| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Beloved, 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. | 1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. |
| 2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, | 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, |
| 3and 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. | 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. |
| 4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. | 4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. |
| 5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. | 5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. |
| 6We 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. | 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. |
| 7Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. | 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. |
| 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. | 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. |
| 9This 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. | 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. |
| 10And 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. | 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. |
| 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. | 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. |
| 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. | 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. |
| 13By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. | 13This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. |
| 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. | 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. |
| 15If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. | 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. |
| 16And 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. | 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. |
| 17In 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. | 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. |
| 18There 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. | 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. |
| 19We love because He first loved us. | 19We love because he first loved us. |
| 20If 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. | 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. |
| 21And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well. | 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. |
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