1 John 4:2

1 John 4:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
• New International Version (NIV)This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
• English Standard Version (ESV)By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
• New King James Version (NKJV)By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

Context of 1 John 4:2

1Beloved, 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. By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and 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. 4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:2 word by word

ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκετε τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ θεοῦ· πᾶν πνεῦμα ὃ ὁμολογεῖ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐν σαρκὶ ἐληλυθότα ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν.Read the interlinear

• Byἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• you will knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• Everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• confessesὁμολογέωhomologeō · to confess/professG3670
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• has comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537

Cross-references for 1 John 4:2

• 1 John 5:1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
• John 16:13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.
• 1 Corinthians 12:3Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
• 1 John 4:3and 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.
• John 1:14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• 1 Timothy 3:16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.

Commentaries on 1 John 4:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God - We know that the man who teaches that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, and that he is come in the flesh, is of God - is inspired by the Divine Spirit; for no man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Hereby - Greek, “By this;” that is, by the test which is immediately specified. Know ye the Spirit of God - You may discern who are actuated by the Spirit of God. Every spirit - Everyone professing to be under the influence of the Spirit of God. The apostle uses the word “spirit” here with reference to the person who made the claim, on the supposition that everyone professing to be a religious teacher was animated by some spirit or foreign influence, good…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2By this you will know the Spirit of God: If someone claims to be a prophet, John provides a test for them. True prophets and teachers, guided by the Spirit of God, confess that Jesus Christ came in a real body ("in the flesh"). This means they must confirm that Jesus is both fully human and fully God. Those who deny these basic teachings are antichrists (2:18). Some false teachers in John’s time, called Docetists, taught that Jesus only appeared to have a…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Hereby--"Herein." know ... the Spirit of God--whether he be, or not, in those teachers professing to be moved by Him. Every spirit--that is, Every teacher claiming inspiration by the Holy Spirit. confesseth--The truth is taken for granted as established. Man is required to confess it, that is, in his teaching to profess it openly. Jesus Christ is come in the flesh--a twofold truth confessed, that Jesus is the Christ, and that He is come (the Greek…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 4:2

• Confession
• Holy Spirit
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• God
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Jesus Christ
• Benevolence
• Fear
• Love

Commentaries on 1 John 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings