1 John 4:1

CHAPTER IV.

We must not believe every teacher who professes to have a

Divine commission to preach, but try such, whether they be of

God; and the more so because many false prophets are gone out

into the world, 1.

Those who deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh have the

spirit of antichrist, 2, 3.

The followers of God have been enabled to discern and overcome

them, 4-6.

The necessity of love to God and one another shown, from God's

love to us, 7-11.

Though no man hath seen God, yet every genuine Christian knows

him by the spirit which God has given him, 12, 13.

The apostles testified that God sent his Son to be the Saviour

of the world; and God dwelt in those who confessed this truth,

14, 15.

God is love, 16.

The nature and properties of perfect love, 17, 18.

We love him because he first loved us, 19.

The wickedness of pretending to love God while we hate one

another, 20, 21.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV.

Verse 1 John 4:1. Beloved, believe not every spirit] Do not be forward to believe every teacher to be a man sent of God. As in those early times every teacher professed to be inspired by the Spirit of God, because all the prophets had come thus accredited, the term spirit was used to express the man who pretended to be and teach under the Spirit's influence. See 1 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Timothy 4:1.

Try the Spirits] δοκιμαζετε τα πνευματα. Put these teachers to the proof. Try them by that testimony which is known to have come from the Spirit of God, the word of revelation already given.

Many false prophets] Teachers not inspired by the Spirit of God, are gone out into the world-among the Jewish people particularly, and among them who are carnal and have not the Spirit.