Various instructions
4
Test the spirits
1 Dear ones, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this the Spirit of God is known:* Both the Textus Receptus and the eclectic (‘critical’) text have ‘ye know’, with 25% of the Greek manuscripts, so almost all versions so read. I wonder if this has contributed to the use of this passage as a ‘litmus’ test for demonization in some quarters. A better procedure is to use the discernment the Holy Spirit gives us. If we are to test spirits, then they most certainly exist! In today's world we desperately need the gift of discerning spirits (plural). every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ as having come in flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus Christ† Some 6% of the Greek manuscripts omit “Christ” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). as having come in flesh‡ Some 2.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “as having come in flesh” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). is not of God; indeed, this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming—actually, it is already in the world right now.§ The “spirit” of antichrist, an expression of Satan himself, has been around for a long time, but in our day is becoming ever stronger.
4 Dear children, you are of God and have overcome them,* What is the antecedent of “them”? Presumably either the false prophets in verse one or the spirits of antichrist in verse two, or both. Well, the next verse seems to point to the false prophets. because He who is in you is greater than the one in the world.† Jesus is greater than Satan. 5 They are of the world; that is why they speak of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are of God: he who knows God listens to us; he who is not of God does not listen to us—by this we know the Spirit of the Truth and the spirit of the deception.‡ Well now, this would make a good litmus test, but we had better be walking with God if we try to use it!
Love one another
7 Dear ones, we must love one another, because the love is of God and everyone who loves§ Of course this refers to agape love, not emotional or physical love. The world knows nothing of agape love, and Satan represents the opposite. has been begotten by God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God's love was made real within us by this: God sent His only begotten Son into the world in order that we might live through Him. 10 In this is the love, not that we loved God but that He loved us—He even sent His Son as the propitiation for our sins.* Oh praise God! Thank you, Jesus! The only adequate response is to live our lives for Him. 11 Dear ones, since God loved us in this way we are obligated to love one another, really.
As He is so are we in this world
12 No one has ever looked at God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is being perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we remain in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 Yes, we have observed and do testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.† There is a big difference between ‘profess’ and ‘confess’; to confess Jesus is to submit to Him. 16 Yes, we have come to know and believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in the love abides in God, and God in him. 17 The love is perfected with us for this: that we may have confidence in the Day of judgment,‡ This is an interesting concept; we may face the judgment with confidence, especially if our thoughts and actions have been oriented by agape love. since just as He is so are we in this world.§ An important statement—note that it is in this world, not the next. But who is the antecedent of “He”? Verse 13 mentions the Holy Spirit, while verse 14 mentions the Father and the Son, so perhaps it is God the Trinity. As the body of Christ we represent the triune God in this world. And we individually should reflect God's character in this world.
There is no fear in love
18 There is no fear in love; rather perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment; so he who fears has not been perfected in love.* So why do we fear? Usually fear is directly tied to our self-centeredness—it is because of what may happen to us that we are afraid. To the extent that we identify with the interests of God and His Kingdom, we will be less concerned about ourselves. 19 We love Him† Perhaps 2.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “Him” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). because He first loved us.
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” while hating his brother, he is a liar. Well, how can he love God whom he has not seen, while not loving his brother whom he has seen? 21 Indeed, this commandment we have from Him: he who loves God must love his brother also.

*4:2 Both the Textus Receptus and the eclectic (‘critical’) text have ‘ye know’, with 25% of the Greek manuscripts, so almost all versions so read. I wonder if this has contributed to the use of this passage as a ‘litmus’ test for demonization in some quarters. A better procedure is to use the discernment the Holy Spirit gives us. If we are to test spirits, then they most certainly exist! In today's world we desperately need the gift of discerning spirits (plural).

†4:3 Some 6% of the Greek manuscripts omit “Christ” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

‡4:3 Some 2.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “as having come in flesh” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

§4:3 The “spirit” of antichrist, an expression of Satan himself, has been around for a long time, but in our day is becoming ever stronger.

*4:4 What is the antecedent of “them”? Presumably either the false prophets in verse one or the spirits of antichrist in verse two, or both. Well, the next verse seems to point to the false prophets.

†4:4 Jesus is greater than Satan.

‡4:6 Well now, this would make a good litmus test, but we had better be walking with God if we try to use it!

§4:7 Of course this refers to agape love, not emotional or physical love. The world knows nothing of agape love, and Satan represents the opposite.

*4:10 Oh praise God! Thank you, Jesus! The only adequate response is to live our lives for Him.

†4:15 There is a big difference between ‘profess’ and ‘confess’; to confess Jesus is to submit to Him.

‡4:17 This is an interesting concept; we may face the judgment with confidence, especially if our thoughts and actions have been oriented by agape love.

§4:17 An important statement—note that it is in this world, not the next. But who is the antecedent of “He”? Verse 13 mentions the Holy Spirit, while verse 14 mentions the Father and the Son, so perhaps it is God the Trinity. As the body of Christ we represent the triune God in this world. And we individually should reflect God's character in this world.

*4:18 So why do we fear? Usually fear is directly tied to our self-centeredness—it is because of what may happen to us that we are afraid. To the extent that we identify with the interests of God and His Kingdom, we will be less concerned about ourselves.

†4:19 Perhaps 2.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “Him” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD