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Selected Verse: 1 John 4:5 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Jo 4:5 |
King James |
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. |
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] |
of the world--They derive their spirit and teaching from the world, "unregenerate human nature, ruled over and possessed by Satan, the prince of this world" [ALFORD].
speak they of the word--They draw the matter of their conversation from the life, opinions, and feelings of the world.
the world heareth them-- (Joh 15:18-19). The world loves its own. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
They are of the world - This was one of the marks by which those who had the spirit of antichrist might be known. They belonged not to the church of God, but to the world. They had its spirit; they acted on its principles; they lived for it. Compare the notes at Jo1 2:15.
Therefore speak they of the world - Compare the notes at Joh 3:31. This may mean either that their conversation pertained to the things of this world, or that they were wholly influenced by the love of the world, and not by the Spirit of God, in the doctrines which they taught. The general sense is, that they had no higher ends and aims than they have who are influenced only by worldly plans and expectations. It is not difficult to distinguish, even among professed Christians and Christian teachers, those who are heavenly in their conversation from those who are influenced solely by the spirit of the world. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," and the general turn of a man's conversation will show what "spirit is within him."
And the world heareth them - The people of the world - the frivoulous ones, the rich, the proud, the ambitious, the sensual - receive their instructions, and recognize them as teachers and guides, for their views accord with their own. See the notes at Joh 15:19. A professedly religious teacher may always determine much about himself by knowing what class of people are pleased with him. A professed Christian of any station in life may determine much about his evidences of piety, by asking himself what kind of persons desire his friendship, and wish him for a companion. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Of the world (ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου)
Proceeding from, as their source (ἐκ). Different from ἐκ τῆς γῆς from the earth (Joh 3:31), as marking the whole worldly economy morally considered.
Speak they of the world (ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου λαλοῦσιν)
An ambiguous rendering, which might readily be interpreted "they speak concerning the world." Literally it is: "they speak out of the world; i.e., the character of their utterances corresponds to their origin. Rev., "speak they as of the world." The position of the world in the sentence is emphatic: "it is out of the world that they speak." |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| They - Those false prophets. Are of the world - Of the number of those that know not God. Therefore speak they of the world - From the same principle, wisdom, spirit; and, of consequence, the world heareth them - With approbation. |
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.