1 John 4:2 Commentary, explanation, study verse by verse

“ Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ”

1 John 4:2 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hereby - 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...
1 John 4:2 - Arno Geneva Study Bible

(2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: (b) Every spirit that confesseth that (c) Jesus Christ is come in the (d) flesh is of God: (2) He gives a certain and perpetual rule to know the doctrine of ant...
1 John 4:2 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

A digression. The reference to the Spirit ( 1 John 3:24 ) reminds John that some who claimed to possess the Spirit of God, e.g. the false prophets, did so unjustifiably. Hence his readers must have...
1 John 4:2 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Hereby . See 1 John 3:16 . know . App-132. Spirit . App-101. spirit . App-101. that . Omit. Jesus Christ . App-98. is come . to have come. the . Omit.
1 John 4:2 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

2 Hereby, or by this, know ye He lays down a special mark by which they might more easily distinguish between true and false prophets. Yet he only repeats here what we have met with befo...
1 John 4:2 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: Hereby know ye the Spirit of God - We know that the man who teaches that Jesus Christ...
1 John 4:2 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Hereby know ye the Spirit, &c.— Hereby you may discern, &c. Heylin. There are two ways of interpreting what St. John has here laid down as a rule by which to try the spirits: 1. Their a...
1 John 4:2 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: Hereby know ... Spirit of God - whether He be or not in those professing to be...
1 John 4:2 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Fellowship with God in Love 1. Try the spirits] RV 'Prove the spirits.' The verb is used of testing metals. 2, 3 . See on 2 John 1:7 .
1 John 4:2 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

IV. (6) NOT ALL SPIRITS ARE THE RESULT OF THE SONSHIP: NECESSITY OF EXAMINING THEM ( 1 John 4:1-6 ). ( a ) The difference among spirits ( 1 John 4:1 ). ( b ) The measure ( 1 John 4:2-3 )....
1 John 4:2 - Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

Chapter 3 THE POLEMICAL ELEMENT IN THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN 1 John 4:2-3 A DISCUSSION (however far from technical completeness) of the polemical element in St. John's Epistle, probably se...
1 John 4:2 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

the Token of God's Love 1 John 4:1-11 In those days the intense ferment of men's minds wrought many delusions and heresies which were fraught with temptation to young converts, and the Apostle...
1 John 4:2 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Two closely related perils threaten our fellowship with God as love, false prophets and the spirit which actuates them. Teaching is to be tested by the indwelling Spirit. All who refuse to confess th...
1 John 4:2 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

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 confes...
1 John 4:2 - James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

THE INCARNATION AND THE INNER LIFE ‘Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.’ 1 John 4:2 Only too commonly the Incarnation is regarded as a doctrine whi...
1 John 4:2 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God ,.... This is a rule by which believers may know whether a man professing to have the Spirit of God, and to be called and sent by him, and whether the, doctrine he p...
1 John 4:2 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: Ver. 2. Hereby know ye the spirit ] Bring it to this test. Gold may be rubbed or m...
1 John 4:2 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Hereby By the following plain mark; know ye the Spirit of God In a teacher. Every spirit Of a teacher; that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God Doddridge, with many o...
1 John 4:2 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

But there must be guards as to the operation of the Spirit of God, that is, the child of God must be guarded against all that would imitate the operation of the Spirit. Satan is extremely cunning, an...
1 John 4:2 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Concerning Antichrist. A. D. 80. 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whet...
1 John 4:2 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

He here gives them the general rule, both affirmative and negative, which would suffice them to judge by in their present case; this being the great controversy of that time with the Jews: Whether Je...
1 John 4:2 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Compare 1 Corinthians 14:29 ; 1 Corinthians 14:32 The Spirits of the Prophets ( 1 John 4:1-6 ). John here warns of the dangers of listening to prophets without testing their message, in the wa...
1 John 4:2 - Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

LOVE FINDS THE TRUTH; FEAR TAKES UP WITH ERROR CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES IN the first three verses the apostle guards his readers against being misled by false pretensions to the possession...
1 John 4:2 - Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible

1 John 4:1 . Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. If John had need to say that in the early mor...
1 John 4:2 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 John 4:1 . Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God. Whether those teachers believe that Christ is come in the flesh, which to the present hour the unbelieving jews...
1 John 4:2 - The Biblical Illustrator

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God The test of truth--confessing Christ In the Word of God we are warned against sitting in judgment on others. Esp...
1 John 4:2 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary

EXPOSITION 1 John 4:1 - 1 John 5:12 (2) The source of son-ship. Possession of the Spirit. 1 John 4:1-62 Confession of the Incarnation is the assurance that the Spirit of God,...
1 John 4:2 - The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

The Attitude of Christians toward False Teachers and toward One Another. The false prophets:
1 John 4:2 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Corinthians 12:3 ; 1 John 4:3 ; 1 John 5:1 ; 1 Timothy 3:16 ; John 1:14 ; John 16:13-15
1 John 4:2 - Wells of Living Water Commentary

Testing the True and the False 1 John 4:1-21 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We have in our opening verses some important admonitions, and also some important instructions. 1. Important admonitions. (1...
1 John 4:2 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Every spirit — Or teacher. Which confesseth — Both with heart and voice. Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is of God — This his coming presupposes, contains, and draws after it, the whole doc...

1 John 4:2 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

1 John 4:2 - Arno Geneva Study Bible

1 John 4:2 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:2 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

1 John 4:2 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:2 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

1 John 4:2 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

1 John 4:2 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

1 John 4:2 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:2 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

1 John 4:2 - Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

1 John 4:2 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

1 John 4:2 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

1 John 4:2 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

1 John 4:2 - James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

1 John 4:2 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

1 John 4:2 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 John 4:2 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 John 4:2 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:2 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

1 John 4:2 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

1 John 4:2 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:2 - Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

1 John 4:2 - Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible

1 John 4:2 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 John 4:2 - The Biblical Illustrator

1 John 4:2 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary

1 John 4:2 - The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

1 John 4:2 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 John 4:2 - Wells of Living Water Commentary

1 John 4:2 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes