ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 John 4

1 John 4:1–6 It is not only Cain’s bad example that John wants his readers to avoid (3:11–24); it is also the forces of spiritual deception. John furnishes a litmus test for detecting these evil spirits.

1 John 4:1 test the spirits. One can test the spiritual influences that guide people by observing their doctrine and conduct. God has also provided the gift of spiritual discernment for this purpose (compare 1 Cor. 12:10; 14:29). False prophets actually speak by demonic influence (1 John 4:3–4).

1 John 4:2 By this you know. Any spirit (or person moved to speak by such a spirit) that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh misleads God’s people. Apparently many false teachers were saying that Jesus only “appeared” to be human.

1 John 4:3 every spirit that does not confess Jesus. That is, whoever refuses to admit that Jesus “has come in the flesh” (v. 2).

1 John 4:4 he who is in you. The Holy Spirit (see vv. 2, 6). he who is in the world. Satan and his demons (see v. 3; 5:19).

1 John 4:5 they speak from the world. Their speech is influenced by the world’s viewpoint and values.

1 John 4:6 does not listen to us. People who are not true believers resist sound doctrine (compare 1 Cor. 2:14).

4:7–21 The Assurance of God through the Love of God. John’s teaching in these verses is like the apostle Paul’s “love chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13.1 John 4:7 whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. This does not remove the need for faithful confession of Christ (2:23; 4:2) and for ethical integrity (3:16), but love completes a life in fellowship with God.

1 John 4:8 does not know God, because God is love. The person who lacks love shows himself to be unchanged by the gospel message. “God is love” means that God continually gives of himself to others and seeks their benefit.

1 John 4:9 might live. That is, receive eternal life.

1 John 4:10 not that we have loved God. God’s love sets the standard for the love Christians should show. propitiation. See note on 2:2.

1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God. See note on John 1:18.

1 John 4:14 we have seen and testify. See note on 1:1.

1 John 4:15 Jesus is the Son of God. He is unique. He is divine and shares every attribute of God (see note on John 1:14). In 1 John 4:2, John required that true teachers affirm Christ’s full humanity. Here he requires that they affirm Christ’s full deity.

1 John 4:16 we have come to know and to believe. See note on 2:3.

1 John 4:17 By this refers to the previous verse. confidence for the day of judgment. Either eternal life or eternal punishment awaits every person (see John 3:36). God’s love provides a sure hope for those who have trusted in him. as he is so also are we in this world. Jesus pleased the Father while on earth; believers do so as well.

1 John 4:18 God’s perfect love for believers casts out the fear of wrath and eternal punishment.

1 John 4:19 We love because. God’s love was demonstrated in the cross (see Rom. 5:8). God loves humanity first, and the love Christians show is a response to that love.