1 John
Summary
John warns the believers to "test the spirits" to see if they are of God, as "many false prophets" have gone out into the world. The fundamental test is the confession that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. He reminds them that "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." John then delivers an extensive teaching on the nature of God's love, declaring that "God is love." He emphasizes that we love because He first loved us, and that perfect love "casts out fear." The chapter concludes with the clear instruction that anyone who claims to love God but hates his brother is a liar.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, of which you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.
They are of the world: therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.
We are of God: he who knows God hears us; he who is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every person who loves is born of God, and knows God.
He who loves not knows not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
Hereby know we that we remain in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he who remains in love remains in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as He is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love Him, because He first loved us.
If a person says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he who loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loves God love his brother also.