1 John 4:2-3
What is written? (ESV)
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
What does it say?
The Spirit of God is known by the spirit (could be either a person or superhuman) that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; such a spirit is from God. Conversely, every spirit that doesn’t confess Jesus is not from God but is of the antichrist which was foretold and is now here.
What is its immediate context?
The Apostle John is writing to Christians to remain steadfast given many false prophets are in the world. He gives them guidance about how to determine the “Spirit of truth” from the “spirit of error” by listening to “us” (the apostles) (vs 6).
How 1 John 4:2-3 is applied across Bible answers
Who is the Antichrist?
John again says that the antichrist is anyone that denies Jesus/God and already among them. In this context, he makes "antichrist" and "false prophet" synonymous.
