1 John 4 in the early church
402 passages quote, allude to, or echo 1 John 4, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21
1 John 4:1
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.
1 John 4:2
By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:2 | To the Smyrnaeans 5.2 · Ignatius of Antioch | echo, medium confidence | ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135) |
| 1 John 4:2–3 | To the Philippians 7.1 · Polycarp of Smyrna | quotation, high confidence | ca. 110–135 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Homilies on Exodus 3.2 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 4:2 | Commentary on Romans 5.8 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| 1 John 4:2–3 | To Quirinus 2.8 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later) |
| 1 John 4:2 | Sang. 8 · Methodius of Olympus | quotation, high confidence | late 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| 1 John 4:2 | Church History 7.25.19 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 300–325 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Twelve Chapters on the Faith 12 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 4th–5th century (disputed) |
| 1 John 4:2 | Book of Rules 6 · Tyconius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| 1 John 4:2 | On the Christian Faith 5.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378–380 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Eleven Tractates 1.37 · Priscillian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–385 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Eleven Tractates 2.52 · Priscillian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–385 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Eleven Tractates 3.67 · Priscillian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–385 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Exposition of Psalm 118 20.47.3 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| 1 John 4:2–3 | Sermon 182.3 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| 1 John 4:2–3 | Sermon 182.7 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Sermon 183.1 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Sermon 183.2 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Poem 23, lines 282–316 · Paulinus of Nola | echo, low confidence | ca. 393–431 |
| 1 John 4:2 | Letters 24.20 · Paulinus of Nola | echo, low confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| 1 John 4:2 | On the Faith against the Manichaeans 22 · Evodius of Uzalis | echo, low confidence | ca. 400-424 |
| 1 John 4:2–3 | Book 1, chapter 23 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 440-450 |
1 John 4:3
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.
1 John 4:4
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:4 | Acts of Thomas 93 · Anonymous | echo, medium confidence | ca. 200–250 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Acts of Thomas 160 · Anonymous | echo, medium confidence | ca. 200–250 |
| 1 John 4:4 | On the Singleness of Clerics 30 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| 1 John 4:4 | To Quirinus 3.10 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later) |
| 1 John 4:4 | Letter 10.1 · Cyprian of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | 249/250–258 |
| 1 John 4:4 | To Fortunatus 10 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 253 or 257 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Passion of Montanus and Lucius 4 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | 259 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Historical Fragments 1.2.1.2 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 343–367 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Catechetical Lecture 16.20 · Cyril of Jerusalem | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 350 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Question 115, section 45 · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Sermon 75.4 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Sermon 376.4 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Letters 12.11 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Letters 20.4 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Letters 32.24 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Tractates on the Gospel of John 40.10 · Augustine of Hippo | echo, medium confidence | ca. 406–420 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 7.2 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
| 1 John 4:4 | The Conferences 7.8 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
| 1 John 4:4 | Book 1, chapter 24 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 440-450 |
1 John 4:5
They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:5–6 | On Not Sparing Those Who Sin against God 24 · Lucifer of Cagliari | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–361 |
| 1 John 4:5 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 7.3 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
1 John 4:6
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:6 | Commentary on Matthew 15.30 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| 1 John 4:6 | Commentary on Romans 5.8 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| 1 John 4:6 | Letter 75.7 · Cyprian of Carthage | echo, medium confidence | 249/250–258 |
| 1 John 4:6 | Against Constantius 1 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 360–361 |
| 1 John 4:6–8 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 7.4 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
| 1 John 4:6 | Book 1, chapter 23 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 440-450 |
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:9
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:9 | Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 813 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| 1 John 4:9 | Oration II Against the Arians 62 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 339–346 |
| 1 John 4:9 | Letter 127.1 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| 1 John 4:9 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 7.7 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
| 1 John 4:9–11 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 7.9 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
| 1 John 4:9 | Part 1, chapter 31 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
1 John 4:10
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:10 | Sermon 336.1 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| 1 John 4:10 | On the Trinity 15.17 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
| 1 John 4:10 | On Patience 18 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 415 |
| 1 John 4:10 | On the Grace of Christ and On Original Sin 1.27 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 418 |
| 1 John 4:10 | Chapter 8 · Prosper of Aquitaine | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426-428 |
| 1 John 4:10 | Chapter 13 · Prosper of Aquitaine | quotation, high confidence | ca. 432-433 |
1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:11 | On the Trinity 15.17 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:12 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 0.69 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| 1 John 4:12 | Tractates 19 · Gaudentius of Brescia | quotation, high confidence | ca. 397-410 |
| 1 John 4:12 | On the Trinity 15.17 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
| 1 John 4:12 | Tractates on the Gospel of John 17.8 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 406–420 |
| 1 John 4:12 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 7.10 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
| 1 John 4:12–13 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 8.12 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
1 John 4:13
By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.
1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:14 | On Ecclesiastical Theology 1.20.19 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 337–339 |
| 1 John 4:14 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 8.13 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
1 John 4:15
If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:15 | Against Praxeas 31 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 213 or later |
| 1 John 4:15 | Oration III Against the Arians 24 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 339–346 |
| 1 John 4:15 | Against Jovinianus 2.29 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
| 1 John 4:15–16 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 8.14 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
1 John 4:16
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.
1 John 4:17
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:17 | Against Jovinianus 1.40 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
| 1 John 4:17 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 9.2 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
| 1 John 4:17 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 9.3 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
| 1 John 4:17 | The Conferences 11.9 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
1 John 4:18
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.
1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:20
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.
1 John 4:21
And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 4:21 | Liber Orsiesii 54 · Orsiesius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| 1 John 4:21 | On Grace and Free Will 17 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426 |