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

Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

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

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

3 A nd 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.

And every spirit which does not acknowledge and confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh '> annul, destroy, sever, disunite Him] is not of God. This '> nonconfession] is the of the antichrist, which you heard that it was coming, and now it is already in the world.

4 Y e are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Little children, you are of God and have defeated and overcome them, because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

5 T hey are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

They proceed from the world and are of the world; therefore it is out of the world '> whole economy morally considered] that they speak, and the world listens (pays attention) to them.

6 W e 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.

We are of God. Whoever is learning to know God '> get an ever-clearer knowledge of Him] listens to us; and he who is not of God does not listen or pay attention to us. By this we know (recognize) the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.

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

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves is begotten (born) of God and is coming to know and understand God.

8 H e that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God, for God is love.

9 I n 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.

In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique, into the world so that we might live through Him.

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

In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.

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

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

12 N o 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 has at any time seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us!

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

By this we come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we abide (live and remain) in Him and He in us: because He has given (imparted) to us of His Spirit.

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

And we ourselves have seen (have deliberately and steadfastly contemplated) and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son Savior of the world.

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

Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he in God.

16 A nd 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.

And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

17 H erein 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.

In this love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world.

18 T here 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 full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love.

19 W e love him, because he first loved us.

We love Him, because He first loved us.

20 I f 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 anyone says, I love God, and hates (detests, abominates) his brother '> in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen.

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

And this command (charge, order, injunction) we have from Him: that he who loves God shall love his brother '> believer] also.