1 John

1 John 4 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on 1 John 4 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

(4:1) "Believe not every spirit."
Should we believe everything?

See 1 Cor. 13:7.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

(4:2-3) "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God."
John says that all spirits that say Jesus is the Christ are of God. If so, then the "unclean spirits" in Mark's gospel (1:23-24, 3:11, 5:7) must have been of God.
Are those who believe Jesus is the Christ of God?

One has to distinguish between humans and devils, the human spirit (our soul), and the inhuman devil spirits that are not of this world. So these are two different categories. Secondly, crying out as Mark has it, is not confessing as this verse has it.
See also Mark 1:23.

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

(4:3) "This is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
All non-christians are antichrists. That there are so darned many of them (4 billion or so) is a sure sign that the end is near.

See chapter 2:22.

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.

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

"Love one another."
What must you do to be saved?

The apostle uses here the fact that we love another as a mark of grace. Those who do so, are born again. It's not a work we must do, or even can do, to become saved. It does not proceed it, but follow it.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

(4:8, 16) "God is love."
See 1 Sam.15:2-3 for an example of what this type of love can do.
Does God love everyone?
Is God the creator of evil?
Should we fear God?
Theologikos: Christians: Stop quoting the bible out of context!
God is love: The most hated verse in the Bible

See 1 Sam. 15:2 on where Saul is asked to execute God's punishment on a cruel nation.
On if God loves everyone, see John 3:16.
On if God created evil, the author of the SAB only quotes verses which have nothing to do with the question itself. The reader is invited to check 2 Kg. 6:33 and Is. 45:7 for themselves.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

"God sent his only begotten Son"
Was Jesus God's only son?

The phrase son of God can have several meanings. As it can in human relations, i.e. we distinguish between natural and adopted sons. But see Luke 3:38.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

"No man hath seen God at any time."
Has anyone seen God?

See 1 Tim. 6:16.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."
Are those who believe Jesus is the Christ of God?

The author of the SAB compares apples with oranges. First of all, saving faith is only possible for humans, devils are not human, see Mark 1:23. Secondly he compares words like crying, faith, and confessing and pronounces them all the same: it's all faith! No, see James 2:19. This verse talks about confessing: so believing that Jesus is the Son of God, and demonstrating this in your life.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."
"He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
Should we fear God?

See 2 Tim. 1:7.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar."
Should we love or hate our brother?

We should love our brother, except when he wants us to hate Christ, see Luke 14:26.

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.