4:1 亲爱的弟兄阿，一切的灵，你们不可都信。总要试验那些灵是出于神的不是。因为世上有许多假先知已经出来了。

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

 

4:2 凡灵认耶稣基督是成了肉身来的，就是出于神的。从此你们可以认出神的灵来。

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

 

4:3 凡灵不认耶稣，就不是出于神。这是敌基督者的灵。你们从前听见他要来。现在已经在世上了。

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.

 

4:4 小子们哪，你们是属神的，并且胜了他们。因为那在你们里面的，比那在世界上的更大。

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.

 

4:5 他们是属世界的。所以论世界的事，世人也听从他们。

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

 

4:6 我们是属神的。认识神的就听从我们。不属神的就不听从我们。从此我们可以认出真理的灵，和谬妄的灵来。

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.

 

4:7 亲爱的弟兄阿，我们应当彼此相爱。因为爱是从神来的。凡有爱心的，都是由神而生，并且认识神。

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

 

4:8 没有爱心的，就不认识神。因为神就是爱。

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

 

4:9 神差他独生子到世间来，使我们藉着他得生，神爱我们的心，在此就显明了。

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.

 

4:10 不是我们爱神，乃是神爱我们，差他的儿子，为我们的罪作了挽回祭，这就是爱了。

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

 

4:11 亲爱的弟兄阿，神既是这样爱我们，我们也当彼此相爱。

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

 

4:12 从来没有人见过神。我们若彼此相爱，神就住在我们里面，爱他的心在我们里面得以完全了。

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

 

4:13 神将他的灵赐给我们，从此就知道我们是住在他里面，他也住在我们里面。

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

 

4:14 父差子作世人的救主，这是我们所看见且作见证的。

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

 

4:15 凡认耶稣为神儿子的，神就住在他里面。

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

4:16 神爱我们的心，我们也知道也信。神就是爱。住在爱里面的，就住在神里面，神也住在他里面。

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.

 

4:17 这样爱在我们里面得以完全，我们就可以在审判的日子，坦然无惧。因为他如何，我们在这世上也如何。

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.

 

4:18 爱里没有惧怕。爱既完全，就把惧怕除去。因为惧怕理含着刑罚。惧怕的人在爱里未得完全。

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.

 

4:19 我们爱，因为神先爱我们。

We love him, because he first loved us.

 

4:20 人若说，我爱神，却恨他的弟兄，就是说谎话的。不爱他所看见的弟兄，就不能爱没有看见的神。（有古卷作怎能爱没有看见的神呢）。

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?

 

4:21 爱神的，也当爱弟兄，这是我们从神所受的命令。

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