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NT References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

1 John 4:4

Cyprian Epistle VIII

re already crowned, while some are even now within reach of the crown of victory; but all whom the danger has shut up in a glorious company are animated to carry on the struggle with an equal and common warmth of virtue, as it behoves the soldiers of Christ in the divine camp: that no allurements may deceive the incorruptible stedfastness of your faith, no threats terrify you, no sufferings or tortures overcome you, because "greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world; "[2]

Cyprian Treatise XI Exhortation to Martyrdom Addressed to Fortunatus

John, in his epistle, proves this, saying: "Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world."[70]

Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews

Of this thing also in John: "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in this world."[430]

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See also 1 John 4:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 John 4:4. _YE ARE OF GOD_] Ye are under the influence of the Divine Spirit, _and have overcome them_-your testimony, proceeding from the Spirit of Christ, has invalidated theirs which has proc...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    YE ARE OF GOD - You are of his family; you have embraced his truth, and imbibed his Spirit. LITTLE CHILDREN - Notes, 1 John 2:1. AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM - Have triumphed over their arts and temptation...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    V. HEREBY WE KNOW Chapter S 3:19-5:13 _ 1. Hereby we know that we are of the truth (1 John 3:19)_ 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God (1 John 4:1) 3. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth and of error...

  • 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 a...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    You have your origin in God, dear children, and you have won the victory over them, because that power which is in you is greater than the power which is in the world. This is why the source of their...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE PERILS OF THE SURGING LIFE OF THE SPIRIT (1 John 3:24 B- 1 John 4:1) _ 4:1 This is how we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he gave to us. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but t...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    LITTLE CHILDREN. App-108....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Ye are of God_ As in 1 John 2:20 the Apostle passes abruptly from the false teachers to his true children with an emphatic pronoun, made still more emphatic here by the asyndeton. _Ye_, in marked con...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    1 John 2:29 to 1 John 5:12. God is Love There seems to be no serious break in the Epistle from this point onwards until we reach the concluding verses which form a sort of summary (1 John 5:13-21). T...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 1 6. This section is an amplification of the sentence with which the preceding chapter ends. We certainly have the Holy Spirit as an abiding gift from God,...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1–6. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR 1–6. This section is an amplification of the sentence with which the preceding chapter ends. We certainly have the Holy Spirit as an abiding gift from...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1 John 2:29 to 1 John 5:12. GOD IS LOVE There seems to be no serious break in the Epistle from this point onwards until we reach the concluding verses which form a sort of summary (1 John 5:13-21). Th...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ὙΜΕΙ͂Σ. _Ye_, with emphasis and in marked contrast to the false teachers, _are of God_. The emphasis is intensified by the asyndeton. ΝΕΝΙΚΉΚΑΤΕ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ. In the masculine S. John passes from the antic...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΝΕΝΙΚΉΚΑΤΕ _perf. ind. act. от_ ΝΙΚΆΩ (G3528) покорять, побеждать, ΜΕΊΖΩΝ (G3187), _см._ 1 John 4:20. ΚΌΣΜΟΣ (G2889) мир. В ст. 3 под миром подразумевается земля, населенная людьми; в ст. 4 это греш...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2453 GOD AN EFFECTUAL HELP 1 John 4:4. _Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world_. CONSIDERING the opposition made to Christianity in the apostolic age, it is surprising...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM:— From this and several other passages it appears, that the Christians to whom St. John wrote, had not yet been drawn aside by the false teachers, though they were in imminent d...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    CHAPTER XI _DIVINE SONSHIP DEMONSTRATED BY CONFESSION OF CHRIST AND ATTENTION TO TRUTH_ (The Third Test. The Second Time) 1 John 4:1-6 A. _The Text_ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove t...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. YE - emphatic. YE who confess Jesus: in contrast to 'them,' the false te...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 4. YE ARE OF GOD, LITTLE CHILDREN. These, here called little children, were the servants of God, had received God's spirit, were enabled to detect and refute these false teachers, because they...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    3 The spirit of antichrist is the spirit of the world. It does not want the Christ of the Scriptures, but prefers some substitute more suited to its taste. This spirit has come to pervade, not only th...

  • 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....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD] the Devil: cp. 1 John 3:10; John 8:44; John 12:31....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW CAN I BE SURE? 1 JOHN _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 4 TEST THE *SPIRITS TO SEE IF THEY ARE TRUE (1 JOHN 4:1-6) V1 My friends, do not believe every *spirit. First, make sure where they are from. Se...

  • 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). (_a_) _The difference among spirits_ (1 John 4:1). (_b_) _The measure_ (1 John 4:2). (c

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone forth into the world. Herein ye...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ὑμεῖς emphatic (_cf._ 1 John 2:20; 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:14), as contrasted with the deluded world. The faithful are God's delegates (ἐκ), bearing their Master's commission and continuing His warfare...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE TOKEN OF GOD'S LOVE 1 John 4:1 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 wished to...

  • 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 tha...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE SPIRITS OF TRUTH AND ERROR The Christians' victory over such false teachers is assured because they are on God's side (Romans 8:31). The false teachers had abiding in them t...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (3) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (3) He comforts the elect with a most sure hope of victory: but yet so,...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _You....little children, born anew in Christ by baptism, have overcome him, (i.e. every such antichrist) not by your own strength, but by the grace of Christ, because greater is he that is in you than...

  • 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 confess...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE TRIUMPH OF GREATNESS_ ‘Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ 1 John 4:4 St. John points out two currents in the stream of humanity, and he points out that there is a mot...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4_Ye are of God _He had spoken of one antichrist; he now mentions many. But the many were the false prophets who had come forth before the head appeared. (83) But the Apostle’s object was to animate t...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Now, to make use of this last proof, caution was required, for many false prophets would assume, and even in the time of the apostle had already assumed, the semblance of having received communication...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    YE ARE OF GOD, LITTLE CHILDREN,.... This, with what follows, is said for the comfort of the saints, and to deliver them from the fears of being drawn aside by the delusions of the false prophets, and...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Ver. 4. _And have overcome_] viz. In your Head, Christ, and by the help of...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Ye_ Who abide in the truth taught you from the beginning; _are of God, and have overcome them_ Namely, these seducers, in all their snares and delusions: that is, the doctrine to which you adhere has...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    OVERCOME THEM; the false prophets, through whom the spirit of antichrist works, seeking to seduce you from the truth. HE THAT IS IN YOU; God, who dwells in you by the Holy Spirit, enlightening, sanct...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    YE ARE OF GOD, LITTLE CHILDREN, AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM; BECAUSE GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The distinction between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error:...

  • Leslie 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, and...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures, may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who contradict the...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Their being born of God, and their participation of a directive and strengthening influence from him, kept them from being overcome by the plausible notions, the alluring blandishments of the flesh an...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 John 4:4 You G5210 are G2075 (G5748) of G1537 God G2316 children G5040 and G2532 overcome G3528 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world hea...

  • 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). John here warns of the dangers of listening to prophets without testing their message, in the way that Pa

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 John 4:4-6. The apostle makes some strong assertions which have for their object to link a sound confession with a true religion. First, with reference to his Christian hearers, he connects their pe...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    The ruling idea of the third part is Faith in the Spirit's testimony concerning the Son of God incarnate. The close of chap. 3 introduces the theme by the first explicit mention of faith and the Spiri...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    HAVE OVERCOME THEM (νενικηκατε αυτους). Perfect active indicative of νικαω, calm confidence of final victory as in 1 John 2:13; John 16:33. The reference in αυτους (them) is to the false prophets i...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    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 mornin...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 John 4:1. _Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirit whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world._ This is an unction of which there is great need i...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    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._ It was so in John's day: it is so in these days....

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 John 4:1. _Beloved, believe not every spirit,_ A simpleton believes every word that he hears, but «the wise man's eyes are in his head,» so he examines what he sees and hears, and does not blindly...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Christians warned of false doctrines concerning Christ's person and work. Tests of the true. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, anti-christ, John. CONCLUSION: God's people must be ever c...

  • 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 den...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    BUT YOU BELONG TO GOD. "You belong to God and allow Him to teach you!" AND HAVE DEFEATED. "You have discovered and defeated these false teachers, because you have God's Truth!" BECAUSE THE SPIRIT. "Al...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 4:4 HE WHO IS IN YOU. The Holy Spirit (see vv. 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:6)....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 4:1 It is not only Cain’s bad example that John wants his readers to avoid (1 John 3:11); it is also the forces of spiritual deception. John furnishes a litmus test for detecting...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    Would someone please check the Psalm number in sentence formatted in blue in the 3rd note of ver. 18. CHAPTER 4 1. _Most dearly beloved_, &c. By the word _spirit_ he means suggestion, inspiration, im...

  • The 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 of...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 JOHN 4:1 - 1 JOHN 5:12 (2) _The source of son-ship. _Possession of the Spirit. 1 JOHN 4:1 Confession of the Incarnation is

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now in our Bibles to I John chapter 4. As we go back to verse 1 John 4:24 of chapter 3, the later portion, "Hereby we know that He abides in us by the Spirit which He has given us." I kn...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 6:13; 1 John 2:13; 1 John 3:10;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Have overcome. See on 2 13. Greater. Compare 1 John 3:20. In you. The Christian society. Compare John 6:56; John 14:20; John 14:4-10;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    TESTING THE TRUE AND THE FALSE 1 John 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We have in our opening verses some important admonitions, and also some important instructions. 1. IMPORTANT ADMONITIONS. (1) "Believe...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Ye have overcome these seducers, because greater is the Spirit of Christ that is in you than the spirit of antichrist that is in the world....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. character and description given of these Christians to whom our apostle writes. He tells them they were of. nobler descent, of. more excellent pedigree, and higher offspring, than the...

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Old Testament