1 John 4:13 NLT,NIV,ESV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:1-21

Fellowship with God in Love1. Try the spirits] RV ’Prove the spirits.’ The verb is used of testing metals. 2, 3. See on 2 John 1:7. 3. Confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh] RV ’confesseth not Jesus.’4. He that is in the world] the Devil: cp. 1 John 3:10; John 8:44; John 12:31. 5. They] the false prophets. 6. We] the Christian teachers.8. God is love] the third fundamental maxim (see Intro.). Love is not merely an attribute of God, it is His very Being. Hence to be without love... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 John 4:7-21

(7) THE PERFECT LOVE THE SUREST TEST (1 John 4:7-21).(a)Fraternal love the necessary product of the true knowledge of God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-8).(b)The grand recent historical exhibition of God’s love (1 John 4:9-10).(c)Our consequent duty (1 John 4:11).(d)God’s abode in us, the perfecting of His love in us, and the proof of His presence through the Spirit, are the equivalent for seeing Him (1 John 4:12-13).(e)All this is grounded on the strong, undeniable truth of the Apostolic... read more

William Nicoll

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

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 4:7-21

GOD IS LOVE What is the third characteristic of God which John reveals (1 John 4:7-8 )? If, then, God is love, How is fellowship to be maintained with Him (same verses)? In the working out of the thought that fellowship with God is maintained by experiencing and exercising love, notice: 1. how His love was particularly manifested toward us (1 John 4:9-10 ); 2. how our love toward Him should be manifested (1 John 4:11-12 ); 3. how such love implies fellowship (1 John 4:13-16 ); 4. how it... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 John 4:7-21

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (9) In 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. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:7-13

7-13 The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God's glory and justice, shows that God is love. Mystery and darkness rest upon many things yet. God has so shown... 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

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 John 4:11-16

Dwelling in God and in His love: v. 11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. v. 12. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth, in us, and His love is perfected in us. v. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. v. 14. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. v. 15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God... read more