Bible Commentaries
Abbott's Illustrated New Testament
1 John 4
Every spirit; every pretended spiritual influence by which men may claim to be influenced.--Try the spirits; examine them by the tests given above, that is, by their obedience and brotherly love, and also by those mentioned below.
The idea intended is, that by this may we know that our love to God is true and sincere, and such as will be our security in the day of judgment, namely, by seeing that our conduct and character here correspond with the image of God.
Hateth, does not love.
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