1 John 4:2 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

² Here is how to know [who is speaking from] the Holy Spirit of God: Every spirit [i.e., person] who proclaims that Jesus Christ has come [to earth] in a physical body is [speaking] from God. [See I Cor. 12:3].

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

² By this you may know (perceive and recognize) the Spirit of God: every spirit which acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [actually] has become man and has come in the flesh is of God [has God for its source];

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Common English Bible

² This is how you know if a spirit comes from God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come as a human is from God,

Catholic Public Domain Version

² The Spirit of God may be known in this way. Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has arrived in the flesh is of God;

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

² By this is the spirit of God known. Every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God:

1 John 4:2 Cross References

John 1:14

[Eventually] this Word became a human being and lived among us [Note: The word “lived” here refers to pitching a temporary tent]. (And we saw His splendor; such splendor as belongs to the Father’s only Son), full of God’s favor and truth.

1 Corinthians 12:3

Therefore, I am telling you that no one who speaks under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed!” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

1 Timothy 3:16

And without question the revealed secret of godly living is great. [It is this]: He [i.e., Christ, or God], who appeared in a fleshly body [was] vindicated [of false charges] by the Holy Spirit; [He was] seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world [and finally] was taken up into glory [i.e., heaven].

1 John 1:2

Truly, this “Life” was made known to us and we have [actually] seen it [i.e., Him], and so we testify and proclaim to you [that He is] “the Eternal Life,” who was with the Father and was made known to us [apostles].

1 John 2:23

Every person who denies [the truth about] the Son [See 4:2-3], does not have the Father [living in his heart]; but, the person who confesses [the truth about] the Son has the Father [living in his heart] also.

1 John 4:15

Whoever proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God, God [continually] lives in that person’s heart, and he lives in [fellowship with] God [See 2:23].

1 John 4:3

But every spirit who does not proclaim [this truth about] Jesus is not [speaking] from God. And this [person] represents the spirit of the antichrist [See 2:18-22; II John 7], whom you have heard would come. Well, now he is already here!

1 John 5:1

Every person who believes that Jesus is the Christ [i.e., God’s specially chosen one] has been [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God. And everyone who [continually] loves God, who did the conceiving, also [must continually] love the person whom God has [spiritually] conceived.

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers have begun circulating in the world; they are those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come [to earth] in a physical body. Such a person is the deceiver and the antichrist [See I John 2:18f].