Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 4:1-3

The apostle, having said that God's dwelling in and with us may be known by the Spirit that he hath given us, intimates that that Spirit may be discerned and distinguished from other spirits that appear in the world; and so here, I. He calls the disciples, to whom he writes, to caution and scrutiny about the spirits and spiritual professors that had now risen. 1. To caution: ?Beloved, believe not every spirit; regard not, trust not, follow not, every pretender to the Spirit of God, or every... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 4:4-6

In these verses the apostle encourages the disciples against the fear and danger of this seducing antichristian spirit, and that by such methods as these:?1. He assures them of a more divine principle in them: ?You are of God, little children, 1 John 4:4. You are God's little children. We are of God, 1 John 4:6. We are born of God, taught of God, anointed of God, and so secured against infectious fatal delusions. God has his chosen, who shall not be mortally seduced.? 2. He gives them hope of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 4:2-3

4:2-3 This is how you recognize the spirit whose source is God. Every spirit which openly acknowledges that Jesus has come in the flesh and is Christ has its origin in God. And every spirit which is such that it does not make this confession about Jesus has not its source in God; and this is the spirit of Antichrist, about which you heard that it was to come and which is now here present in the world. For John Christian belief could be summed up in one great sentence: "The Word became... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 4:4-6

4:4-6 You have your origin in God, dear children, and you have won the victory over them, because that power which is in you is greater than the power which is in the world. This is why the source of their speaking is the world, and is the reason why the world listens to them. Our source is God. He who knows God listens to us. He who has not his source in God does not listen to us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. John lays down a great truth and faces a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit ,.... The apostle having mentioned the word "spirit" in the latter part of the preceding chapter, takes an occasion from thence to return to what he had been suggesting in the "second" chapter, concerning the many antichrists that then were, and whom he points out, and here cautions against. By "every spirit" he means, either every doctrine that is pretended to come from the Spirit of God, or every teacher, who professes to be qualified and sent by him, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:2

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God ,.... This is a rule by which believers may know whether a man professing to have the Spirit of God, and to be called and sent by him, and whether the, doctrine he preaches, is of him or not: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh , is of God ; or of the Spirit of God; that is, every doctrine which carries this truth in it; or every man that owns, and professes, and publishes this doctrine concerning Christ, is on the side... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:3

And every spirit that confesseth not ,.... The proper deity and sonship of Christ, his true and real humanity, and his Messiahship; or any of his offices, doctrines, and ordinances; or his satisfaction and righteousness; or that peace, pardon, justification, life, and salvation, are by him; all which are meant by what follows, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh : this clause is left out in the Ethiopic version, and that without hurting the sense, since it is easily supplied from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children ,.... This, with what follows, is said for the comfort of the saints, and to deliver them from the fears of being drawn aside by the delusions of the false prophets, and antichrists; since they belonged to God, were his elect, and therefore could not be finally and totally seduced; they were the children of God by adopting grace, and could not become the servants of men; they were born of God, and so were kept by the power of God unto salvation, as all that are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:5

They are of the world ,.... That is, the false prophets and teachers that were gone into the world, and had the spirit of antichrist in them; these were as they were when they came into the world, under the pollution, guilt, and dominion of sin, in a state of unregeneracy, carnality, and darkness; they properly belonged unto it, and walked after the course of it, and were under the influence of the god of it, who led them into error; and were sensual, and indulged themselves in worldly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 4:6

We are of God ,.... Not only as the chosen of God, the children of God, regenerated ones, and believers, but as ministers of the Gospel; they were chosen, and called, and sent of God to preach the Gospel, and were qualified for it, by gifts received from him, and had their doctrine from him, as well as their commission and mission: they were not of the world, and therefore did not speak of the world, nor things suited to worldly men; but being of God, they spoke the words of God, which were... read more

Group of Brands