The .iiij. Chapter.
Derely beloved believe not every spirit: but prove the spirits whether they are of God, or no: for many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby shall ye know the spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God. And every spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God. And this is that spirit of antichrist, of whom ye have heard, how that he should come: and even now already is he in the world.
Little children, ye are of God, and have overcome them: for greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us: He that is not of God, heareth us not. Hereby know we the spirit of verity, and the spirit of error.
Derely beloved, let us love one another: for love cometh of God. And every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, hath not known God: for God is love. In this appeared the love of God to us ward, because that God sent his only begotten son into the world, that we might live thorow him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to make agreement for our sins.
Derely beloved if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfect in us. Hereby know we, that we dwell in him, and he in us: because he hath given us of his spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the father sent the son, which is the saviour of the world. Whosoever confesseth that Iesus is the son of God, in him dwelleth God, and he in God. 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. Herein is the love perfect in us, that we should have trust in the day of judgment, that as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out all fear, for fear hath painfulness. He that feareth is not perfect in love.
We love him, for he loved us first. If a man say, I love God, and yet hate his brother, he is a liar. How can he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we of him: that he which loveth God, should love his brother also.
The .v. Chapter.
Whosoever believeth that Iesus is Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him which begat, loveth him also which was begotten of him. In this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. For all that is born of God, overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcometh the world: but he which believeth that Iesus is the son of God?
This Iesus Christ is he that came by water and blood, not by water only: but by water and blood. And it is the spirit that beareth witness, because the spirit is truth. For there are three which bear record in heaven, the father, the word, and the holy ghost. And these three are one. And there are three which bear record in earth: the spirit, and water, and blood: and these three are one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. For this is the witness of God, which he testified of his son. He that believeth on the son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believed not the record that God gave of his son. And this is that record, how that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He that hath the son, hath life: and he that hath not the son of God, hath not life.