1 John 4:5

1 John 4:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
• New International Version (NIV)They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.

Context of 1 John 4:5

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. They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. 6We 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. 7Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:5 word by word

αὐτοὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου εἰσίν· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου λαλοῦσιν καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτῶν ἀκούει.Read the interlinear

• Theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• That is whyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• That is whyοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• they speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• listens toἀκούωakouō · to hearG191

Cross-references for 1 John 4:5

• Psalms 17:4As for the deeds of men— by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
• Luke 16:8The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.
• John 3:31The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.
• John 7:6Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come.
• John 8:23Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
• John 15:19If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
• John 17:14I have given them Your word and the world has hated them. For they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
• Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
• Isaiah 30:10They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
• Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
• Jeremiah 29:8For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them.
• Micah 2:11If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!
• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
• 2 Peter 2:2Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.

Commentaries on 1 John 4:5

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5They are of the world - This was one of the marks by which those who had the spirit of antichrist might be known. They belonged not to the church of God, but to the world. They had its spirit; they acted on its principles; they lived for it. Compare the notes at 1 John 2:15. Therefore speak they of the world - Compare the notes at John 3:31. This may mean either that their conversation pertained to the things of this world, or that they were wholly…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5The viewpoint of the world is shaped by evil and stands in opposition to God (2:15–17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. of the world--They derive their spirit and teaching from the world, "unregenerate human nature, ruled over and possessed by Satan, the prince of this world" [Alford]. speak they of the word--They draw the matter of their conversation from the life, opinions, and feelings of the world. the world heareth them--(Joh 15:18, 19). The world loves its own.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 4:5

• Minister, Christian
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Benevolence
• Fear
• Love
• Perfect
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of
• world, worldly

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