1 John 4:1

AMP: Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.

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

BSB: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

DARBY: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, if they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

DRA: Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

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

1 John 4:2

AMP: By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source];

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

BSB: By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

DARBY: Hereby ye know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses Jesus Christ come in flesh is of God;

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

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

1 John 4:3

AMP: and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.

ASV: and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the [spirit] of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.

BSB: and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

DARBY: and every spirit which does not confess Jesus Christ come in flesh is not of God: and this is that [power] of the antichrist, [of] which ye have heard that it comes, and now it is already in the world.

DRA: And every spirit that dissolveth Jesus, is not of God: and this is Antichrist, of whom you have heard that he cometh, and he is now already in the world.

KJV: 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.

1 John 4:4

AMP: Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind].

ASV: Ye are of God, [my] little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

BSB: You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

DARBY: *Ye* are of God, children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that [is] in you than he that [is] in the world.

DRA: You are of God, little children, and have overcome him. Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

KJV: 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.

1 John 4:5

AMP: They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories—demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible people of the] world listen closely and pay attention to them.

ASV: They are of the world: therefore speak they [as] of the world, and the world heareth them.

BSB: They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.

DARBY: *They* are of the world; for this reason they speak [as] of the world, and the world hears them.

DRA: They are of the world: therefore of the world they speak, and the world heareth them.

KJV: They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

1 John 4:6

AMP: We [who teach God’s word] are from God [energized by the Holy Spirit], and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know [without any doubt] the spirit of truth [motivated by God] and the spirit of error [motivated by Satan].

ASV: We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

BSB: We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

DARBY: *We* are of God; he that knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

DRA: We are of God. He that knoweth God, heareth us. He that is not of God, heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

KJV: 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.

1 John 4:7

AMP: Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience].

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

BSB: Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

DARBY: Beloved, let us love one another; because love is of God, and every one that loves has been begotten of God, and knows God.

DRA: Dearly beloved, let us love one another, for charity is of God. And every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God.

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

1 John 4:8

AMP: The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]

ASV: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

BSB: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

DARBY: He that loves not has not known God; for God is love.

DRA: He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is charity.

KJV: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:9

AMP: By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.

ASV: Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.

BSB: This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

DARBY: Herein as to us has been manifested the love of God, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

DRA: By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him.

KJV: 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.

1 John 4:10

AMP: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath].

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

BSB: And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

DARBY: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son a propitiation for our sins.

DRA: In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

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

1 John 4:11

AMP: Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another.

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

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

DARBY: Beloved, if God has so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

DRA: My dearest, if God hath so loved us; we also ought to love one another.

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

1 John 4:12

AMP: No one has seen God at any time. But if we love one another [with unselfish concern], God abides in us, and His love [the love that is His essence abides in us and] is completed and perfected in us.

ASV: No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:

BSB: No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.

DARBY: No one has seen God at any time: if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.

DRA: No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his charity is perfected in us.

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

1 John 4:13

AMP: By this we know [with confident assurance] that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given to us His [Holy] Spirit.

ASV: hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

BSB: By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

DARBY: Hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, that he has given to us of his Spirit.

DRA: In this we know that we abide in him, and he in us: because he hath given us of his spirit.

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

1 John 4:14

AMP: We [who were with Him in person] have seen and testify [as eye-witnesses] that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

ASV: And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.

BSB: And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

DARBY: And *we* have seen, and testify, that the Father has sent the Son [as] Saviour of the world.

DRA: And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father hath sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.

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

1 John 4:15

AMP: Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

ASV: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.

BSB: If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

DARBY: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

DRA: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.

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

1 John 4:16

AMP: We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.

ASV: And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.

BSB: And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

DARBY: And *we* have known and have believed the love which God has to us. God is love, and he that abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

DRA: And we have known, and have believed the charity, which God hath to us. God is charity: and he that abideth in charity, abideth in God, and God in him.

KJV: 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.

1 John 4:17

AMP: In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.

ASV: Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.

BSB: In this way, love 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.

DARBY: Herein has love been perfected with us that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, that even as *he* is, *we* also are in this world.

DRA: In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world.

KJV: 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.

1 John 4:18

AMP: There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].

ASV: There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.

BSB: There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

DARBY: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has torment, and he that fears has not been made perfect in love.

DRA: Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity.

KJV: 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.

1 John 4:19

AMP: We love, because He first loved us.

ASV: We love, because he first loved us.

BSB: We love because He first loved us.

DARBY: *We* love because *he* has first loved us.

DRA: Let us therefore love God, because God first hath loved us.

KJV: We love him, because he first loved us.

1 John 4:20

AMP: If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

ASV: 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, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.

BSB: If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

DARBY: If any one say, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

DRA: If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not?

KJV: 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?

1 John 4:21

AMP: And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.

ASV: And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.

BSB: And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

DARBY: And this commandment have we from him, That he that loves God love also his brother.

DRA: And this commandment we have from God, that he, who loveth God, love also his brother.

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

1 John 4

Results