📖 1 John — Chapter 4 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, Rbelieve not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: REvery spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: Rand this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1 John 4:4 Ye Rare of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 John 4:5 They Rare of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1 John 4:6 RWe are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, Rlet us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not Rknoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:9 In this Rwas manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:10 RHerein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11 RBeloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No man hath Rseen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1 John 4:14 And Rwe have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall Rconfess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. RGod is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:17 Herein is our love Rmade perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1 John 4:18 There Ris no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:19 RWe love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:20 If Ra man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
1 John 4:1–6 — Test the spirits
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
John distinguishes confession of Jesus Christ come in the flesh from deceptive teaching, encouraging believers through God's greater presence.
Key Truth: Test spiritual claims by truth concerning Christ.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Hereby know ye the ____ of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is …” (1 John 4:2)
Find it in 1 John 4:2 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Ye are of God, little ____ , and have overcome them: because greater is he that …” (1 John 4:4)
Find it in 1 John 4:4 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of ____ , and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6)
Find it in 1 John 4:6 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 John 4:7–12 — God's love shown through the Son
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Love comes from God and is revealed in the sending of his Son, calling believers to love one another.
Key Truth: Let God's initiative in love shape your response.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is ____ .” (1 John 4:8)
Find it in 1 John 4:8 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his ____ to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
Find it in 1 John 4:10 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “No man hath ____ God at any time. If we love one another, God …” (1 John 4:12)
Find it in 1 John 4:12 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 John 4:13–21 — Abiding love and freedom from fear
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Spirit, confession of the Son, and perfected love strengthen confidence, while love for God cannot coexist with hatred of a brother.
Key Truth: Let assurance in God's love become love for others.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… he in us, because he hath given us of his ____ .” (1 John 4:13)
Find it in 1 John 4:13 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “We ____ him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Find it in 1 John 4:19 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “And this ____ have we from him, That he who loveth God love …” (1 John 4:21)
Find it in 1 John 4:21 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
John 3:16 — Jesus' teaching connects God's love with the giving of his Son.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can assurance in God's love change fear or resentment?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which account best distinguishes 1 John 4:1–6 (Test the spirits) from the other movements of this chapter?
2. Which account best distinguishes 1 John 4:7–12 (God's love shown through the Son) from the other movements of this chapter?
3. Which account best distinguishes 1 John 4:13–21 (Abiding love and freedom from fear) from the other movements of this chapter?
4. What responsibility accompanies hearing claims from spirits?
5. What priority explains the believers' love for God?
Notes
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