1 John 4:6 NIV

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 4:4-6

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 4:6

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:6

We are of God - We, apostles, have the Spirit of God, and speak and teach by that Spirit. He that knoweth God - who has a truly spiritual discernment, heareth us - acknowledges that our doctrine is from God; that it is spiritual, and leads from earth to heaven. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth - The doctrine and teacher most prized and followed by worldly men, and by the gay, giddy, and garish multitude, are not from God; they savor of the flesh, lay on no restraints, prescribe no... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:6

Verse 6 6We are of God Though this really applies to all the godly, yet it refers properly to the faithful ministers of the Gospel; for the Apostle, through the confidence imparted by the Spirit, glories here that he and his fellow-ministers served God in sincerity, and derived from him whatever they taught. It happens that false prophets boast of the same thing, for it is their custom to deceive under the mask of God; but faithful ministers differ much from them, who declare nothing of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

Confession of the Incarnation is the assurance that the Spirit of God, who is the Spirit of truth, is working in us, and not the spirit of error. The passage seems clearly to teach that there are two rival influences contending for power over the spirits of men. We must test men's spirits to see whether they are organs of the Spirit of truth or of the spirit of error. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The power of trying the spirits. In the preceding homily we laid stress on the duty here indicated of "trying the spirits," and also on the test with which we are furnished for applying to them through all time. We moreover there referred almost exclusively to them as ψευδοπροφῆται rather than as πνεύματα . But a close study of all the clauses in these six verses will disclose to us teachings of great vividness and power concerning the false prophets themselves—the point from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The spirit of truth and the spirit of error. I. NEED FOR TESTING . "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Again, at the thought of danger, his heart warms toward his readers as his beloved. It is necessary to bear in mind the circumstances in which they were placed. They had the help of true prophets. The apostolic age had not come to an end. John was still living; and there... 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 4:6

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 4:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 4:6

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

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