4:1 spirit Refers to the spiritual source of a teaching or doctrine. According to John, every teaching about Christ originates from a spiritual source. A teaching is either true and from the Spirit of God, or false and from the spirit of deceit (v. 6).

test the spirits Believers derive their ability to test truth and falsehood from their anointing by God, their knowledge of the teachings of Jesus, and the work of the Holy Spirit in them (2:20, 27; 3:24). They can determine a spirit’s origin by examining whether its teaching reflects the love of Christ.

because many false prophets Testing is necessary because of the presence of false teaching—which, based on the terminology used by John, was likely derived directly from an evil spiritual power.

4:2 Spirit of God Refers to the source of true teaching about Christ.

confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh A true spirit from God will confess Jesus’ true humanity.

4:3 does not confess Jesus Refers to denying Jesus’ humanity (compare 1 John 2:18 and note). John is opposing a group of people who hold this view, which goes against Jesus’ true identity.

it is coming, and now it is John commonly uses phrases such as this, which further identifies this letter with the Gospel of John (see John 4:23; 5:25; 16:32).

4:4 conquered them True believers prevail over false teachers because Christ, whose Spirit resides in them, is stronger than the antichrists and any spiritual powers at work in them (1 John 4:1). As believers face false teachings, they can have assurance in Jesus’ victory over evil.

4:5 from the world Their values are derived from human society.

4:6 does not listen to us John is speaking about those who have left the recipients’ congregation and rejected God’s truth.

this Refers to the confession of vv. 2–3 (compare John 16:13–14).

4:7 fathered by God Those whom God has fathered spiritually (believers in Christ) enjoy a relationship with Him (1 John 1:3; 3:1, 10); they have been adopted as God’s children. As Father, God provides His children with guidance through the Spirit. John’s use of this language reflects God’s act of making people one with Him and restoring the image that God intended for humanity in the beginning (compare note on Gen 1:27).

4:8 God is love Although love is an essential attribute of God, John is not making an abstract statement about God’s character. John’s point is that God can be known only through His demonstration of His love, most profoundly seen in sending His Son in the flesh as a sacrifice for humanity.

4:9 the love of God God demonstrated His love for humanity and creation by sending His only Son to die as a means of atonement for sin (see 1 John 4:9; compare John 3:16). Since the incarnation represents God’s ultimate expression of love, those who deny that Jesus came in the flesh reject God’s love for them.

4:10 the propitiation Refers to the reconciliatory significance of Christ’s death and resurrection. See 1 John 1:7 and note; compare 2:2.

4:11 we also ought to love one another John links together the two main issues that the false teachers have misconstrued: love of God and love of neighbor. For John, the two expressions of love are inextricably tied together (see 2:8 and note; 2:10 and note).

4:12 No one has seen God That is, in His full, manifest form. John argues that although no one has seen God, His character can be seen in believers who love as He does (compare John 1:18; 6:46).

4:13 his Spirit God’s Spirit not only resides in believers, but teaches them the truth concerning the saving work of the incarnate Christ (1 John 4:14; compare 3:24).

4:14 Savior of the world Describes the purpose of Christ’s incarnation—to rescue humanity from sin (1:7; 2:2; 4:10). John wants his audience to understand that properly responding to Christ’s saving act requires affirmation of Christ’s existence in bodily form (1:9; 4:2).

4:15 God resides in him Through the work of God as Holy Spirit in the life of a believer (2:24; 3:23–24).

4:16 who resides in love resides in God This phrase, which continues the thought from v. 15, represents the main point of John’s letter: A person who is truly a Christian and part of the Christian community correctly identifies Jesus as the incarnate Son of God. Christians demonstrate their belief in Jesus by loving others, admitting sin, and letting God transform their life (1:6–7; 2:10, 19). These actions also define a person as a true child of God and a member of the believing community.

4:17 perfected with us God’s love is made perfect, or complete, among believers when they reflect God’s loving character in their lives (see 1:5–7; 2:1–6, 28; 3:16–20). Love is not an abstract concept for John; it concerns the outworking of the believers’ faith in ordinary interactions with people.

have confidence in the day of judgment Believers can be confident on the basis of God’s love toward them; they do not have to fear His judgment.

4:18 fear includes punishment John further explains why believers can be confident of God’s love on the day of judgment. God’s wrath is reserved for those who unrepentantly dishonor others with their apathy.

4:19 first loved us God demonstrates this by offering salvation through Jesus.

4:20 a liar Describes anyone who claims knowledge of God but fails to carry out His commandment to love fellow Christians and by extension other people in general (1 John 2:4; Matt 22:39). According to John, this person is a liar because it is impossible to love God without also demonstrating love to other believers.

4:21 love his brother also Doing so demonstrates an accurate understanding of the love of God (see 1 John 4:7–11). The believer’s responsibility to show Christ-like sacrificial love to other Christians is not optional; it is commanded by God as a way of displaying His love to the world (2:3–4, 7–8; 3:22–24; 5:2–3).