


1 John 4:3
Bible Versions
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.
And {G2532} every {G3956} spirit {G4151} that {G3739} confesseth {G3670} not {G3361} that Jesus {G2424} Christ {G5547} is come {G2064} in {G1722} the flesh {G4561} is {G2076} not {G3756} of {G1537} God {G2316}: and {G2532} this {G5124} is {G2076} that spirit of antichrist {G500}, whereof {G3739} ye have heard {G191} that {G3754} it should come {G2064}; and even {G2532} now {G3568} already {G2235} is it {G2076} in {G1722} the world {G2889}.
and every spirit which does not acknowledge Yeshua is not from God — in fact, this is the spirit of the Anti-Messiah. You have heard that he is coming. Well, he’s here now, in the world already!
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.
and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.
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1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. -
2 John 1:7
¶ For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. -
1 John 2:18
¶ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. -
2 Thessalonians 2:3
¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; -
2 Thessalonians 2:8
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Context of 1 John 4:3
First John chapter 4 opens with a crucial admonition to "try the spirits whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). This immediately sets the stage for discerning true spiritual teaching from false. The early church faced significant challenges from various heresies, particularly those that undermined the true nature of Jesus Christ. Verse 3 provides a key test for identifying such deceptive spirits.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The term "antichrist" (Greek: antichristos) is used exclusively by John in the New Testament (1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7). The prefix "anti-" can mean "against" or "in place of." Thus, an antichrist is one who opposes Christ or seeks to replace Him. The emphasis on "come in the flesh" directly counters early Gnostic-like heresies (specifically Docetism) which taught that Jesus only *appeared* to have a physical body, denying His true humanity.
Practical Application
For believers today, 1 John 4:3 remains highly relevant. It underscores the unchanging importance of sound doctrine regarding the person of Jesus Christ. We are called to: