1Jo 4:1 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1John 4:1-6: 4:1-6 Those who belong to God (4:4 ) can distinguish spiritual truth from error, because the Spirit’s presence (3:23-24 ) teaches them (see 2:20 , 27 ; John 14:15-26 ; 16:5-15 ). Yet John provides concrete tests for the believers to apply so that there will be no confusion. These tests are a starting point for true teachers, not an exhaustive set; they were designed to address the false teachings that were being promoted in the churches of John’s readers. 4:1 everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit (literally every spirit ): The teachers who left John’s churches claimed to be prophets , but the true prophet is an instrument for the Holy Spirit’s messages (Acts 4:25 ; 1 Tim 4:1 ; Rev 19:10 ). Every speaker should be tested against what the Holy Spirit has said through the apostles (1 Jn 4:2-3 , 6 ).

a4:1-6►

b4:4►

c3:23-24►

d2:20►

e27►

fJohn 14:15-26►

g16:5-15►

h4:1►

iActs 4:25►

j1 Tim 4:1►

kRev 19:10►

l1 Jn 4:2-3►

m6►

‏ 1 John 4:1

Summary for 1John 4:1-6: 4:1-6 ^a Those who belong to God (4:4 ^b) can distinguish spiritual truth from error, because the Spirit’s presence (3:23-24 ^c) teaches them (see 2:20 ^d, 27 ^e; John 14:15-26 ^f; 16:5-15 ^g). Yet John provides concrete tests for the believers to apply so that there will be no confusion. These tests are a starting point for true teachers, not an exhaustive set; they were designed to address the false teachings that were being promoted in the churches of John’s readers. 4:1 ^h everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit (literally every spirit): The teachers who left John’s churches claimed to be prophets, but the true prophet is an instrument for the Holy Spirit’s messages (Acts 4:25 ⁱ; 1 Tim 4:1 ^j; Rev 19:10 ^k). Every speaker should be tested against what the Holy Spirit has said through the apostles (1 Jn 4:2-3 ^l, 6 ^m).