are to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

Confession of the Incarnation is the assurance that the Spirit of God, who is the Spirit of truth, is working in us, and not the spirit of error. The passage seems clearly to teach that there are two rival influences contending for power over the spirits of men. We must test men's spirits to see whether they are organs of the Spirit of truth or of the spirit of error. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The power of trying the spirits. In the preceding homily we laid stress on the duty here indicated of "trying the spirits," and also on the test with which we are furnished for applying to them through all time. We moreover there referred almost exclusively to them as ψευδοπροφῆται rather than as πνεύματα . But a close study of all the clauses in these six verses will disclose to us teachings of great vividness and power concerning the false prophets themselves—the point from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The spirit of truth and the spirit of error. I. NEED FOR TESTING . "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Again, at the thought of danger, his heart warms toward his readers as his beloved. It is necessary to bear in mind the circumstances in which they were placed. They had the help of true prophets. The apostolic age had not come to an end. John was still living; and there... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:3

Every spirit (not so much the personal teacher as the principle or tendency of the doctrine) which confesseth not Jesus. This is the true reading, the words χριστὸν ἐν σαρκὶ ἐληλυθότα being a spurious addition from 1 John 4:1 . As so often, St. John states the ease both negatively and positively for emphasis. There is an ancient variant reading of much interest, probably of Latin origin, which can be traced back to the second century, being known to Tertullian and Iranaeus. For ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:4

Ye are of God. The ὑμεῖς is in emphatic opposition to the false teachers. They are on one side, and the apostle's readers on the other, and it is from this standpoint that they are to "prove the spirits." St. John knows nothing of any neutral position from which the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error can be criticized "with absolute impartiality." "He that is not with me is against me." This assumed neutral position is already within the domain of error. Ye have overcome them. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:4

The victory of the Christian over antichristian teachers. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them," etc. Very suggestive are the words with which our text begins, "Ye are of God." As having communion with him; as heartily holding and confessing the truth which unites with him ( 1 John 4:2 ); as having been born of him, and being his offspring morally and spiritually, they were of God. The text suggests the following observations. I. THAT CHRISTIANS ARE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:5

The source of their character and their teaching is the world; from it they derive their inspiration; and of course the world listens to them. Once again (see on 1 John 3:23 ) we have an echo of Christ's last discourses: "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own" ( John 15:19 ). read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:5

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