1 John 4

1 John 4:1

BElieve not every spirit] Every doctrine propounded as received by inspiration from Gods Spirit. Or, every teacher that saith, he hath such a revelation, 1 Cor. 14. 26, 29, 32.

trie the spirits] False teachers will boast of the Spirit, and therefore we must trie what spirit their doctrine cometh from; and that by the touch-stone of Gods word, with all diligence, John 5:39. Acts 17:11. 1 Thessalonians 5:21. Revelation 2:2. 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

whether they are of Gods] By inspiration or revelation.

many false prophets] Chap. 2. 18. 2 Peter 2:1.

1 John 4:2

Every spirit] See on v. 1.

that confesseth, &c.] And withall embraceth Christ, by relying on him for eternall life. Or, it may be interpreted negatively; No spirit that denieth it, is of God. As 1 Corinthians 10:31. Do all to Gods glory: that is, Do nothing to dishonour him, by offe〈…〉ng his children, as v. 32.

that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh] Clothed with it. Is become true man, John 1:14. He doth not say, It come into the flesh, lest any should deny the personall union of both natures in Christ, or think his Godhead comprehended within the limits of his body: but, in the flesh, Romans 8:3. 1 Timothy 3:16.

is of God] Is sent of God, and preacheth true doctrine; as v. 6. Yet his person may be unregenerate, as Judas was. Or, doth so far forth speak from God, 1 Corinthians 12:3.

1 John 4:3

And every spirit] Or, But every spirit; as chap. 3. 2.

that spirit of antichrist] See on chap. 2. 18.

1 John 4:4

ye are of God] Bred of God, as his children, chap. 5. 1. John 1:13. James 1. 18 1 Pet. 1. 3, 23. Though there be so many seducers, yet ye are safe, as having discerned and overcome their allurements, by the wisedome and power of God dwelling in you.

little children] See on chap. 2. 1.

and have overcome them] Those false prophets, v. 1. and antichrists, v. 3.

for greater is he that is in you] Chap. 2. 20. Gods Spirit, chap. 3. 24. Ye overcame them not by your own strength, but by Gods Spirit dwelling in you, Romans 8:37. Philippians 4:13. Revelation 12:11.

then he that is in the world] The devil, John 12:31. 1 Corinthians 2:12. Eph. 2. 2. and 6. 12.

1 John 4:5

They are of the world] Wicked and unregenerate men, John 15:19. and John 17:9.

therefore speak they of the world, &c.] Because they are of the world, they speak sutably, and are heard readily: for, being sensuall themselves, 1 Corinthians 2:14. and speaking to such as themselves, of things pleasing to them, as they have learned by their senses; here men readily hearken to them. John 3:31.

1 John 4:6

We are of God] Those false teachers, v. 1, 3, 5. are not sent of God to preach his truth, as we are, John 3:31.

he that knoweth God, heareth us] Assenteth to our doctrine, and not to those false teachers, John 10:3; John 10:5.

hereby know we, &c.] By teaching the same doctrine which, the other apostles taught. For Gods Spirit varieth not from himself: and he hath given the word for a perpetuall rule to try the spirits by, Isaiah 8:20.

the Spirit of truth] True teachers, who have received the truth by inspiration of Gods Spirit. See on v. 1.

1 John 4:7

is born of God] Chap. 3. 9. and 5. 1.

and knoweth God] Chap. 2. 3.

1 John 4:8

God is love] He doth not call God Loving but Love it self: for love is essentiall to him, and cannot be parted from him.

knoweth not God] See on chap. 3. 6.

1 John 4:9

In this was manifested the love of God] In nothing more, then in giving Christ for us, chap. 3. 16. John 3:16. Rom. 8. 3, 32. Gal. 4. 4, 5.

his onely begotten Son] And therefore most dear to him, Matthew 3:17. Genesis 22:2.

that we might live through him] John 3:6. Under life, is contained all happinesse.

1 John 4:10

Herein is love] He loved us freely, doing good to us, and looking for no good from us: we cannot so love him, but must love him for his gifts, as well as for himself. Ours therefore is not worthy of the name of love, in comparison of his, because it cannot be every way so free. And the pure nature of love is more seen in Gods love to us, then in ours to him.

not that we loved God] So freely as he loved us. Or, first, as v. 9. Or, we were so far from loving him, as that we hated him, Romans 5:8; Romans 5:10.

to be the propitiation for our sins] See on chap. 2. 2. His love appeared the more, in that he sent his Son not onely to teach us the way to heaven, but also to die for us.

1 John 4:11

If God] Or, Seeing God. For he doth not doubt whether God loveth us or no, but infers from Gods love to us, that we ought to love others. See the like phrase, 1 Pet. 4. 18.

so loved us] If he, being so great, so freely loved us, vile, wretched, unworthy and ungratefull persons, as not onely to give his creatures to us, but also his Son to death for us, we ought to love others, that differ not so much from us, though they deserve it not of us. See on v. 10. They may do us good hereafter, we cannot to God.

1 John 4:12

No man hath seen God] I propound not God simply to be imitated in all things, because he is invisible, John 1:18. 1 Timothy 1:17. Exodus 33:10. but in his love to us, which hath been so fully manifested. Or, ye may more easily love your brother, whom ye can see, then God, whom ye cannot see; as vers. 20.

if we love one another] As we know we have a soul in us, by the working of it, though we see it not: so we know that God is in us, if his Spirit hath wrought love in us to his children.

his love is perfected in us] Chap. 2. 5. He makes us sure that he loves us. Or, he makes us love him more fully. Or, to know that our love to him is true, v. 17. Or, our love to him is more fully manifested, 2 Corinthians 12:9. James 2:22.

1 John 4:13

that we dwell in him] Chap. 3. 24.

of his Spirit] Some graces of his Spirit in our measure, John 1:16. Numbers 11:17. Not all of them, or without measure, as to Christ, John 3:34.

1 John 4:14

And we have seen, &c.] See chap. 1. 1, 3. 1 Corinthians 15:5. 2 Peter 1:16.

1 John 4:15

Whosoever confesseth, &c.] See on v. 2. 1 Corinthians 12:3.

dwelleth in him] See chap. 3. 24.

1 John 4:16

God is love] See on v. 8. He is love it self; yet sometimes he is called Loving, lest we should think him to be a quality, and not a living substance.

and he that] Or, therefore he that, as 1 Corinthians 5:13.

dwelleth in God, and God in him] Chap. 3. 24.

1 John 4:17

Herein is our love] Gr. love with us, as 1 Corinthians 15:10.

made perfect] V. 12. Chap. 2. 5.

that we may have boldnesse] Or, freedom, or confidence, Chap. 4. 19, 21. Matth. 25. 34, 35.

as he is, so are we] Sincere in his love to us. See on chap. 3. 3. Luke 6:36. 2 Corinthians 3:18. Ephesians 4:14. Colossians 3:10. Hebrews 12:10. 2 Peter 1:4.

in this world] Even while we abide here, John 17:11; John 17:15.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love] If we know by love, that God is in us, and we in him, v. 16. we may well be fearlesse of damnation, and not give way to terrours of conscience, timorousnesse, or desparation. There is no cause of fear of hell, Romans 8:31.

perfect love] Sincere, without hypocrisie; as chap. 3. 18, 19. Or, full, wanting no degree, James 1:4.

casteth out fear] He that truely loveth God, doth not forbear sin for fear of ell onely, but rather out of love to God: as a loving wife forbeareth all disloyall and undutifull carriage, not for fear of death, so much as out of love to her husband, 2 Timothy 1:7. Or, Servile fear doth not exercise his work, while love doth exercise his; but sometimes it may be of good use in a good man, when the flesh would prevail. Or, perfect love in heaven, casteth out all fear of hell.

1 John 4:19

because he loved us first] V. 10. Not onely because of his excellency, which is most worthy of love; but also because he hath cast his love upon us, and therefore is no way indebted to us for our love.

1 John 4:20

How can he love God, &c.] If visible objects move him not, invisible will not, chap. 3. 17.

1 John 4:21

this commandment] Matth. 22. 37, 38, 39.