1 John 4:6 (GNV)

Passage

We are of God, he that knoweth God, heareth vs: he that is not of God, heareth vs not. Heereby knowe wee the spirit of trueth, and the spirit of errour.

Nearby Context

1 John 4:4 Litle children, ye are of God, and haue ouercome them: for greater is he that is in you, then he that is in this world.

1 John 4:5 They are of this worlde, therefore speake they of this world, and this world heareth them.

1 John 4:6 We are of God, he that knoweth God, heareth vs: he that is not of God, heareth vs not. Heereby knowe wee the spirit of trueth, and the spirit of errour.

1 John 4:7 Beloued, let vs loue one another: for loue commeth of God, and euery one that loueth, is borne of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:8 Hee that loueth not, knoweth not God: for God is loue.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "knoweth", "heareth", "heereby", and "trueth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "knoweth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "They are of this worlde therefore speake..." into verse 7's "Beloued let vs loue one another for...", so "Spirit" and "knoweth" belong inside that flow. In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "knoweth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.