1 John 4:1-16 ▼

1 Beloved {Agapētoi}, do not believe every spirit {pneumati}, but test the spirits {pneumata} to see whether they are from God {Theou}. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 By this you⁺ will know the Spirit {Pneuma} of God {Theou}: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One) has come in the flesh is from God,

3 and every spirit {pneuma} that does not confess Jesus [that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh] is not from God {Theou}. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you⁺ have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

4 You⁺, little children, are from God {Theou} and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you⁺ than he who is in the world.

5 They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.

6 We are from God {Theou}. Whoever knows God {Theon} listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit {pneuma} of truth and the spirit of deception.

7 Beloved {Agapētoi}, let us love {agapōmen} one another, because love {agapē} comes from God {Theou}. Everyone who loves {agapōn} has been born of God and knows God {Theon}.

8 Whoever does not love {agapōn} does not know God {Theon}, because God {Theos} is love {agapē}.

9 This is how God’s {Theou} love {agapē} was revealed (made clear) among us: God {Theos} sent His one and only (only begotten) Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

10 And love {agapē} consists in this: not that we loved {ēgapēkamen} God {Theon}, but that He loved {ēgapēsen} us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice (as a propitiation) for our sins.

11 Beloved {Agapētoi}, if God {Theos} so loved {ēgapēsen} us, we also ought to love {agapan} one another.

12 No one has ever seen God {Theon}; but if we love {agapōmen} one another, God {Theos} remains in us, and His love {agapē} is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit {Pneumatos}.

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father {Patēr} has sent His Son to be the Savior {Sōtēra} of the world.

15 If anyone confesses that Jesus (YHWH saves) is the Son of God {Theou}, God {Theos} abides in him, and he in God {Theō}.

16 And we have come to know and believe the love {agapēn} that God {Theos} has for us. God is love {agapē}; whoever abides in love abides in God {Theō}, and God in him.