灵的分辨

亲爱的弟兄姊妹,不要什么灵都信,总要试验那些灵是否出于上帝,因为世上已经出现了许多假先知! 任何灵若承认耶稣基督曾降世为人,就是从上帝来的,你们可以凭这一点认出上帝的灵。 任何灵若不承认耶稣,就不是从上帝来的,而是敌基督者的灵。以前你们听说敌基督者要来,现在他已经在世上了。

孩子们,你们属于上帝,你们已经胜过了那些假先知,因为在你们里面的圣灵比在世上运行的邪灵更有能力。 他们属于世界,所以他们谈论的都是世俗的事,世人也听从他们。 我们属于上帝,认识上帝的人听从我们,不属于上帝的人不听从我们。这样,我们就可以分辨真理的灵和错谬的灵。

上帝是爱

亲爱的弟兄姊妹,我们应当彼此相爱,因为爱是从上帝来的。凡有爱心的人都是从上帝生的,并且认识上帝。 没有爱心的人不认识上帝,因为上帝就是爱。 上帝差遣祂独一的儿子到世上来,是为了叫我们靠着祂得到生命。这就显明了上帝对我们的爱。 10 不是我们爱上帝,而是上帝爱我们,并且差遣祂儿子为我们的罪作了赎罪祭,这就是爱。

11 亲爱的弟兄姊妹,上帝既然这样爱我们,我们也应该彼此相爱。 12 从来没有人见过上帝,如果我们彼此相爱,上帝就住在我们里面,祂的爱就在我们里面得到成全。

13 上帝将祂的灵赐给了我们,所以我们知道自己住在祂里面,祂也住在我们里面。 14 我们看见过,现在做见证:父差遣了祂的儿子成为世人的救主。 15 无论是谁,他若承认耶稣是上帝的儿子,上帝必住在他里面,他也住在上帝里面。 16 我们已经认识并且相信了上帝对我们的爱。

上帝就是爱,住在爱中的,就是住在上帝里面,上帝也住在他里面。 17 这样,爱在我们里面得到成全,使我们在审判的日子可以坦然无惧,因为我们在这世上以基督为榜样。 18 爱里没有恐惧,纯全的爱能驱除恐惧,因为恐惧意味着怕受惩罚。人若心里恐惧,就表示他尚未明白那纯全的爱。

19 我们爱,因为上帝先爱了我们。 20 若有人说“我爱上帝”,却恨自己的弟兄姊妹,这人就是说谎话,因为人若不爱看得见的弟兄姊妹,又怎能爱看不见的上帝呢? 21 爱上帝的人也应该爱弟兄姊妹,这是上帝给我们的命令。

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that [a]confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already. Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Herein was the love of God manifested [b]in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us: 13 hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God. 16 And we know and have believed the love which God hath [c]in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him. 17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, [d]cannot love God whom he hath not seen. 21 And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:3 Some ancient authorities read annulleth Jesus.
  2. 1 John 4:9 Or, in our case
  3. 1 John 4:16 Or, in our case
  4. 1 John 4:20 Many ancient authorities read how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

On Denying the Incarnation

Dear friends,(A) do not believe every spirit,(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.(C) This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh(D) is from God,(E) but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,(F) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.(G)

You, dear children,(H) are from God and have overcome them,(I) because the one who is in you(J) is greater than the one who is in the world.(K) They are from the world(L) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.(M) This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth(N) and the spirit of falsehood.(O)

God’s Love and Ours

Dear friends, let us love one another,(P) for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God(Q) and knows God.(R) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.(S) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son(T) into the world that we might live through him.(U) 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us(V) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.(W) 11 Dear friends,(X) since God so loved us,(Y) we also ought to love one another.(Z) 12 No one has ever seen God;(AA) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.(AB)

13 This is how we know(AC) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.(AD) 14 And we have seen and testify(AE) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.(AF) 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,(AG) God lives in them and they in God.(AH) 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.(AI) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.(AJ) 17 This is how love is made complete(AK) among us so that we will have confidence(AL) on the day of judgment:(AM) In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,(AN) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us.(AO) 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister(AP) is a liar.(AQ) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,(AR) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(AS) 21 And he has given us this command:(AT) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:6 Or spirit

Test the Spirits

(A)Beloved, do not believe every (B)spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because (C)many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: (D)every spirit that (E)confesses that (F)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that (G)does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the (H)antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and (I)now it is already in the world. You are from God, (J)little children, and (K)have overcome them; because (L)greater is He who is in you than (M)he who is in the world. (N)They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world hears them. (O)We are from God. (P)The one who knows God hears us; (Q)the one who is not from God does not hear us. From this we know (R)the spirit of truth and (S)the spirit of error.

God Is Love

(T)Beloved, let us (U)love one another, for love is from God; and (V)everyone who loves has been [a](W)born of God and (X)knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because (Y)God is love. By this the love of God was manifested [b](Z)in us, that (AA)God has sent His [c]only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, (AB)not that we have loved God, but that (AC)He loved us and sent His Son to be (AD)the propitiation for our sins. 11 (AE)Beloved, if God so loved us, (AF)we also ought to love one another. 12 (AG)No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His (AH)love is perfected in us. 13 (AI)By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 We have beheld and (AJ)bear witness that the Father has (AK)sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 (AL)Whoever confesses that (AM)Jesus is the Son of God, God (AN)abides in him, and he in God. 16 (AO)And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has (AP)in us. (AQ)God is love, and the one who (AR)abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, (AS)love has been perfected with us, so that we may have (AT)confidence in (AU)the day of judgment, because (AV)as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but (AW)perfect love casts out fear, because fear [d]involves punishment, and the one who fears is not (AX)perfected in love. 19 (AY)We love, because He first loved us. 20 (AZ)If someone says, “I love God,” and (BA)hates his brother, he is a (BB)liar; for (BC)the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, (BD)cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And (BE)this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God (BF)should love his brother also.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:7 Or begotten
  2. 1 John 4:9 Or in our case
  3. 1 John 4:9 Or unique, only one of His kind
  4. 1 John 4:18 Lit has