1Beloved ones, do not trust every spirit, but test the spirits — whether they are from God — because many false prophets have gone out into the world. [4:2] By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is from God, [4:3] 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 is now already in the world. [4:4] Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, because the one in you is greater than the one in the world. [4:5] They are from the world; for this reason they speak from the world and the world hears them. [4:6] We are from God. The one knowing God hears us; the one who is not from God does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
1JN 4:1-6
Testing the Spirits
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Mediterranean world, the testing of spirits would resonate deeply with both Jewish and Greco-Roman audiences. Jewish listeners, familiar with Deuteronomy’s warnings against false prophets, would understand the need to discern true from false teachings. Greco-Roman readers, accustomed to philosophical debates and the proliferation of religious movements, would recognize the importance of evaluating claims to divine inspiration. The confession of Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh was a critical marker of orthodoxy, countering docetic and gnostic tendencies that denied Christ’s full humanity. The mention of the antichrist taps into apocalyptic expectations, reflecting a belief in a cosmic struggle between truth and deception. The affectionate address 'little children' underscores the pastoral tone, emphasizing the communal responsibility to guard against false teachings. This passage reflects a context where competing claims to spiritual authority required careful discernment within the early Christian communities.
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How other translations render this
1JN 4:1
- KJV
- Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- Beloved ones, do not trust every spirit, but test the spirits — whether they are from God — because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1JN 4:2
- KJV
- Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
- BSB
- By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
- Koinōnos
- By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is from God,
1JN 4:3
- KJV
- And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- 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 is now already in the world.
1JN 4:4
- KJV
- Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, because the one in you is greater than the one in the world.
1JN 4:5
- KJV
- They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
- BSB
- They are of the world. That is why they speak from the worldʼs perspective, and the world listens to them.
- Koinōnos
- They are from the world; for this reason they speak from the world and the world hears them.
1JN 4:6
- KJV
- We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- We are from God. The one knowing God hears us; the one who is not from God does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1JN 4:1
- do test:The word translated 'do test' implies a process of examination and evaluation to determine authenticity or genuineness, much like assaying metals to prove their quality.
1JN 4:2
- confesses:The word translated 'confesses' means to speak the same thing, to agree with, or to acknowledge openly and publicly, often implying a shared understanding or declaration.
1JN 4:3
- this:The term used here, translated as 'this,' refers to the 'antichrist,' a specific figure or spirit that stands in opposition to Christ.
1JN 4:4
- little children,:The word translated 'little children' is a diminutive form, conveying a sense of endearment, tenderness, and intimacy, rather than simply indicating age.