1 John 4:13 - Exposition

Almost identical with 1 John 3:24 . In 1 John 3:1-7 the apostle says that confession of the Incarnation proves possession of the Spirit; and in 1 John 3:12 that love of the brethren proves the indwelling of God. He now ( 1 John 3:13 ) goes on to say that possession of the Spirit proves the indwelling of God; and ( 1 John 3:15 ) that confession of the Incarnation proves the same. So that these four facts—confession of the Incarnation, possession of the Spirit, love of our fellow-men, and indwelling of God—mutually involve one another. St. John does not say, "He has given us his Spirit," but "of his Spirit ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος αὐτοῦ ." It is impossible for us to receive more than a portion; the fullness of the Spirit is possessed by Christ alone. In John 1:16 we have a similar use of ἐκ (comp. John 12:3 ).