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

3But every person who doesn’t declare that Jesus Christ has come as a human has a spirit that isn’t from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that you have heard is coming. That spirit is already in the world. 4Dear children, you belong to God. So you have won the victory over these people, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. These people belong to the world. That’s why they speak the thoughts of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We belong to God. The person who knows God listens to us. Whoever doesn’t belong to God doesn’t listen to us. That’s how we can tell the Spirit of truth from the spirit of lies. 7Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the worldὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• thereforeδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• speak theyλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• hearethἀκούωakouō · to hearG191

Cross-references for 1 John 4:5

• Psalms 17:4I have avoided cruelty because of your word. In spite of what others have done,
• Luke 16:8“The master praised the dishonest manager for being so clever. Worldly people are more clever than spiritually-minded people when it comes to dealing with others.”
• John 3:31“The person who comes from above is superior to everyone. I, a person from the earth, know nothing but what is on earth, and that’s all I can talk about. The person who comes from heaven is superior to everyone
• John 7:6Jesus told them, “Now is not the right time for me to go. Any time is right for you.
• John 8:23Jesus said to them, “You’re from below. I’m from above. You’re from this world. I’m not from this world.
• John 15:19If you had anything in common with the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But you don’t have anything in common with the world. I chose you from the world, and that’s why the world hates you.
• John 17:14I have given them your message. But the world has hated them because they don’t belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
• Revelation 12:9The huge serpent was thrown down. That ancient snake, named Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was thrown down to earth. Its angels were thrown down with it.
• Isaiah 30:10They say to the seers, ‘Don’t see ⌞the future⌟.’ They say to those who have visions, ‘Don’t have visions that tell us what is right. Tell us what we want to hear. See illusions.
• Jeremiah 5:31Prophets prophesy lies. Priests rule under the prophets’ directions, and my people love this. But what will you do in the end?”
• Jeremiah 29:8This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Don’t let the prophets or the mediums who are among you trick you. Don’t even listen to your own dreams.
• Micah 2:11Liars and frauds may go around and say, “We will preach to you about wine and liquor.” They would be just the type of preacher you want.
• 2 Timothy 4:3A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear.
• 2 Peter 2:2Many people will follow them in their sexual freedom and will cause others to dishonor the way of truth.

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