2 Hereby G1722 G3739 G5129 know ye G1097 the Spirit G4151 of God: G2316 Every G3956 spirit G4151 that confesseth G3670 that Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 is come G2064 in G1722 the flesh G4561 is G2076 of G1537 God: G2316
Wherefore G1352 I give G1107 you G5213 to understand, G1107 that G3754 no man G3762 speaking G2980 by G1722 the Spirit G4151 of God G2316 calleth G3004 Jesus G2424 accursed: G331 and G2532 that no man G3762 can G1410 say G2036 that Jesus G2424 is the Lord, G2962 but G1508 by G1722 the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151
And G2532 the Word G3056 was made G1096 flesh, G4561 and G2532 dwelt G4637 among G1722 us, G2254 (and G2532 we beheld G2300 his G846 glory, G1391 the glory G1391 as G5613 of the only begotten G3439 of G3844 the Father,) G3962 full G4134 of grace G5485 and G2532 truth. G225
Howbeit G1161 when G3752 he, G1565 the Spirit G4151 of truth, G225 is come, G2064 he will guide G3594 you G5209 into G1519 all G3956 truth: G225 for G1063 he shall G2980 not G3756 speak G2980 of G575 himself; G1438 but G235 whatsoever G3745 G302 he shall hear, G191 that shall he speak: G2980 and G2532 he will shew G312 you G5213 things to come. G2064 He G1565 shall glorify G1392 me: G1691 for G3754 he shall receive G2983 of G1537 mine, G1699 and G2532 shall shew G312 it unto you. G5213 All things G3956 that G3745 the Father G3962 hath G2192 are G2076 mine: G1699 therefore G5124 G1223 said I, G2036 that G3754 he shall take G2983 of G1537 mine, G1699 and G2532 shall shew G312 it unto you. G5213
And G2532 without controversy G3672 great G3173 is G2076 the mystery G3466 of godliness: G2150 God G2316 was manifest G5319 in G1722 the flesh, G4561 justified G1344 in G1722 the Spirit, G4151 seen G3700 of angels, G32 preached G2784 unto G1722 the Gentiles, G1484 believed on G4100 in G1722 the world, G2889 received up G353 into G1722 glory. G1391
Whosoever G3956 denieth G720 the Son, G5207 the same hath G2192 not G3761 the Father: G3962 (but) he that acknowledgeth G3670 the Son G5207 hath G2192 the Father G3962 also. G2532
And G2532 every G3956 spirit G4151 that G3739 confesseth G3670 not G3361 that Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 is come G2064 in G1722 the flesh G4561 is G2076 not G3756 of G1537 God: G2316 and G2532 this G5124 is G2076 that spirit of antichrist, G500 whereof G3739 ye have heard G191 that G3754 it should come; G2064 and even G2532 now G3568 already G2235 is it G2076 in G1722 the world. G2889
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.