1 John 4:1-6 KJV

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:6

The opposite ease stated again, but not in the same form as in 1 John 4:4 . The "we" here is not the same as the "ye" there, with the mere addition of the writer. "We" here seems to mean the apostles. If it is considered "broad enough to include all who have truly received Christ by faith," it leaves no one to be the hearers. "He that knoweth God heareth us" will mean that we hear ourselves, if "us" means all believers. But St. John's meaning seems rather to be that he who acquires... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit - Do not confide implicitly in everyone who professes to be under the influences of the Holy Spirit. Compare Matthew 24:4-5. The true and the false teachers of religion alike claimed to be under the influence of the Spirit of God, and it was of importance that all such pretensions should be examined. It was not to be admitted because anyone claimed to have been sent from God that therefore he was sent. Every such claim should be subjected to the proper proof... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:2

Hereby - Greek, “By this;” that is, by the test which is immediately specified.Know ye the Spirit of God - You may discern who are actuated by the Spirit of God.Every spirit - Everyone professing to be under the influence of the Spirit of God. The apostle uses the word “spirit” here with reference to the person who made the claim, on the supposition that everyone professing to be a religious teacher was animated by some spirit or foreign influence, good or bad. If the Spirit of God influenced... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:3

And every spirit that confesseth not ... - That is, this doctrine is essential to the Christian system; and he who does not hold it cannot be regarded either as a Christian, or recognised as a Christian teacher. If he was not a man, then all that occurred in his life, in Gethsemane, and on the cross, was in “appearance” only, and was assumed only to delude the senses. There were no real sufferings; there was no shedding of blood; there was no death on the cross; and, of course, there was no... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:4

Ye are of God - You are of his family; you have embraced his truth, and imbibed his Spirit.Little children - Notes, 1 John 2:1.And have overcome them - Have triumphed over their arts and temptations; their endeavors to draw you into error and sin. The word them in this place seems to refer to the false prophets or teachers who collectively constituted antichrist. The meaning is, that they had frustrated or thwarted all their attempts to turn them away from the truth.Because greater is he that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:5

They are of the world - This was one of the marks by which those who had the spirit of antichrist might be known. They belonged not to the church of God, but to the world. They had its spirit; they acted on its principles; they lived for it. Compare the notes at 1 John 2:15.Therefore speak they of the world - Compare the notes at John 3:31. This may mean either that their conversation pertained to the things of this world, or that they were wholly influenced by the love of the world, and not by... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:6

We are of God - John here, doubtless, refers to himself, and to those who taught the same doctrines which he did. He takes it for granted that those to whom he wrote would admit this, and argues from it as an indisputable truth. He had given them such evidence of this, as to establish his character and claims beyond a doubt; and he often refers to the fact that he was what he claimed to be, as a point which was so well established that no one would call it in question. See John 19:35; John... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 4:1

1 John 4:1. Because the Gnostics and other heretics, in the first age, to gain the greater credit to their erroneous doctrines, assumed to themselves the character and authority of inspired teachers, John put his disciples in mind, (1 John 2:27,) that they had an unction from the Holy Spirit, by which they were enabled to judge with certainty, both of teachers and of their doctrine. He therefore, in this chapter, commands them not to believe rashly every teacher who pretended to be inspired,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 4:2

1 John 4:2 . Hereby By the following plain mark; know ye the Spirit of God In a teacher. Every spirit Of a teacher; that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God Doddridge, with many other commentators, reads this clause, Every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is of God: that is, that confesseth him to be the Messiah, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, and that both with heart and voice, sincerely believing him to be such, and... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 4:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 4:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 4:2

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