1 John 4
BSA1 Beloved [dearly loved, cherished], do not believe [trust, have faith in] every spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition], but test [examine, prove] the spirits [the spiritual forces] to see whether they are from [originating from, sent by] God [the one true deity]. For many [numerous, a great number] false prophets [those who claim to speak for God but are actually fake] have gone out [come out, departed] into the world [the orderly arrangement, the world and its inhabitants]. word study 2 By this [in this way, hereby] you will know [recognize, understand] the Spirit [breath, vital principle] of God [the one true deity]: Every spirit [mental disposition, vital principle] that confesses [acknowledges, professes] that Jesus Christ [the anointed Messiah] has come [arrived, appeared] in the flesh [human body, physical form] is from [out of, originating with] God [the supreme Creator], word study 3 and every spirit [that does not acknowledge Jesus as the Christ] that does not confess Jesus [as the Son of God, the Messiah] is not from God [does not originate with the Father]. This is the spirit [the attitude, the mindset] of the antichrist [the adversary of Christ, the one who opposes God’s anointed], which you have heard [been taught, been warned] is coming [will appear, will be revealed] and which is already [even now, at this present time] in the world [among humanity, in the earthly realm] at this time. word study 4 You, little children [of God, dear ones], are from [out of, originating with] God and have overcome [conquered, subdued] them, because greater [more powerful, superior] is He who is in [dwelling within, present among] you than he who is in [dwelling within, present among] the world [the earthly realm, human society]. word study 5 They are of the [worldly system, under Satan’s influence] world. That is why they speak from the [world’s perspective, earthly viewpoint] world’s perspective, and the [fallen, sinful] world listens to them. word study 6 We are from [belong to, have our origin in] God [the one true deity]. Whoever [he who, anyone who] knows [has a deep understanding of, is acquainted with] God [the Father, the Almighty] listens [hears and obeys, gives ear to] to us; whoever [he who, anyone who] is not [does not belong, is not a child] from God [the heavenly Father] does not [refuses to, will not] listen [hear, heed] to us. That is how [by this means, through this] we know [recognize, discern] the Spirit [the divine breath, the Holy Spirit] of truth [reality, sincerity] and the spirit [the attitude, the disposition] of deception [error, falsehood]. word study 7 Beloved [dearly loved, cherished], let us love [show esteem and goodwill towards] one another [mutually, as brothers and sisters], because love [unconditional affection, charity] comes from God [the one true deity]. Everyone who loves [shows love, has affection] has been born [begotten, generated] of God [the Father, the Creator] and knows [understands, recognizes] God [the Almighty, the Savior]. word study 8 Whoever [he who, anyone that] does not [fails to, is without] love [agape, unconditional affection] does not [cannot, is unable to] know [recognize, understand] God [the one true deity], because [since, for the reason that] God [the supreme Being] is [exists as, is characterized by] love [unconditional, selfless affection]. word study 9 This is how God’s [unconditional, divine] love [agape, selfless affection] was revealed [made manifest, clearly shown] among us: God [the Father, Creator] sent His one and only [unique, begotten] Son [the Messiah, Savior] into the world [the earthly realm, human society], so that we might live [have eternal life, be spiritually alive] through Him [by faith, in a personal relationship]. word study 10 And love [unconditional affection, divine charity] consists in this: not that we loved [had esteem and goodwill towards] God, but that He [the Father, Creator] loved us [with an everlasting love] and sent His Son [the Messiah, Savior] as the atoning sacrifice [propitiation, reconciliation] for our sins [transgressions, rebellions against God]. word study 11 Beloved [dearly loved, cherished], if God [the one true deity] so loved us [with such great affection], we also ought [are under obligation] to love [show esteem and goodwill] one another [mutually, as brothers and sisters]. word study 12 No one [none, nobody] has ever seen God [the one true deity]; but if we love [show esteem and goodwill towards] one another [mutually, in a reciprocal manner], God [the supreme Being] remains [stays, dwells] in us, and His love [unconditional affection, charity] is perfected [completed, made whole] in us. word study 13 By this [specific truth, this fact] we know [have certainty, understand] that we remain [stay, abide] in Him [in a close, intimate relationship], and He [the Father, God] in us [dwelling within, living among]: He has given [bestowed, granted] us of [a part of, from] His Spirit [the Holy Spirit, the divine nature]. word study 14 And we have seen [beheld, looked closely at] and testify [bear witness, give evidence] that the Father [the male parent, God Almighty] has sent [dispatched, set apart on a mission] His Son [the Messiah, Jesus Christ] to be the Savior [Deliverer, Rescuer] of the world [the earth, humanity, all creation]. word study 15 If [in the event that, provided that] anyone confesses [acknowledges, professes openly] that Jesus [the Son of God, having God’s nature] is the Son [a child, an heir] of God [the supreme deity, Creator], God [the Father, Almighty] abides [dwells, remains] in him, and he in God [in harmony, in fellowship]. word study 16 And we have come to know [experienced and understood] and believe [trust and have faith in] the love [unconditional affection and devotion] that God [the supreme deity, Creator of all] has for us. God is love [the embodiment of unconditional love and compassion]; whoever abides [remains and dwells] in love [agape, selfless and divine affection] abides in God [lives in harmony with the divine nature], and God in him [dwells and resides within the believer]. word study 17 In this way [by this means, through this process], love [unconditional, divine affection] has been perfected [made complete, brought to maturity] among us, so that we may have confidence [boldness, freedom from fear] on the day [period of time, era] of judgment [evaluation, assessment]; for in this world [the present age, earthly realm] we are just like Him [having His nature, resembling Christ]. word study 18 There is no [absence of, complete lack of] fear [dread or terror] in love [unconditional, selfless affection], but perfect [complete, mature] love [divine love] drives out [casts away, expels] fear [fear of punishment], because fear [fear of God’s judgment] involves [has, includes] punishment [penalty or chastisement]. The one who fears [is afraid, has dread] has not been perfected [made complete, matured] in love [God’s unconditional love]. word study 19 We [as believers, having God’s nature] love [show esteem and goodwill] because He [the Father] first loved [showed esteem and goodwill towards] us [as His children]. word study 20 If anyone says, “I love [have affection and devotion for] God [the one true deity],” but hates [detests and has ill will towards] his brother [fellow believer, sibling in Christ], he is a liar [one who intentionally spreads false information]. For anyone who does not love [show esteem and goodwill towards] his brother [neighbor, fellow Christian], whom he has seen [perceived and experienced], cannot love [have a deep affection for] God [the invisible, all-knowing Father], whom he has not seen [perceived with his physical eyes]. word study 21 And we have this [specific, divine] commandment [instruction, order] from Him: Whoever [he who, anyone who] loves [shows esteem and goodwill towards] God [the one true deity] must [is obligated to, necessarily] love [show affection and care for] his brother [fellow Christian, male sibling] as well [also, in the same way]. word study