1Jo 4:2-3 | RWP | e4.org | Hereby know ye ( εν τουτω γινωσκετε ). Either present active indicative or imperative. The test of "the Spirit of God" ( το πνευμα του θεου ) here alone in this Epistle, save verse . With the clamour of voices then and now this is important. The test ( εν τουτω , as in ) follows. That Jesus Christ is come in the flesh ( Ιησουν Χριστον εν σαρκ εληλυθοτα ). The correct text (perfect active participle predicate accusative), not the infinitive ( εληλυθενα , B Vg). The predicate participle (see for predicate accusative with ομολογεω ) describes Jesus as already come in the flesh (his actual humanity, not a phantom body as the Docetic Gnostics held). See this same idiom in with ερχομενον (coming). A like test is proposed by Paul for confessing the deity of Jesus Christ in and for the Incarnation and Resurrection of Jesus in .

‏ 1 John 4:2-3

Hereby know ye ( εν τουτω γινωσκετε ). Either present active indicative or imperative. The test of "the Spirit of God" ( το πνευμα του θεου ) here alone in this Epistle, save verse 13. With the clamour of voices then and now this is important. The test ( εν τουτω, as in 3:19) follows.

That Jesus Christ is come in the flesh ( Ιησουν Χριστον εν σαρκ εληλυθοτα ). The correct text (perfect active participle predicate accusative), not the infinitive ( εληλυθενα, B Vg). The predicate participle (see Joh 9:22 for predicate accusative with ομολογεω ) describes Jesus as already come in the flesh (his actual humanity, not a phantom body as the Docetic Gnostics held). See this same idiom in 2Jo 1:7 with ερχομενον (coming). A like test is proposed by Paul for confessing the deity of Jesus Christ in 1Co 12:3 and for the Incarnation and Resurrection of Jesus in Ro 10:6-10.

Confesseth not ( μη ομολογε ). Indefinite relative clause with the subjective negative μη rather than the usual objective negative ου (verse 6). It is seen also in 2Pe 1:9; Tit 1:11, a survival of the literary construction (Moulton, Prolegomena, p. 171). The Vulgate (along with Irenaeus, Tertullian, Augustine) reads solvit ( λυε ) instead of μη ομολογε, which means "separates Jesus," apparently an allusion to the Cerinthian heresy (distinction between Jesus and Christ) as the clause before refers to the Docetic heresy. Many MSS. have here also εν σαρκ εληλυθοτα repeated from preceding clause, but not A B Vg Cop. and not genuine.

The spirit of the antichrist ( το του αντιχριστου ). Πνευμα (spirit) not expressed, but clearly implied by the neuter singular article to. It is a repetition of the point about antichrists made in 2:18-25.

Whereof ( ο ). Accusative of person (grammatical neuter referring to πνευμα ) with ακουω along with accusative of the thing ( οτ ερχετα, as in 2:18, futuristic present middle indicative). Here the perfect active indicative ( ακηκοατε ), while in 2:18 the aorist ( ηκουσατε ).

And now already ( κα νυν ηδη ). As in 2:18 also (many have come). "The prophecy had found fulfilment before the Church had looked for it" (Westcott). It is often so. For ηδη see Joh 4:35; 9:27.