1 John Chapter 4 — Testing Spirits and God is Love
John instructs believers on how to discern true spirits from false ones and emphasizes that God’s nature is love, which should be reflected in how we treat others.
1Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God; and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.
4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
5They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.
6We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
8He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.
9By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his only born*The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενη”, which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”. Son into the world that we might live through him.
10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice†“atoning sacrifice” is from the Greek “ιλασμος”, an appeasing, propitiating, or the means of appeasement or propitiation—the sacrifice that turns away God’s wrath because of our sin. for our sins.
11Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.
12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.
13By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
14We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.
15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.
16We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
17In this, love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so we are in this world.
18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
19We love him,‡NU omits “him”. because he first loved us.
20If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
1 John 4:4
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.”
This verse offers powerful encouragement regarding the spiritual strength and victory available to believers through God.
1 John 4:8
“He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.”
This verse provides a fundamental theological definition of God's character as being defined by love.
1 John 4:18
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.”
It explains the transformative power of divine love in removing fear and anxiety concerning judgment.
Chapter Summary
1 John Chapter 4 begins with a warning to test the spirits to distinguish between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error, specifically noting that any spirit confessing Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. John reassures believers that they have overcome the world because the Spirit within them is greater than the spirit of the world. The chapter then transitions into a profound discourse on the nature of love, stating clearly that "God is love." John explains that God's love was manifested by sending His only Son as an atoning sacrifice for sins. Because God loved humanity in this way, believers are commanded to love one another. The text highlights that love is perfected in us when we remain in God, and this perfect love removes the fear of judgment. Finally, the chapter concludes by stating that it is impossible to love God while hating one's brother, establishing a commandment that those who love God must also love their brothers.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the text, a spirit is from God if it confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Spirits that do not confess this are identified as the spirit of the antichrist and are not from God.
The chapter defines God's nature as love because He initiated the relationship with humanity by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice. It teaches that all true love originates from God and is revealed through His actions.
The text suggests that as love is perfected in a believer, it provides boldness for the day of judgment. Because fear is associated with punishment, the presence of God's perfect love removes that dread.
John states that anyone who claims to love God but hates their brother is a liar. He argues that if someone cannot love the brother they can see, they cannot truly love the God they cannot see.
Study Note
The Greek word 'hilasmos' used in verse 10 describes Christ as an 'atoning sacrifice,' referring specifically to the means by which reconciliation is achieved.
Related Chapters
John 3
The Gospel of John also emphasizes God's love for the world and the sending of His only Son.
1 Corinthians 13
This chapter provides a complementary and detailed description of the characteristics of love.
Matthew 22
Jesus speaks on the greatest commandment to love God and neighbor, echoing the closing verses of 1 John 4.
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