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1 John 4-5
New International Version
1 John 4-5
New International Version
On Denying the Incarnation
4 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) 2 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) 3 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)
4 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) 5 They are from the world(L) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 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
7 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) 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.(S) 9 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)
Faith in the Incarnate Son of God
5 Everyone who believes(AV) that Jesus is the Christ(AW) is born of God,(AX) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.(AY) 2 This is how we know(AZ) that we love the children of God:(BA) by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.(BB) And his commands are not burdensome,(BC) 4 for everyone born of God(BD) overcomes(BE) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.(BF)
6 This is the one who came by water and blood(BG)—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.(BH) 7 For there are three(BI) that testify: 8 the[b] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony,(BJ) but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God,(BK) which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.(BL) Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar,(BM) because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,(BN) and this life is in his Son.(BO) 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.(BP)
Concluding Affirmations
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God(BQ) so that you may know that you have eternal life.(BR) 14 This is the confidence(BS) we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.(BT) 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know(BU) that we have what we asked of him.(BV)
16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.(BW) I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.(BX) I am not saying that you should pray about that.(BY) 17 All wrongdoing is sin,(BZ) and there is sin that does not lead to death.(CA)
18 We know that anyone born of God(CB) does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one(CC) cannot harm them.(CD) 19 We know that we are children of God,(CE) and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.(CF) 20 We know also that the Son of God has come(CG) and has given us understanding,(CH) so that we may know him who is true.(CI) And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.(CJ)
Footnotes
- 1 John 4:6 Or spirit
- 1 John 5:8 Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century)
1 John 4-5
King James Version
1 John 4-5
King James Version
4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 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.
4 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.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 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.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God 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 ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, 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, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
1 John 4-5
New King James Version
1 John 4-5
New King James Version
Love for God and One Another
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but (A)test the spirits, whether they are of God; because (B)many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: (C)Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess [a]that Jesus [b]Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than (D)he who is in the world. 5 (E)They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and (F)the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. (G)By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Knowing God Through Love(H)
7 (I)Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who (J)loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 (K)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten (L)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, (M)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son (N)to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, (O)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Seeing God Through Love
12 (P)No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 (Q)By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And (R)we have seen and testify that (S)the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 (T)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and (U)he who abides in love abides in God, and God (V)in him.
The Consummation of Love
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that (W)we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 (X)We love [c]Him because He first loved us.
Obedience by Faith
20 (Y)If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [d]how can he love God (Z)whom he has not seen? 21 And (AA)this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Obedience by Faith
5 Whoever believes that (AB)Jesus is the Christ is (AC)born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and (AD)keep His commandments. 3 (AE)For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And (AF)His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For (AG)whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that (AH)has overcome the world—[e]our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but (AI)he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
The Certainty of God’s Witness
6 This is He who came (AJ)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. (AK)And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness [f]in heaven: the Father, (AL)the Word, and the Holy Spirit; (AM)and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: (AN)the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
9 If we receive (AO)the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; (AP)for this is the witness of [g]God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God (AQ)has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God (AR)has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 (AS)He who has the Son has [h]life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, [i]and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Confidence and Compassion in Prayer
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that (AT)if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and (AU)He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. (AV)There is sin leading to death. (AW)I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 (AX)All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
Knowing the True—Rejecting the False
18 We know that (AY)whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God (AZ)keeps[j] [k]himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and (BA)the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
20 And we know that the (BB)Son of God has come and (BC)has given us an understanding, (BD)that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. (BE)This is the true God (BF)and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Footnotes
- 1 John 4:3 NU omits that
- 1 John 4:3 NU omits Christ has come in the flesh
- 1 John 4:19 NU omits Him
- 1 John 4:20 NU he cannot
- 1 John 5:4 M your
- 1 John 5:7 NU, M omit the words from in heaven (v. 7) through on earth (v. 8). Only 4 or 5 very late mss. contain these words in Greek.
- 1 John 5:9 NU God, that
- 1 John 5:12 Or the life
- 1 John 5:13 NU omits the rest of v. 13.
- 1 John 5:18 guards
- 1 John 5:18 NU him
1 John 4-5
English Standard Version
1 John 4-5
English Standard Version
Test the Spirits
4 Beloved, (A)do not believe every spirit, but (B)test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for (C)many (D)false prophets (E)have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: (F)every spirit that confesses that (G)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit (H)that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and (I)now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for (J)he who is in you is greater than (K)he who is in the world. 5 (L)They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and (M)the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. (N)Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know (O)the Spirit of truth and (P)the spirit of error.
God Is Love
7 Beloved, (Q)let us love one another, for love is from God, and (R)whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 (S)Anyone who does not love does not know God, because (T)God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that (U)God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, (V)not that we have loved God (W)but that he loved us and sent his Son to be (X)the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 (Y)No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and (Z)his love is perfected in us.
13 (AA)By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And (AB)we have seen and testify that (AC)the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of (AD)the world. 15 (AE)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So (AF)we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. (AG)God is love, and (AH)whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this (AI)is love perfected with us, so that (AJ)we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because (AK)as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but (AL)perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not (AM)been perfected in love. 19 (AN)We love because he first loved us. 20 (AO)If anyone says, “I love God,” and (AP)hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God (AQ)whom he has not seen. 21 And (AR)this commandment we have from him: (AS)whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Overcoming the World
5 (AT)Everyone who believes that (AU)Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and (AV)everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 (AW)By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For (AX)this is the love of God, that we (AY)keep his commandments. And (AZ)his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For (BA)everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—(BB)our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes (BC)that Jesus is the Son of God?
Testimony Concerning the Son of God
6 This is he who came (BD)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And (BE)the Spirit is the one who testifies, because (BF)the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 (BG)If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God (BH)that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God (BI)has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God (BJ)has made him a liar, (BK)because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us (BL)eternal life, and (BM)this life is in his Son. 12 (BN)Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
That You May Know
13 I write (BO)these things to you who (BP)believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is (BQ)the confidence that we have toward him, that (BR)if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and (BS)God[b] will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. (BT)There is sin that leads to death; (BU)I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 (BV)All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
18 We know that (BW)everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but (BX)he who was born of God (BY)protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are from God, and (BZ)the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and (CA)has given us understanding, so that we may know (CB)him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and (CC)eternal life. 21 Little children, (CD)keep yourselves from idols.
Footnotes
- 1 John 4:20 Some manuscripts how can he
- 1 John 5:16 Greek he
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.