1 John 4:2
What does 1 John 4:2 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 4:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 4:2 means
Here John identifies the touchstone of true inspiration: a confession that acknowledges Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. The Spirit of God leads people to affirm the real Incarnation—Jesus truly took on human nature and entered history. This strikes at denials that reduce Jesus to an appearance or mere idea. A right Christology is not optional; it is the dividing line of authentic faith. To confess Jesus Christ come in the flesh is to embrace His person and mission, the divine Son truly human, the promised Messiah who lived, died, and rose. True teachers exalt this Jesus, not a spiritualized substitute more palatable to worldly thinking.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949By this you may have knowledge of the Spirit of God: every spirit which says that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862in this know ye the Spirit of God; every spirit that doth confess Jesus Christ in the flesh having come, of God it is,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752By this is the spirit of God known. Every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Hereby ye know the Spirit ofGod: every spirit which confesses Jesus Christ come in flesh is ofGod;
Context
Following the command to test, John supplies the positive mark of orthodoxy. Verse 2 narrows discernment to the confession of Christ’s Incarnation, speaking to errors troubling his readers. This flows directly into verse 3, which states the negative side: denial of Jesus exposes a spirit not from God. These verses do not invite mere doctrinal trivia but safeguard the very heart of the gospel. After establishing the standard, John will comfort believers who may feel outnumbered by false voices.
v.1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
v.2This passage
v.3and 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 12:3
Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.
- John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
- 1 John 5:1
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
- John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
- 1 John 2:23
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.
- 1 John 4:3
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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