1 John 4:2

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

Hereby {G1722}{G3739}{G5129} know ye {G1097} the Spirit {G4151} of God {G2316}: Every {G3956} spirit {G4151} that confesseth {G3670} that Jesus {G2424} Christ {G5547} is come {G2064} in {G1722} the flesh {G4561} is {G2076} of {G1537} God {G2316}:

Here is how you recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit which acknowledges that Yeshua the Messiah came as a human being is from God,

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

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

1 John 4:2 provides a crucial test for discerning the authenticity of spiritual claims and teachings.

Context

This verse is part of John's broader instruction on distinguishing true spiritual influences from false ones, immediately following his exhortation to "test the spirits". In the early church, various false doctrines were emerging, particularly those that denied the full humanity of Jesus Christ. These teachings, often associated with nascent Gnostic ideas or Docetism, claimed that Jesus only appeared to have a physical body, or that His divine spirit temporarily inhabited a human form, without truly becoming flesh and blood. John directly confronts these heresies, emphasizing the foundational truth of Jesus' incarnation as a cornerstone of genuine faith.

Key Themes

  • Discernment of Spirits: The verse offers a clear, objective criterion for identifying whether a spirit or teaching originates from God. It's a call to spiritual vigilance against deception.
  • The Incarnation of Jesus Christ: Central to true faith is the confession that Jesus Christ truly "is come in the flesh." This affirms His full humanity alongside His divinity, essential for His atoning work as both God and man.
  • Authentic Christian Confession: The willingness to openly acknowledge (Greek: homologeo) Jesus' physical reality is presented as a hallmark of genuine faith and the presence of God's Spirit.
  • Combating False Doctrine: John provides a vital safeguard against deceptive teachings that undermine the person of Christ, ensuring believers can stand firm in truth.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" uses the Greek word homologeo for "confesseth," which means to agree with, to acknowledge, or to declare openly and publicly. It signifies a full and truthful affirmation. The phrase "is come in the flesh" (Greek: en sarki eleluthota) strongly emphasizes the historical and physical reality of Jesus' human existence, directly countering any notion that His humanity was merely an illusion or temporary state. This physical reality was crucial for Him to truly represent humanity and to suffer for sin, as seen in Hebrews 2:14 and His taking the form of a servant.

Practical Application

While specific heresies like Docetism may not be prevalent today in their original form, the principle of 1 John 4:2 remains profoundly relevant. We are still called to test teachings and spiritual claims. Any doctrine that diminishes the full humanity or full divinity of Jesus Christ, or denies His historical reality, is contrary to the Spirit of God. This verse encourages believers to ground their faith in the biblical understanding of Jesus, recognizing that true revelation from God will always uplift and correctly portray the person of Christ. It reminds us that discernment requires focusing on foundational truths about Jesus, ensuring our confession aligns with His true nature as both God and man, who truly took on human flesh for our salvation. This stands in stark contrast to the spirit of antichrist which denies this essential truth.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:3

    Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

  • John 1:14

    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

  • 1 John 5:1

    ¶ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

  • 1 John 4:3

    And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

  • John 16:13

    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

  • John 16:15

    All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.

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