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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.

Context of 1 John 4:5

3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for 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

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 17:4Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded.
• Luke 16:8“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the 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, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.
• John 8:23But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
• John 15:19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
• John 17:14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
• Revelation 12:9The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
• Isaiah 30:10They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.
• Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
• Jeremiah 29:8Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.
• Micah 2:11If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ that would be just the prophet for this people!
• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
• 2 Peter 2:2Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

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