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1 John 4 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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Testing the Spirits

4 (A)Beloved, do not believe every (B)spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because (C)many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: (D)every spirit that (E)confesses that (F)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that (G)does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the (H)antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and (I)now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, (J)little children, and (K)have overcome them; because (L)greater is He who is in you than (M)he who is in the world. 5 (N)They are from the world, therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 (O)We are from God. (P)The one who knows God listens to us; (Q)the one who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know (R)the spirit of truth and (S)the spirit of error.

God Is Love

7 (T)Beloved, let’s (U)love one another; for love is from God, and (V)everyone who loves has been (W)born of God and (X)knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because (Y)God is love. 9 By this the love of God was revealed [a](Z)in us, that (AA)God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. 10 In this is love, (AB)not that we loved God, but that (AC)He loved us and sent His Son to be (AD)the [b]propitiation for our sins. 11 (AE)Beloved, if God so loved us, (AF)we also ought to love one another. 12 (AG)No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains in us, and His (AH)love is perfected in us. 13 (AI)By this we know that we remain in Him and He in us, because He has given to us of His Spirit. 14 We have seen and (AJ)testify that the Father has (AK)sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 (AL)Whoever confesses that (AM)Jesus is the Son of God, God (AN)remains in him, and he in God. 16 (AO)We have come to know and have believed the love which God has [c](AP)for us. (AQ)God is love, and the one who (AR)remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 By this, (AS)love is perfected with us, so that we may have (AT)confidence in (AU)the day of judgment; because (AV)as He is, we also are in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but (AW)perfect love drives out fear, because fear [d]involves punishment, and the one who fears is not (AX)perfected in love. 19 (AY)We love, because He first loved us. 20 (AZ)If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he (BA)hates his brother or sister, he is a (BB)liar; for (BC)the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, (BD)cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And (BE)this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God (BF)must also love his brother and sister.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:9 Or among us; or in our case
  2. 1 John 4:10 I.e., means of reconciliation with God by atoning for sins; or sin-offering
  3. 1 John 4:16 Lit in
  4. 1 John 4:18 Lit has

Cross references

  1. 1 John 4:1 : 3 John 11
  2. 1 John 4:1 : Jer 29:8; 1 Cor 12:10; 1 Thess 5:20f; 2 Thess 2:2
  3. 1 John 4:1 : Jer 14:14; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 John 2:18
  4. 1 John 4:2 : 1 Cor 12:3
  5. 1 John 4:2 : 1 John 2:23
  6. 1 John 4:2 : John 1:14; 1 John 1:2
  7. 1 John 4:3 : 1 John 2:22; 2 John 7
  8. 1 John 4:3 : 1 John 2:18, 22
  9. 1 John 4:3 : 2 Thess 2:3-7; 1 John 2:18
  10. 1 John 4:4 : 1 John 2:1
  11. 1 John 4:4 : 1 John 2:13
  12. 1 John 4:4 : Rom 8:31; 1 John 3:20
  13. 1 John 4:4 : John 12:31
  14. 1 John 4:5 : John 15:19; 17:14, 16
  15. 1 John 4:6 : John 8:23; 1 John 4:4
  16. 1 John 4:6 : John 8:47; 10:3ff; 18:37
  17. 1 John 4:6 : 1 Cor 14:37
  18. 1 John 4:6 : John 14:17
  19. 1 John 4:6 : 1 Tim 4:1
  20. 1 John 4:7 : 1 John 2:7
  21. 1 John 4:7 : 1 John 3:11
  22. 1 John 4:7 : 1 John 5:1
  23. 1 John 4:7 : 1 John 2:29
  24. 1 John 4:7 : 1 Cor 8:3; 1 John 2:3
  25. 1 John 4:8 : 1 John 4:7, 16
  26. 1 John 4:9 : John 9:3; 1 John 4:16
  27. 1 John 4:9 : John 3:16f; 1 John 4:10; 5:11
  28. 1 John 4:10 : Rom 5:8, 10; 1 John 4:19
  29. 1 John 4:10 : John 3:16f; 1 John 4:9; 5:11
  30. 1 John 4:10 : 1 John 2:2
  31. 1 John 4:11 : 1 John 2:7
  32. 1 John 4:11 : 1 John 4:7
  33. 1 John 4:12 : John 1:18; 1 Tim 6:16; 1 John 4:20
  34. 1 John 4:12 : 1 John 2:5; 4:17f
  35. 1 John 4:13 : Rom 8:9; 1 John 3:24
  36. 1 John 4:14 : John 15:27; 1 John 1:2
  37. 1 John 4:14 : John 3:17; 4:42; 1 John 2:2
  38. 1 John 4:15 : 1 John 2:23
  39. 1 John 4:15 : Rom 10:9; 1 John 3:23; 4:2; 5:1, 5
  40. 1 John 4:15 : 1 John 2:24; 3:24
  41. 1 John 4:16 : John 6:69
  42. 1 John 4:16 : John 9:3; 1 John 4:9
  43. 1 John 4:16 : 1 John 4:7, 8
  44. 1 John 4:16 : 1 John 4:12f
  45. 1 John 4:17 : 1 John 2:5; 4:12
  46. 1 John 4:17 : 1 John 2:28
  47. 1 John 4:17 : Matt 10:15
  48. 1 John 4:17 : John 17:22; 1 John 2:6; 3:1, 7, 16
  49. 1 John 4:18 : Rom 8:15
  50. 1 John 4:18 : 1 John 4:12
  51. 1 John 4:19 : 1 John 4:10
  52. 1 John 4:20 : 1 John 1:6, 8, 10; 2:4
  53. 1 John 4:20 : 1 John 2:9, 11
  54. 1 John 4:20 : 1 John 1:6
  55. 1 John 4:20 : 1 John 3:17
  56. 1 John 4:20 : 1 Pet 1:8; 1 John 4:12
  57. 1 John 4:21 : Lev 19:18; Matt 5:43f; 22:37ff; John 13:34
  58. 1 John 4:21 : 1 John 3:11

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1 John 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 Beloved, every spirit believe not, but prove the spirits, if of God they are, because many false prophets have gone forth to the world; 2 in this know ye the Spirit of God; every spirit that doth confess Jesus Christ in the flesh having come, of God it is, 3 and every spirit that doth not confess ...
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1 John 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 Most dear brethren, do not ye believe to each spirit, but prove ye the spirits, if they be of God; for many false prophets went out into the world. 2 In this thing the Spirit of God is known; each spirit that acknowledgeth that Jesus Christ hath come in flesh, is of God; 3 and each spirit that u...
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1 John 4 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

4 My dear brothers, do not trust every spirit. But test the spirits to see if they belong to God. There are many prophets who are not true who have gone out into the world. 2 Here is how you can know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that believes that Jesus Christ has come in the body of a man is fro...
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1 John 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit who doesn’t confess...
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1 John 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

4 My loved ones, I warn you: do not trust every spirit. Instead, examine them carefully to determine if they come from God, because the corrupt world is filled with the voices of many false prophets. 2 Here is how you know God’s Spirit: if a spirit affirms the truth that Jesus the Anointed, our Lib...
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1 John 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Yeshua, the Ruach of Truth4 Loved ones, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. [a] 2 You know the Ruach Elohim by this—every spirit that acknowledges that Messiah Yeshua has come in human flesh is from God,...
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1 John 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Testing the Spirits4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits[a] to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every...
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1 John 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Testing the Spirits4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every sp...
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1 John 4 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

4 Dearly beloved, do not believe every spirit. But test the spirits to see if they are of God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you shall know the Spirit of God: Every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. 3 And every spirit that doe...
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1 John 4 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

False Prophets4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit. Rather, test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Many false prophets, you see, have gone out into the world. 2 This is how we know God’s spirit: every spirit that agrees that Jesus the Messiah has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and ...
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1 John 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Testing the Spirits4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every...
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1 John 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Testing the Spirits4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.(A)2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every...
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1 John 4 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

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1 John 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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