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Selected Verse: 1 John 4:6 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Jo 4:6 |
Strong Concordance |
We [2249] are [2070] of [1537] God [2316]: he that knoweth [1097] God [2316] heareth [191] us [2257]; he that [3739] is [2076] not [3756] of [1537] God [2316] heareth [191] not [3756] us [2257]. Hereby [1537] [5127] know we [1097] the spirit [4151] of truth [225], and [2532] the spirit [4151] of error [4106]. |
| |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
We--true teachers of Christ: in contrast to them.
are of God--and therefore speak of God: in contrast to "speak they of the world," Jo1 4:5.
knoweth God--as his Father, being a child "of God" (Jo1 2:13-14).
heareth us--Compare Joh 18:37, "Every one that is of the truth, heareth My voice."
Hereby-- (Jo1 4:2-6); by their confessing, or not confessing, Jesus; by the kind of reception given them respectively by those who know God, and by those who are of the world and not of God.
spirit of truth--the Spirit which comes from God and teaches truth.
spirit of error--the spirit which comes from Satan and seduces into error. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
We are of God - John here, doubtless, refers to himself, and to those who taught the same doctrines which he did. He takes it for granted that those to whom he wrote would admit this, and argues from it as an indisputable truth. He had given them such evidence of this, as to establish his character and claims beyond a doubt; and he often refers to the fact that he was what he claimed to be, as a point which was so well established that no one would call it in question. See Joh 19:35; Joh 21:24; Jo3 1:12. Paul, also, not unfrequently refers to the same thing respecting himself; to the fact - a fact which no one would presume to call in question, and which might be regarded as the basis of an argument - that he and his fellow apostles were what they claimed to be. See Co1 15:14-15; Th1 2:1-11. Might not, and ought not, all Christians, and all Christian ministers, so to live that the same thing might be assumed in regard to them in their contact with their fellow-men; that their characters for integrity and purity might be so clear that no one would be disposed to call them in question? There are such men in the church and in the ministry now; why might not all be such?
He that knoweth God, heareth us - Every one that has a true acquaintance with the character of God will receive our doctrine. John might assume this, for it was not doubted, he presumed, that he was an apostle and a good man; and if this were admitted, it would follow that those who feared and loved God would receive what he taught.
Hereby - By this; to wit, by the manner in which they receive the doctrines which we have taught.
Know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error - We can distinguish those who embrace the truth from those who do not. Whatever pretensions they might set up for piety, it was clear that if they did not embrace the doctrines taught by the true apostles of God, they could not be regarded as his friends; that is, as true Christians. It may be added that the same test is applicable now. They who do not receive the plain doctrines laid down in the word of God, whatever pretensions they may make to piety, or whatever zeal they may evince in the cause which they have espoused, can have no well-founded claims to the name Christian. One of the clearest evidences of true piety is a readiness to receive all that God has taught. Compare Mat 18:1-3; Mar 10:15; Jam 1:19-21. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
He that knoweth (ὁ γινώσκων)
Lit., the one knowing: he who is habitually and ever more clearly perceiving and recognizing God as his Christian life unfolds. The knowledge is regarded as progressive and not complete. Compare Phi 3:12, and He who is calling (ὁ καλῶν, Th1 5:24) also ὁ ἀγαπῶν he that loves (Jo1 4:7).
Hereby (ἐκ τούτου)
Not the same as the common ἐν τούτῳ (Jo1 4:2). It occurs only here in the Epistle. Ἑν τούτῳ is in this: ἐκ τούτου from this. The former marks the residing or consisting of the essence or truth of a thing in something the apprehension of which conveys to us the essential nature of the thing itself. The latter marks the inference or deduction of the truth from something, as contrasted with its immediate perception in that something. Rev., by this.
The spirit of error (τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πλάνης)
The phrase occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. Compare πνεύμασι πλάνοις misleading spirits, Ti1 4:1. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| We - Apostles. Are of God - Immediately taught, and sent by him. Hereby we know - From what is said, Jo1 4:2-6. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
We are of God - We, apostles, have the Spirit of God, and speak and teach by that Spirit. He that knoweth God - who has a truly spiritual discernment, heareth us - acknowledges that our doctrine is from God; that it is spiritual, and leads from earth to heaven.
Hereby know we the Spirit of truth - The doctrine and teacher most prized and followed by worldly men, and by the gay, giddy, and garish multitude, are not from God; they savor of the flesh, lay on no restraints, prescribe no cross-bearing, and leave every one in full possession of his heart's lusts and easily besetting sins. And by this, false doctrine and false teachers are easily discerned. |
2 Hereby [1722] [3739] [5129] know ye [1097] the Spirit [4151] of God [2316]: Every [3956] spirit [4151] that confesseth [3670] that Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] is come [2064] in [1722] the flesh [4561] is [2076] of [1537] God [2316]:
3 And [2532] every [3956] spirit [4151] that [3739] confesseth [3670] not [3361] that Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] is come [2064] in [1722] the flesh [4561] is [2076] not [3756] of [1537] God [2316]: and [2532] this [5124] is [2076] that spirit of antichrist [500], whereof [3739] ye have heard [191] that [3754] it should come [2064]; and even [2532] now [3568] already [2235] is it [2076] in [1722] the world [2889].
4 Ye [5210] are [2075] of [1537] God [2316], little children [5040], and [2532] have overcome [3528] them [846]: because [3754] greater [3187] is he that is [2076] in [1722] you [5213], than [2228] he that is in [1722] the world [2889].
5 They [846] are [1526] of [1537] the world [2889]: therefore [1223] [5124] speak they [2980] of [1537] the world [2889], and [2532] the world [2889] heareth [191] them [846].
6 We [2249] are [2070] of [1537] God [2316]: he that knoweth [1097] God [2316] heareth [191] us [2257]; he that [3739] is [2076] not [3756] of [1537] God [2316] heareth [191] not [3756] us [2257]. Hereby [1537] [5127] know we [1097] the spirit [4151] of truth [225], and [2532] the spirit [4151] of error [4106].
37 Pilate [4091] therefore [3767] said [2036] unto him [846], Art [1488] thou [4771] a king [935] then [3766]? Jesus [2424] answered [611], Thou [4771] sayest [3004] that [3754] I [1473] am [1510] a king [935]. To [1519] this [5124] end was [1080] I [1473] born [1080], and [2532] for [1519] this [5124] cause came I [2064] into [1519] the world [2889], that [2443] I should bear witness [3140] unto the truth [225]. Every one [3956] that is [5607] of [1537] the truth [225] heareth [191] my [3450] voice [5456].
13 I write [1125] unto you [5213], fathers [3962], because [3754] ye have known [1097] him that is from [575] the beginning [746]. I write [1125] unto you [5213], young men [3495], because [3754] ye have overcome [3528] the wicked one [4190]. I write [1125] unto you [5213], little children [3813], because [3754] ye have known [1097] the Father [3962].
14 I have written [1125] unto you [5213], fathers [3962], because [3754] ye have known [1097] him that is from [575] the beginning [746]. I have written [1125] unto you [5213], young men [3495], because [3754] ye are [2075] strong [2478], and [2532] the word [3056] of God [2316] abideth [3306] in [1722] you [5213], and [2532] ye have overcome [3528] the wicked one [4190].
5 They [846] are [1526] of [1537] the world [2889]: therefore [1223] [5124] speak they [2980] of [1537] the world [2889], and [2532] the world [2889] heareth [191] them [846].
19 Wherefore [5620], my [3450] beloved [27] brethren [80], let [2077] every [3956] man [444] be [2077] swift [5036] to [1519] hear [191], slow [1021] to [1519] speak [2980], slow [1021] to [1519] wrath [3709]:
20 For [1063] the wrath [3709] of man [435] worketh [2716] not [3756] the righteousness [1343] of God [2316].
21 Wherefore [1352] lay apart [659] all [3956] filthiness [4507] and [2532] superfluity [4050] of naughtiness [2549], and receive [1209] with [1722] meekness [4240] the engrafted [1721] word [3056], which [3588] is able [1410] to save [4982] your [5216] souls [5590].
15 Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], Whosoever [3739] shall [1209] not [3362] receive [1209] the kingdom [932] of God [2316] as [5613] a little child [3813], he shall [1525] not [3364] enter [1525] therein [1519] [846].
1 At [1722] the same [1565] time [5610] came [4334] the disciples [3101] unto Jesus [2424], saying [3004], Who [5101] [686] is [2076] the greatest [3187] in [1722] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772]?
2 And [2532] Jesus [2424] called [4341] a little child [3813] unto him [4341], and set [2476] him [846] in [1722] the midst [3319] of them [846],
3 And [2532] said [2036], Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], Except [3362] ye be converted [4762], and [2532] become [1096] as [5613] little children [3813], ye shall [1525] not [3364] enter [1525] into [1519] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772].
1 For [1063] yourselves [846], brethren [80], know [1492] our [2257] entrance in [1529] unto [4314] you [5209], that [3754] it was [1096] not [3756] in vain [2756]:
2 But [235] even [2532] after that we had suffered before [4310], and [2532] were shamefully entreated [5195], as [2531] ye know [1492], at [1722] Philippi [5375], we were bold [3955] in [1722] our [2257] God [2316] to speak [2980] unto [4314] you [5209] the gospel [2098] of God [2316] with [1722] much [4183] contention [73].
3 For [1063] our [2257] exhortation [3874] was not [3756] of [1537] deceit [4106], nor [3761] of [1537] uncleanness [167], nor [3777] in [1722] guile [1388]:
4 But [235] as [2531] we were allowed [1381] of [5259] God [2316] to be put in trust [4100] with the gospel [2098], even so [3779] we speak [2980]; not [3756] as [5613] pleasing [700] men [444], but [235] God [2316], which trieth [1381] our [2257] hearts [2588].
5 For [1063] neither [3777] at any time [4218] used we [1096] flattering [2850] words [1722] [3056], as [2531] ye know [1492], nor [3777] a cloke [1722] [4392] of covetousness [4124]; God [2316] is witness [3144]:
6 Nor [3777] of [1537] men [444] sought [2212] we glory [1391], neither [3777] of [575] you [5216], nor [3777] yet of [575] others [243], when we might [1410] have been [1511] burdensome [1722] [922], as [5613] the apostles [652] of Christ [5547].
7 But [235] we were [1096] gentle [2261] among [1722] [3319] you [5216], even as [5613] a nurse [5162] cherisheth [302] [2282] her [1438] children [5043]:
8 So [3779] being affectionately desirous [2442] of you [5216], we were willing [2106] to have imparted [3330] unto you [5213], not [3756] the gospel [2098] of God [2316] only [3440], but [235] also [2532] our own [1438] souls [5590], because [1360] ye were [1096] dear [27] unto us [2254].
9 For [1063] ye remember [3421], brethren [80], our [2257] labour [2873] and [2532] travail [3449]: for [1063] labouring [2038] night [3571] and [2532] day [2250], because [4314] we would [1912] not [3361] be chargeable [1912] unto any [5100] of you [5216], we preached [2784] unto [1519] you [5209] the gospel [2098] of God [2316].
10 Ye [5210] are witnesses [3144], and [2532] God [2316] also, how [5613] holily [3743] and [2532] justly [1346] and [2532] unblameably [274] we behaved ourselves [1096] among you [5213] that believe [4100]:
11 As [2509] ye know [1492] how [5613] we exhorted [3870] and [2532] comforted [3888] and charged [3140] every [1538] one [1520] of you [5209] [5216], as [5613] a father [3962] doth his [1438] children [5043],
14 And [1161] if [1487] Christ [5547] be [1453] not [3756] risen [1453], then [686] is our [2257] preaching [2782] vain [2756], and [2532] your [5216] faith [4102] is [1161] also [2532] vain [2756].
15 Yea [1161], and [2532] we are found [2147] false witnesses [5575] of God [2316]; because [3754] we have testified [3140] of [2596] God [2316] that [3754] he raised up [1453] Christ [5547]: whom [3739] he raised [1453] not [3756] up [1453], if [1512] so be [686] that the dead [3498] rise [1453] not [3756].
12 Demetrius [1216] hath good report [3140] of [5259] all [3956] men, and [2532] of [5259] the truth [225] itself [846]: yea [1161], and [2532] we [2249] also bear record [3140]; and [2532] ye know [1492] that [3754] our [2257] record [3141] is [2076] true [227].
24 This [3778] is [2076] the disciple [3101] which [3588] testifieth [3140] of [4012] these things [5130], and [2532] wrote [1125] these things [5023]: and [2532] we know [1492] that [3754] his [846] testimony [3141] is [2076] true [227].
35 And [2532] he that saw [3708] it bare record [3140], and [2532] his [846] record [3141] is [2076] true [228]: and he [2548] knoweth [1492] that [3754] he saith [3004] true [227], that [2443] ye [5210] might believe [4100].
1 Now [1161] the Spirit [4151] speaketh [3004] expressly [4490], that [3754] in [1722] the latter [5306] times [2540] some [5100] shall depart from [868] the faith [4102], giving heed [4337] to seducing [4108] spirits [4151], and [2532] doctrines [1319] of devils [1140];
2 Hereby [1722] [3739] [5129] know ye [1097] the Spirit [4151] of God [2316]: Every [3956] spirit [4151] that confesseth [3670] that Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] is come [2064] in [1722] the flesh [4561] is [2076] of [1537] God [2316]:
7 Beloved [27], let us love [25] one another [240]: for [3754] love [26] is [2076] of [1537] God [2316]; and [2532] every one [3956] that loveth [25] is born [1080] of [1537] God [2316], and [2532] knoweth [1097] God [2316].
24 Faithful [4103] is he that calleth [2564] you [5209], who [3739] also [2532] will do [4160] it.
12 Not [3756] as though [3754] I had already [2235] attained [2983], either [2228] were already [2235] perfect [5048]: but [1161] I follow after [1377], if [1499] that I may apprehend [2638] that for [1909] which [3739] also [2532] I am apprehended [2638] of [5259] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424].
2 Hereby [1722] [3739] [5129] know ye [1097] the Spirit [4151] of God [2316]: Every [3956] spirit [4151] that confesseth [3670] that Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] is come [2064] in [1722] the flesh [4561] is [2076] of [1537] God [2316]:
3 And [2532] every [3956] spirit [4151] that [3739] confesseth [3670] not [3361] that Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] is come [2064] in [1722] the flesh [4561] is [2076] not [3756] of [1537] God [2316]: and [2532] this [5124] is [2076] that spirit of antichrist [500], whereof [3739] ye have heard [191] that [3754] it should come [2064]; and even [2532] now [3568] already [2235] is it [2076] in [1722] the world [2889].
4 Ye [5210] are [2075] of [1537] God [2316], little children [5040], and [2532] have overcome [3528] them [846]: because [3754] greater [3187] is he that is [2076] in [1722] you [5213], than [2228] he that is in [1722] the world [2889].
5 They [846] are [1526] of [1537] the world [2889]: therefore [1223] [5124] speak they [2980] of [1537] the world [2889], and [2532] the world [2889] heareth [191] them [846].
6 We [2249] are [2070] of [1537] God [2316]: he that knoweth [1097] God [2316] heareth [191] us [2257]; he that [3739] is [2076] not [3756] of [1537] God [2316] heareth [191] not [3756] us [2257]. Hereby [1537] [5127] know we [1097] the spirit [4151] of truth [225], and [2532] the spirit [4151] of error [4106].