1 Beloved, G27 believe G4100 not G3361 every G3956 spirit, G4151 but G235 try G1381 the spirits G4151 whether G1487 they are G2076 of G1537 God: G2316 because G3754 many G4183 false prophets G5578 are gone out G1831 into G1519 the world. G2889
But G1161 there were G1096 false prophets G5578 also G2532 among G1722 the people, G2992 even G2532 as G5613 there shall be G2071 false teachers G5572 among G1722 you, G5213 who G3748 privily shall bring in G3919 damnable G684 heresies, G139 even G2532 denying G720 the Lord G1203 that bought G59 them, G846 and bring G1863 upon themselves G1438 swift G5031 destruction. G684
Little children, G3813 it is G2076 the last G2078 time: G5610 and G2532 as G2531 ye have heard G191 that G3754 antichrist G500 shall come, G2064 even G2532 now G3568 are there G1096 many G4183 antichrists; G500 whereby G3606 we know G1097 that G3754 it is G2076 the last G2078 time. G5610
For G3754 many G4183 deceivers G4108 are entered G1525 into G1519 the world, G2889 who G3588 confess G3670 not G3361 that Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 is come G2064 in G1722 the flesh. G4561 This G3778 is G2076 a deceiver G4108 and G2532 an antichrist. G500
G1161 Let G2980 the prophets G4396 speak G2980 two G1417 or G2228 three, G5140 and G2532 let G1252 the other G243 judge. G1252
G1161 To another G243 the working G1755 of miracles; G1411 G1161 to another G243 prophecy; G4394 G1161 to another G243 discerning G1253 of spirits; G4151 G1161 to another G2087 divers kinds G1085 of tongues; G1100 G1161 to another G243 the interpretation G2058 of tongues: G1100
G1161 These G3778 were G2258 more noble G2104 than those in G1722 Thessalonica, G2332 in that they G3748 received G1209 the word G3056 with G3326 all G3956 readiness of mind, G4288 and searched G350 the scriptures G1124 daily, G2250 G2596 whether G1487 those things G5023 were G2192 so. G3779
But G1161 evil G4190 men G444 and G2532 seducers G1114 shall wax G4298 worse and worse, G1909 G5501 deceiving, G4105 and G2532 being deceived. G4105
I know G1492 thy G4675 works, G2041 and G2532 thy G4675 labour, G2873 and G2532 thy G4675 patience, G5281 and G2532 how G3754 thou canst G1410 not G3756 bear G941 them which are evil: G2556 and G2532 thou hast tried G3985 them which say G5335 they are G1511 apostles, G652 and G2532 are G1526 not, G3756 and G2532 hast found G2147 them G846 liars: G5571
If there arise H6965 among H7130 you a prophet, H5030 or a dreamer H2492 of dreams, H2472 and giveth H5414 thee a sign H226 or a wonder, H4159 And the sign H226 or the wonder H4159 come to pass, H935 whereof he spake H1696 unto thee, saying, H559 Let us go H3212 after H310 other H312 gods, H430 which thou hast not known, H3045 and let us serve H5647 them; Thou shalt not hearken H8085 unto the words H1697 of that prophet, H5030 or that dreamer H2492 of dreams: H2472 for the LORD H3068 your God H430 proveth H5254 you, to know H3045 whether ye H3426 love H157 the LORD H3068 your God H430 with all your heart H3824 and with all your soul. H5315 Ye shall walk H3212 after H310 the LORD H3068 your God, H430 and fear H3372 him, and keep H8104 his commandments, H4687 and obey H8085 his voice, H6963 and ye shall serve H5647 him, and cleave H1692 unto him. And that prophet, H5030 or that dreamer H2492 of dreams, H2472 shall be put to death; H4191 because he hath spoken H1696 to turn H5627 you away from the LORD H3068 your God, H430 which brought you out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and redeemed H6299 you out of the house H1004 of bondage, H5650 to thrust H5080 thee out of the way H1870 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 commanded H6680 thee to walk in. H3212 So shalt thou put H1197 the evil H7451 away H1197 from the midst H7130 of thee.
For G1063 they that are such G5108 serve G1398 not G3756 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 but G235 their own G1438 belly; G2836 and G2532 by G1223 good words G5542 and G2532 fair speeches G2129 deceive G1818 the hearts G2588 of the simple. G172 For G1063 your G5216 obedience G5218 is come abroad G864 unto G1519 all G3956 men. I am glad G5463 therefore G3767 on G1909 your G5213 behalf: G1909 but yet G1161 I would have G2309 you G5209 wise G4680 unto G1519 that which is G1511 good, G3303 G18 and G1161 simple G185 concerning G1519 evil. G2556
For G1063 I G1473 know G1492 this, G5124 that G3754 after G3326 my G3450 departing G867 shall grievous G926 wolves G3074 enter in G1525 among G1519 you, G5209 not G3361 sparing G5339 the flock. G4168
And G1161 he said, G2036 Take heed G991 that ye be G4105 not G3361 deceived: G4105 for G1063 many G4183 shall come G2064 in G1909 my G3450 name, G3686 saying, G3004 G3754 I G1473 am G1510 Christ; and G2532 the time G2540 draweth near: G1448 go ye G4198 not G3361 therefore G3767 after G3694 them. G846
And G2532 then G5119 if G1437 any man G5100 shall say G2036 to you, G5213 Lo, G2400 here G5602 is Christ; G5547 or, G2228 lo, G2400 he is there; G1563 believe G4100 him not: G3361
Then G5119 if G1437 any man G5100 shall say G2036 unto you, G5213 Lo, G2400 here G5602 is Christ, G5547 or G2228 there; G5602 believe G4100 it not. G3361 For G1063 there shall arise G1453 false Christs, G5580 and G2532 false prophets, G5578 and G2532 shall shew G1325 great G3173 signs G4592 and G2532 wonders; G5059 insomuch that, G5620 if G1487 it were possible, G1415 they shall deceive G4105 the very G2532 elect. G1588 Behold, G2400 I have told G4280 you G5213 before. G4280 Wherefore G3767 if G1437 they shall say G2036 unto you, G5213 Behold, G2400 he is G2076 in G1722 the desert; G2048 go G1831 not G3361 forth: G1831 behold, G2400 he is in G1722 the secret chambers; G5009 believe G4100 it not. G3361
And G2532 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto them, G846 Take heed G991 that no G3361 man G5100 deceive G4105 you. G5209 For G1063 many G4183 shall come G2064 in G1909 my G3450 name, G3686 saying, G3004 I G1473 am G1510 Christ; G5547 and G2532 shall deceive G4105 many. G4183
Beware G1161 G4337 of G575 false prophets, G5578 which G3748 come G2064 to G4314 you G5209 in G1722 sheep's G4263 clothing, G1742 but G1161 inwardly G2081 they are G1526 ravening G727 wolves. G3074 Ye shall know G1921 them G846 by G575 their G846 fruits. G2590 G3385 Do men gather G4816 grapes G4718 of G575 thorns, G173 or G2228 figs G4810 of G575 thistles? G5146
For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Let not your prophets H5030 and your diviners, H7080 that be in the midst H7130 of you, deceive H5377 you, neither hearken H8085 to your dreams H2472 which ye cause to be dreamed. H2492 For they prophesy H5012 falsely H8267 unto you in my name: H8034 I have not sent H7971 them, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 John 4
Commentary on 1 John 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
In this chapter the apostle exhorts to try spirits (v. 1), gives a note to try by (v. 2, 3), shows who are of the world and who of God (v. 4-6), urges Christian love by divers considerations (v. 7-16), describes our love to God, and the effect of it (v. 17-21).
1Jo 4:1-3
The apostle, having said that God's dwelling in and with us may be known by the Spirit that he hath given us, intimates that that Spirit may be discerned and distinguished from other spirits that appear in the world; and so here,
1Jo 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:-
1Jo 4:7-13
As the Spirit of truth is known by doctrine (thus spirits are to be tried), it is known by love likewise; and so here follows a strong fervent exhortation to holy Christian love: Beloved, let us love one another, v. 7. The apostle would unite them in his love, that he might unite them in love to each other: "Beloved, I beseech you, by the love I bear to you, that you put on unfeigned mutual love.' This exhortation is pressed and urged with variety of argument: as,
1Jo 4:14-16
Since faith in Christ works love to God, and love to God must kindle love to the brethren, the apostle here confirms the prime article of the Christian faith as the foundation of such love. Here,
1Jo 4:17-21
The apostle, having thus excited and enforced sacred love from the great pattern and motive of it, the love that is and dwells in God himself, proceeds to recommend it further by other considerations; and he recommends it in both the branches of it, both as love to God, and love to our brother or Christian neighbour.