And every spirit that confesseth not,.... The proper deity and sonship of Christ, his true and real humanity, and his Messiahship; or any of his offices, doctrines, and ordinances; or his satisfaction and righteousness; or that peace, pardon, justification, life, and salvation, are by him; all which are meant by what follows,that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh: this clause is left out in the Ethiopic version, and that without hurting the sense, since it is easily supplied from the preceding verse; and the Alexandrian copy, and the Vulgate Latin version, only read "Jesus": and the latter reads the whole thus, "and every spirit that dissolves Jesus"; that separates the two natures, human and divine, in him, and makes two persons of them; or denies either of them, either that he is truly God, or really man, or denies him to be Jesus, the Saviour; who, as much as in him lies, destroys his person, office, and work, and makes void his obedience, sufferings, and death:is not of God; neither he nor his doctrine are of God; his doctrine cannot come from God, being contrary to the word of God; and he himself is neither born of God, nor on his side.
Bible Commentary
1 John 4:3
1 John 4:3
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
The Daily Devotional
One devotional. Every morning.
The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.
We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.
Continue tomorrow
Turn Bible study into a daily habit
Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.
Recommended reading
More for 1 John 4:3
Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.
Other commentaries
1 John 4 — Overview1 John 4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIn this chapter the apostle exhorts to try spirits (ver. 1), gives a
note to try by (ver. 2, 3), shows who are of the world and who of God
(ver. 4-6), urges Christian love by divers considerations (ver. 7-16),…1 John 4 — Overview1 John 4 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledge1 John 4:1, He warns them not to believe all who boast of the Spirit; 1 John 4:7, and exhorts to brotherly love.1 John 4 — Overview1 John 4 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleIn this chapter the apostle cautions against seducing spirits; advises to try them, and gives rules by which they may be known, and by which they are distinguished from others; and then returns to his favourite subject,…1 John 4:1-31 John 4:1-3 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThe apostle, having said that God's dwelling in and with us may be
known by the Spirit that he hath given us, intimates that that Spirit
may be discerned and distinguished from other spirits that appear in
the…1 John 4:1-211 John 4:1-21 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION
1 John 4:1 - 1 John 5:12
(2) The source of son-ship. Possession of the Spirit.
1 John 4:1-6
Confession of the Incarnation is the assurance that the Spirit of God, who is the Spirit of truth, is working in…1 John 4:1-211 John 4:1-21 · The Pulpit CommentaryII. THAT LOVE HAS BEEN MANIFESTED TO OUR RACE. (John 1:9, John 1:10.) Through whom? "His only begotten Son." How? "A Propitiation." For what? "For our sins." With what intent? That we might live through him. No true…
commentaryRecommended resourceExplore this resource connected to the verse you are reading.commentaryRecommended resourceExplore this resource connected to the verse you are reading.sermonSpiritual WorshipSermon 77 Spiritual Worship “This is the true God, and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20. 1. In this Epistle St. John speaks not to any particular Church, but to...John WesleydevotionThe Mathematics of HeavenStop trying to fully "solve" the Trinity; if you could fully understand Him, He wouldn't be God, He would be a human like you. Instead, worship the Mystery. The Father planned your salvation, the Son achieved it, and the Spirit applies it. Thank all Three today.discipledeck sermonScriptural ChristianitySermon 4 Scriptural Christianity “Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall...John WesleysermonDiscourse ISermon 10 THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT Discourse I “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Rom. 8:16 1. How many...John WesleysermonThe Marks of the New BirthSermon 18 The Marks of the New Birth “So is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8. 1. How is every one that is “born of the Spirit,” — that is,...John WesleysermonChristian PerfectionSermon 40 Christian Perfection “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.” Phil. 3:12. 1. There is scarce any expression in Holy...John Wesley