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1 John 4:2

Jesus
Jesus ChristThe Holy SpiritTruth and honesty

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

4 You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
KJV
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
WEB
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
ASV
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
DARBY
Hereby ye know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses Jesus Christ come in flesh is of God;
BLB
In this you⁺ know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is of God,
ÅB
På dette skal dere kjenne Guds Ånd: Hver ånd som bekjenner at Jesus er Kristus, kommet i kjød, er av Gud;
OTB
På denne måten kan dere gjenkjenne Guds Ånd: hver ånd som bekjenner at Jesus Kristus er kommet i kjødet, er fra Gud;
B1930
På dette skal I kjenne Guds Ånd: Hver ånd som bekjenner at Jesus er Kristus, kommet i kjød, er av Gud;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 1:14

    The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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  • 1 Corinthians 12:3

    Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

    Read in context

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.

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  • 1 John 5:1

    Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.

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  • 1 John 4:3

    and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

    Read in context

  • John 16:13–15

    However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

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  • 1 John 2:23

    Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

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