1 John 4 - 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.

Confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh] RV 'confesseth not Jesus.'

He that is in the world] the Devil: cp. 1 John 3:10; John 8:44; John 12:31.

They] the false prophets.

We] the Christian teachers.

God is love] the third fundamental maxim (see Intro.). Love is not merely an attribute of God, it is His very Being. Hence to be without love is to be without God: cp. 1 John 4:16.

9. See John 3:16.

We ought also] RV 'we also ought.'

Hath seen God] RV 'hath beheld God.' His love] i.e. our love to Him. If we love one another we have proof both of His presence with us and of our love to Him.

Herein is our love made perfect] RV 'herein is love made perfect with us,' i.e. in the double communion spoken of in the preceding v. As he is, so are we] We, as we are in this world, are like Christ, who shares our human nature. The sense of likeness to Him gives us confidence.

No fear in love] not the rightful awe which pertains to reverence, but servile or guilty fear.

We love him] RV 'we love.' Possibly the verb should be rendered 'let us love.'