1 John 4:1-6

1 John 4:1-6

[1] Beloved,  believe  not  every  spirit,  but  try  the spirits  whether  of  God:  because  many  false prophets  are gone out  into  the world.  [2] Hereby  know ye  the Spirit  of God:  Every  spirit  that confesseth  that Jesus  Christ  is come  in  the flesh  of  God:  [3] And  every  spirit  that  confesseth  not  that Jesus  Christ  is come  in  the flesh  not  of  God:  and  that spirit of antichrist,  whereof  ye have heard  that  it should come;  and even  now  already  in  the world.  [4] of  God,  little children,  and  have overcome  them:  because  in  than  he that is in  the world.  [5] They  of  the world:  therefore  speak they  of  the world,  and  the world  heareth  them.  [6] of  God:  he that knoweth  God  heareth  he that  not  of  God  heareth  not  Hereby  know we  the spirit  of truth,  and  the spirit  of error. 

What does 1 John 4:1-6 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The mention of the Holy Spirit in 1 John 3:24 caused John to pause briefly to sound a warning. God"s Spirit is not the only spirit manifest in the world. Some people naively think that any manifestation of a spiritual presence is indication of the Holy Spirit. The apostle explained how to distinguish the Holy Spirit from other spirits at work in the world.