Testing the Spirits

1Beloved {Agapētoi}, do not believe every spirit {pneumati}, but test the spirits {pneumata} to see whether they are from God {Theou}. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you⁺ will know the Spirit {Pneuma} of God {Theou}: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One) has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit {pneuma} that does not confess Jesus [that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh]a is not from God {Theou}. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you⁺ have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

4You⁺, little children, are from God {Theou} and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you⁺ than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God {Theou}. Whoever knows God {Theon} listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit {pneuma}b of truth and the spirit of deception.

Love Comes from God

7Beloved {Agapētoi}, let us love {agapōmen} one another, because love {agapē} comes from God {Theou}. Everyone who loves {agapōn} has been born of God and knows God {Theon}. 8Whoever does not love {agapōn} does not know God {Theon}, because God {Theos} is love {agapē}.

9This is how God’s {Theou} love {agapē} was revealed (made clear) among us: God {Theos} sent His one and only (only begotten)c Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10And love {agapē} consists in this: not that we loved {ēgapēkamen} God {Theon}, but that He loved {ēgapēsen} us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice (as a propitiation)d for our sins.

11Beloved {Agapētoi}, if God {Theos} so loved {ēgapēsen} us, we also ought to love {agapan} one another. 12No one has ever seen God {Theon}; but if we love {agapōmen} one another, God {Theos} remains in us, and His love {agapē} is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit {Pneumatos}. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father {Patēr} has sent His Son to be the Savior {Sōtēra} of the world.

15If anyone confesses that Jesus (YHWH saves) is the Son of God {Theou}, God {Theos} abides in him, and he in God {Theō}. 16And we have come to know and believe the love {agapēn} that God {Theos} has for us. God is love {agapē}; whoever abides in love abides in God {Theō}, and God in him. 17In this way, love {agapē} has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

18There is no fear in love {agapē}, but perfect (complete) love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19We love {agapōmen}e because He first loved {ēgapēsen} us.

20If anyone says, “I love {Agapō} God {Theon},” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love {agapōn} his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love {agapan} God, whom he has not seen. 21And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves {agapōn} God {Theon} must love {agapa} his brother as well.