1 John 4
New Testament · English Majority Text Version with Greek parallel
1 John chapter 4 is given here in full, verse by verse, in the English Majority Text Version (EMTV), with the Byzantine Majority Text set beneath each verse. The text follows the Byzantine textual tradition used in the Orthodox Church.
41 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo.
1 John 4
1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.Ἀγαπητοί, μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε, ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα εἰ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν, ὅτι πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τὸν κόσμον.
2By this the Spirit of God is known: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκεται τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ· πᾶν πνεῦμα ὃ ὁμολογεῖ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐν σαρκὶ ἐληλυθότα ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστι,
3and every spirit which does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard that it is coming, and now is already in the world.καὶ πᾶν πνεῦμα ὃ μὴ ὁμολογεῖ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐν σαρκὶ ἐληλυθότα ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐκ ἔστι· καὶ τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ τοῦ ἀντιχρίστου, ὃ ἀκηκόατε ὅτι ἔρχεται καὶ νῦν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἐστὶν ἤδη.
4You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.ἡμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστε, τεκνία, καὶ νενικήκατε αὐτούς, ὅτι μείζων ἐστὶν ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν ἢ ὁ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ.
5They are of the world: on account of this they speak of the world, and the world hears them.αὐτοὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου εἰσί· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου λαλοῦσι καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτῶν ἀκούει.
6We are of God. He that knows God hears us; he that is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.ἡμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐσμεν· ὁ γινώσκων τὸν Θεὸν ἀκούει ἡμῶν· ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐκ ἀκούει ἡμῶν. ἐκ τούτου γινώσκομεν τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πλάνης.
7Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; and everyone that loves has been born of God and knows God.Ἀγαπητοί, ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους, ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστι, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀγαπῶν ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ γεγέννηται καὶ γινώσκει τὸν Θεόν.
8He that does not love does not know God, because God is love.ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν οὐκ ἔγνω τὸν Θεόν, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν.
9By this the love of God is manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, in order that we might live through Him.ἐν τούτῳ ἐφανερώθη ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν ἡμῖν, ὅτι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἀπέσταλκεν ὁ Θεὸς εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα ζήσωμεν δι᾽ αὐτοῦ.
10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.ἐν τούτῳ ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη, οὐχ ὅτι ἡμεῖς ἠγαπήσαμεν τὸν Θεόν, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἱλασμὸν περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν.
11Beloved, if in this way God loved us, indeed we ought to love one another.ἀγαπητοί, εἰ οὕτως ὁ Θεὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἡμεῖς ὀφείλομεν ἀλλήλους ἀγαπᾶν.
12No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.Θεὸν οὐδεὶς πώποτε τεθέαται· ἐὰν ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους, ὁ Θεὸς ἐν ἡμῖν μένει καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη αὐτοῦ τετελειωμένη ἐστὶν ἐν ἡμῖν.
13(By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.)Ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ μένομεν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ἡμῖν, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματος αὐτοῦ δέδωκεν ἡμῖν.
14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.καὶ ἡμεῖς τεθεάμεθα καὶ μαρτυροῦμεν ὅτι ὁ πατὴρ ἀπέσταλκε τὸν υἱὸν σωτῆρα τοῦ κόσμου.
15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.ὃς ἂν ὁμολογήσῃ ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὁ Θεὸς ἐν αὐτῷ μένει, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν τῷ Θεῷ.
16And we have come to know and believe the love which God has in us. God is love, and he that abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐγνώκαμεν καὶ πεπιστεύκαμεν τὴν ἀγάπην ἣν ἔχει ὁ Θεὸς ἐν ἡμῖν. Ὁ Θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστί, καὶ ὁ μένων ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐν τῷ Θεῷ μένει, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐν αὐτῷ μένει.
17By this love has been perfected with us: that we may have confidence in the Day of Judgment; because just as He is, we also are in this world.ἐν τούτῳ τετελείωται ἡ ἀγάπη μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν, ἵνα παρρησίαν ἔχωμεν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως, ὅτι καθὼς ἐκεῖνός ἐστι, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ.
18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment. But he that fears has not been made perfect in love.φόβος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ, ἀλλ᾽ ἡ τελεία ἀγάπη ἔξω βάλλει τὸν φόβον, ὅτι ὁ φόβος κόλασιν ἔχει· ὁ δὲ φοβούμενος οὐ τετελείωται ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ.
19We love Him because He first loved us.ἡμεῖς ἀγαπῶμεν αὐτόν, ὅτι αὐτὸς πρῶτος ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς.
20If anyone claims, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how is it possible for him to love God whom he has not seen?ἐάν τις εἴπῃ ὅτι Ἀγαπῶ τὸν Θεόν, καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ μισῇ, ψεύστης ἐστίν· ὁ γὰρ μὴ ἀγαπῶν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ὃν ἑώρακε, τὸν Θεὸν ὃν οὐχ ἑώρακε πῶς δύναται ἀγαπᾶν;
21And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God should love his brother also.καὶ ταύτην τὴν ἐντολὴν ἔχομεν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν Θεὸν ἀγαπᾷ καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ.
The Fathers on 1 John 4
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On 1 John 4:1Saint Augustine of Hippo“Beloved, believe not every spirit.” 1 John 4:1 Because he had said, “In this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us.” But how this same Spirit is known, mark this: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they be from God.” And who is he that proves the spirits? A...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:1Saint Augustine of HippoWhat are we to do then? By what to discern them? Be very attentive; let us go together in heart, and knock. Charity herself keeps watch; for it is none other than she that shall knock, she also that shall open: anon you shall understand in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Already you have heard that it was said...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:1Saint Augustine of HippoNay, and that you may know that he has referred the matter to deeds, he says, “And every spirit, qui solvit Christum, which does away with Christ that He came in the flesh, is not of God.” A doing away in deeds is meant. What has he shown you? “That denies:” in that he says, “does away” (or, “unmakes”). He came to...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:4Saint Augustine of HippoSo is this world to all the faithful seeking their own country, as was the desert to the people Israel. They wandered indeed as yet, and were seeking their own country: but with God for their guide they could not wander astray. Their way was God's bidding. For where they went about during forty years, the journey...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:4Saint Augustine of Hippo“Now,” says he, “are you of God little children, and have overcome him:” 1 John 4:4 whom but Antichrist? For above he had said, “Whosoever unmakes Jesus Christ and denies that He has come in the flesh is not of God.” Now we expounded, if you remember, that all those who violate charity deny Jesus Christ to have come...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:5Saint Augustine of Hippo“These are of the world.” 1 John 4:5 Who? The antichrists. You have already heard who they be. And if you be not such, you know them, but whosoever is such, knows not. “These are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them.” Who are they that “speak of the world”? Mark who are against...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:6Saint Augustine of Hippo“We are of God.” 1 John 4:6 Let us see why; see whether it be for any other thing than charity. “We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and of error:” namely by this, that he that hears us has the spirit of truth; he that hears not us, has the...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:6Saint Augustine of HippoNow see that to act against love is to act against God. Let no man say, “I sin against man when I do not love my brother, (mark it!) and sin against man is a thing to be taken easily; only let me not sin against God.” How do you not sin against God, when you sin against love? “Love is God.” Do “we” say this? If we...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:9Saint Augustine of HippoIn what sense then was it said a while ago, “Love is of God;” and now, “Love IS God?” For God is Father and Son and Holy Ghost: the Son, God of God, the Holy Ghost, God of God; and these three, one God, not three Gods. If the Son be God, and the Holy Ghost God, and that person loves in whom dwells the Holy Ghost:...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:9Saint Augustine of HippoThis we have said in the case where the things done are similar. In the case where they are diverse, we find a man by charity made fierce; and by iniquity made winningly gentle. A father beats a boy, and a boy-stealer caresses. If you name the two things, blows and caresses, who would not choose the caresses, and...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:9–10Saint Augustine of Hippo“In this is love— in this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into this world, that we may live through Him.— In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us:” 1 John 4:9-10 we did not love Him first: for to this end loved He us, that we may love Him: And...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of Hippo“No man has seen God at any time:” 1 John 4:12 He is a thing invisible; not with the eye but with the heart must He be sought. But just as if we wished to see the sun, we should purge the eye of the body; wishing to see God, let us purge the eye by which God can be seen. Where is this eye? Hear the Gospel: “Blessed...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of HippoLove is a sweet word, but sweeter the deed. To be always speaking of it, is not in our power: for we have many things to do, and various businesses draw us different ways, so that our tongue has not leisure to be always speaking of love: as indeed our tongue could have nothing better to do. But though we may not...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of HippoFor, brethren, you heard just now when the Gospel was read, at least if you had for it the ear not only of the body but also of the heart. What said it? “Take heed that you do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them.” Matthew 6:1 Did He mean to say this, that whatever good things we do, we should hide...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of HippoThen, brethren, this I would say, this I do say, this if I might I would not leave unsaid: Let there be in you now these works, now those, according to the time, according to the hours, according to the days. Are you always to be speaking? Always to keep silence? Always to be refreshing the body? Always to be fasting?...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of HippoBut perchance it will have struck some of you all along, while we have been expounding to you this epistle of blessed John, why it is only “brotherly” love that he so emphatically commends. “He that loves his brother,” says he: and, “a commandment is given us that we love one another.” Again and again it is of...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of HippoAll love, whether that which is called carnal, which is wont to be called not “ dilectio” but “ amor:” (for the word “ dilectio” is wont to be used of better objects, and to be understood of better objects:) yet all love, dear brethren, has in it a wishing well to those who are loved. For we ought not so to love, nor...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of HippoMark what I say: God, man, beasts: to wit, above you, God; beneath you, the beasts. Acknowledge Him that is above you, that those that are beneath you may acknowledge you. Daniel 6:22 Thus, because Daniel acknowledged God above him, the lions acknowledged him above them. But if you acknowledge not Him that is above...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of HippoSo then ought the Christian to be, that he glory not over other “men.” For God has given it you to be over the beasts, i.e. to be better than the beasts. This have you by nature; you shall always be better than a beast. If you wish to be better than another man, you will begrudge him when you shall see him to be your...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of HippoAnd see what great works pride does. Lay it up in your hearts, how much alike, how much as it were upon a par, are the works it does, and the works of charity. Charity feeds the hungry, and so does pride: charity, that God may be praised; pride, that itself may be praised. Charity clothes the naked, so does pride:...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of HippoThese things have I said, brethren, and somewhat at length: yet because charity was to be more earnestly commended to you, beloved, in this way was it to be commended. For if there be no charity in you, we have said nothing. But if it be in you, we have as it were cast oil upon the flames. And in whom it was not,...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:12Saint Augustine of Hippo“No man has seen God at any time.” See, beloved: “If we love one another, God will dwell in us, and His love will be perfected in us.” 1 John 4:12 Begin to love; you shall be perfected. Have you begun to love? God has begun to dwell in you: love Him that has begun to dwell in you, that by more perfect indwelling He...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:14Saint Augustine of Hippo“And we have seen, and are witnesses, that God has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:14 Set your minds at rest, you that are sick: such a Physician has come, and do ye despair? Great were the diseases, incurable were the wounds, desperate was the sickness. Do you note the greatness of your ill,...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:16Saint Augustine of Hippo“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he in God.” Now we may say it in not many words; “Whosoever shall confess;” not in word but in deed, not with tongue but with the life. For many confess in words, but in deeds deny: “And we have known and believed the love which God has in...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:16Saint Augustine of HippoYou remember, beloved, that of the epistles of John the apostle the last past remains to be handled by us and expounded to you, as the Lord vouchsafes. Of this debt then we are mindful: and you ought to be mindful of your claim. For indeed this same charity, which in this epistle is chiefly and almost alone commended,...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:17Saint Augustine of Hippo“Herein is our love made perfect in us that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17 He tells how each may prove himself, what progress charity has made in him or rather what progress he has made in charity. For if charity is God, God is capable neither of...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:17Saint Augustine of Hippo“In this is His love perfected in us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment.” Why shall we have boldness? “Because as He is are we also in this world.” You have heard the ground of your boldness: “Because as He is,” says the apostle, “are we also in this world.” Does he not seem to have said something...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:18Saint Augustine of HippoNow therefore concerning this same boldness, let us see what he says. Whence do we understand that charity is perfect? “There is no fear in charity.” 1 John 4:18 Then what say we of him that has begun to fear the day of judgment? If charity in him were perfect, he would not fear. For perfect charity would make perfect...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:18Saint Augustine of HippoBut there is another sentence, which seems contrary to this if it have not one that understands. Namely, it is said in a certain place of the Psalms, “The fear of the Lord is chaste, enduring forever.” He shows us an eternal fear, but a chaste. But if he there shows us an eternal fear, does this epistle perchance...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:18Saint Augustine of HippoOne cannot better explain the difference between these two fears, the one which charity casts out, the other chaste, which endures for ever, than by putting the case of two married women, one of whom, you may suppose, is willing to commit adultery, delights in wickedness, only fears lest she be condemned by her...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:18Saint Augustine of HippoLet us speak then first to these who fear God, just in the manner of that woman who delights in wickedness; namely, she fears her husband lest he condemn her; to such let us first speak. O soul, which fearest God lest He condemn you, just as the woman fears, who delights in wickedness: fears her husband, lest she be...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:18Saint Augustine of HippoWe have addressed that soul which has as yet the fear which endures not for ever, but which love shuts out and casts forth: let us address that also which has now the fear which is chaste, enduring forever. Shall we find that soul, think you, that we may address it? Think you, is it here in this congregation? Is it,...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:19Saint Augustine of Hippo“Let us love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 For how should we love, except He had first loved us? By loving we became friends: but He loved us as enemies, that we might be made friends. He first loved us, and gave us the gift of loving Him. We did not yet love Him: by loving we are made beautiful. If a man...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:20Saint Augustine of Hippo“If any man say, I love God.” 1 John 4:20 What God? wherefore love we? “Because He first loved us,” and gave us to love. He loved us ungodly, to make us godly; loved us unrighteous, to make us righteous; loved us sick, to make us whole. Ask each several man; let him tell you if he love God. He cries out, he confesses:...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:20–21Saint Augustine of Hippo“For he that loves not his brother whom he sees, how can he love God whom he sees not? And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loves God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:20-21 Marvellous fine talk it was, that you said, “I love God,” and hate your brother! O murderer, how do you love God? Have you not heard...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:20–21Saint Augustine of HippoI Suppose ye remember, those of you who were present yesterday, to what place in the course of this epistle our exposition has reached: namely, “He that loves not his brother whom he sees, how can he love God whom he sees not? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loves God, love his brother also.” 1 John...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:2Saint Augustine of Hippo“In this we know that we love the sons of God.” 1 John 4:2 What is this, brethren? Just now he was speaking of the Son of God, not of sons of God: lo, here one Christ was set before us to contemplate, and we were told, “Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves Him that...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:2Saint Augustine of HippoAnd by what do we know that we love the sons of God? By this, “that we love God, and do His commandments.” We sigh here, by reason of the hardness of doing the commandments of God. Hear what follows. O man, at what do you toil in loving? In loving avarice. With toil is that loved which you love: there is no toil in...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:3Saint Augustine of Hippo“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” 1 John 4:3 Already you have heard, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” See how He would not have you divide yourself over a multitude of pages: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” On what two...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:3Saint Augustine of HippoOur Lord Jesus Christ, then, ascending into heaven on the fortieth day, did for this reason commend to us His Body where it would continue to lie, because He saw that many would honor Him for that He is ascended into heaven: and saw that their honoring Him is useless if they trample upon His members here on earth. And...
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →
On 1 John 4:3Open 1 John 4 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of HippoAnd what have we done, say they? We are the persecuted, not the persecutors. You are the persecutors, O wretched men. In the first place, in that you have divided the Church. Mightier the sword of the tongue than the sword of steel. Agar, Sarah's maid, was proud, and she was afflicted by her mistress for her pride....
Read Homilies on the First Epistle of John →