Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:2
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God - We know that the man who teaches that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, and that he is come in the flesh, is of God - is inspired by the Divine Spirit; for no man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost. read more
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit - Do not be forward to believe every teacher to be a man sent of God. As in those early times every teacher professed to be inspired by the Spirit of God, because all the prophets had come thus accredited, the term spirit was used to express the man who pretended to be and teach under the Spirit's influence. See 1 Corinthians 12:1-12 ; 1 Timothy 4:1 . Try the Spirits - Δοκιμαζετε τα πνευματα· Put these teachers to the proof. Try them by that... read more