約翰壹書 4:1 CUNPTS

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 John 4:1-21

1 John 4:1 We are all discerners of spirits. That diagnosis lies aloft in our life or unconscious power. The intercourse of society its trade, its religion, its friendships, its quarrels is one wide, judicial investigation of character. Emerson, on The Over-Soul. 1 John 4:1 A poor man, in our day, has many gods foisted on him; and big voices bid him, 'Worship or be !' in a menacing and confusing manner. What shall he do? By far the greater part of said gods, current in the public, whether... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 John 4:1-21

V. HEREBY WE KNOW CHAPTERS 3:19-5:13 1. Hereby we know that we are of the truth (1 John 3:19-24 ) 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God (1 John 4:1-4 ) 3. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth and of error (1 John 4:5-6 ) 4. The Love manifested toward us (1 John 4:7-19 ) 5. The final tests as to the possession of eternal life (1 John 4:20-21 ; 1 John 5:1-13 ) 1 John 3:19-24 . If the love of God dwells in the heart of the child of God it must be manifested in a practical way. Love must be... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 John 4:1

4:1 {1} Beloved, believe not every {a} spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.(1) Taking occasion by the name of the Spirit, lest love and charity should be separated from the worship of God, which chiefly depends on his true knowledge, he returns to that which he spoke of in the second chapter concerning the taking heed of antichrists: He will have us here take heed of two things, the one is, that seeing there are many false... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:1-21

But there must be guards as to the operation of the Spirit of God, that is, the child of God must be guarded against all that would imitate the operation of the Spirit. Satan is extremely cunning, and his agents are abroad everywhere. We must remember that all that professes to be spiritual necessarily has a spirit behind it. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” The trying of the spirits... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS The second cycle centers around the thought that God is righteous (1 John 2:29 ); hence, fellowship with God depends on doing righteousness. In the working out of the proposition the apostle speaks of three things: (1) The motive for doing righteousness: the hope we have through our sonship to God (1 John 3:1-10 ); (2) The test of doing righteousness: love to the brethren (1 John 3:11-18 ); and (3) The reward of doing righteousness: assurance of salvation (1 John 3:19 to 1... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 John 4:1

CONTENTS Here are contained Commands to try the Spirits, and Rules given for discovering of them. Some blessed Things are spoken of Christ. The Chapter concludes with an Account of God's Love. read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (3) And 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. (4) Ye are of God, little... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:1

Try the spirits; i.e. every doctrine that you hear: for now are many false teachers, false doctors, and false prophets. (Witham) --- Try, &c. viz. by examining whether their teaching be agreeable to the rule of the Catholic faith and the doctrine of the Church. For, as he says, (ver. 6) "He that knoweth God, heareth us: (the pastors of the Church) ...by this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (Challoner) --- The Church only, not every private man, hath to prove and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:1-6

1-6 Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures, may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who contradict them. The sum of revealed religion is in the doctrine concerning Christ, his person and office. The false teachers spake of the world according to its maxims and tastes, so as not to offend carnal men. The world approved them, they made rapid progress, and had many followers such as themselves; the... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - 1 John 4:1-99

1John 4 AMONGST THE WILES of the devil imitation takes a foremost place. In the Old Testament, for instance, we find that when God wrought powerfully through Moses in the presence of Pharaoh, the Egyptian magicians imitated what was done as far as they could, in order to nullify the impressions made on the mind of the king. Again we find that when the sanctuary had been established in Jerusalem with its ordinances of divine service, Jeroboam easily diverted the ten tribes from it by the simple... read more