Focused Passage

1 John 4:1-6

Testing the Spirits, Confessing the Son, and Abiding in God’s Love

The chapter moves from testing spiritual claims by the confession of Jesus Christ come in the flesh to living in the love of God revealed through the sending of the Son and confirmed by the Spirit.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

4 You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

5 They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.

6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Classic cross-references Matthew 7:15 Classic cross-references 2 Peter 2:1 Classic cross-references Revelation 2:2 Classic cross-references 1 Timothy 4:1 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 12:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Beloved Ἀγαπητοί G27 Adjective - Vocative Masculine Plural vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb do not believe πιστεύετε G4100 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural every παντὶ G3956 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular spirit πνεύματι G4151 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction test δοκιμάζετε G1381 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural spirits πνεύματα G4151 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural [to see] whether εἰ G1487 Conjunction they are ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction many πολλοὶ G4183 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural false prophets ψευδοπροφῆται G5578 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural have gone out ἐξεληλύθασιν G1831 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular world κόσμον G2889 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Romans 10:9 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 12:3 Classic cross-references John 1:14 Classic cross-references 1 John 4:15 Classic cross-references 1 Timothy 3:16 Classic cross-references

Original words

By Ἐν G1722 Preposition this τούτῳ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular you will know γινώσκετε G1097 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Every πᾶν G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular spirit πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular that ὃ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular confesses [that] ὁμολογεῖ G3670 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστὸν G5547 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular has come ἐληλυθότα G2064 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] flesh σαρκὶ G4561 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

1 John 2:18 Classic cross-references 1 John 2:22 Classic cross-references 1 John 4:2 Classic cross-references 2 John 1:7 Classic cross-references 1 John 3:10 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 12:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

and καὶ G2532 Conjunction every πᾶν G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular spirit πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular that ὃ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb does not confess ὁμολογεῖ G3670 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐκ G3756 Adverb from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction This τοῦτό G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the [spirit] τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular antichrist ἀντιχρίστου G500 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular which ὃ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular you have heard ἀκηκόατε G191 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction is coming ἔρχεται G2064 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [which] is ἐστὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular already ἤδη G2235 Adverb in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular world κόσμῳ G2889 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular at this time νῦν G3568 Adverb

BSB notes

BYZ and TR that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh

Verse 4

Cross-references

Romans 8:31 Classic cross-references John 16:33 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:4 Classic cross-references Romans 12:2 Classic cross-references Romans 8:37 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 12:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

You Ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural little children τεκνία G5040 Noun - Vocative Neuter Plural are ἐστε G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction have overcome νενικήκατε G3528 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural them αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction greater μείζων G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative is ἐστὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular He who [is] ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural than ἢ G2228 Conjunction he who [is] ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular world κόσμῳ G2889 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

1 John 2:15 Classic cross-references John 8:23 Classic cross-references Luke 6:26 Classic cross-references John 3:31 Classic cross-references 2 Peter 2:2 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 12:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

They αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural are εἰσίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural of ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular That is why διὰ G1223 Preposition . . . τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular they speak λαλοῦσιν G2980 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural from the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular world’s κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular perspective ἐκ G1537 Preposition and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular world κόσμος G2889 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular listens to ἀκούει G191 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural

Verse 6

Cross-references

1 John 4:4 Classic cross-references John 17:3 Classic cross-references John 18:37 Classic cross-references John 16:13 Classic cross-references John 14:17 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 12:3 OliveGrove study links John 1:14 OliveGrove study links

Original words

We ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural are ἐσμεν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Whoever ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular knows γινώσκων G1097 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular God Θεὸν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular listens to ἀκούει G191 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular us ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural whoever ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐκ G3756 Adverb from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb does not listen to ἀκούει G191 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular us ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural That is how ἐκ G1537 Preposition . . . τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Singular we know γινώσκομεν G1097 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Spirit πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of truth ἀληθείας G225 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular spirit πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of deception πλάνης G4106 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

BSB notes

Or spirit

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