1 John 4:6

The man who is beginning to know God listens to us, but he who is not a child of God does not listen to us. By this test we can distinguish the Spirit of truth from the spirit of error.

Weymouth NT (1912)

In The King James Version

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

In Context

5They are the world's children, and so their language is that of the world, and the world listens to them. We are God's children.

7Dear friends, let us love one another; for love has its origin in God, and every one who loves has become a child of God and is beginning to know God.

Read all of 1 John 4

Cross References

John 8:19"Where is your Father?" they asked. "You know my Father as little as you know me." He replied; "if you knew me, you would know my Father also."

John 10:16I have also other sheep--which do not belong to this fold. Those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice; and they shall become one flock under one Shepherd.

John 13:20In most solemn truth I tell you that he who receives whoever I send receives me, and that he who receives me receives Him who sent me."

Matthew Henry on 1 John 4:5-7

Danger of Antichristian Spirit. ( a. d. 80.) 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. In these verses the apostle encourages the disciples against the fear and danger of this seducing antichristian… Read the whole commentary →

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Study 1 John 4:6