Test the Spirits
Today’s new Web technologies allow one to discover a universe of information on practically any topic, and the things of God are no exception. The trouble is in weeding out the useless information to find what’s important. I find the stakes are high with respect to spiritual matters, since whatever information one finds can have everlasting implications. John wrote “Beloved, 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” (1 John 4:1). What do “spirits” refer to?
John’s first epistle addresses subjects by introducing two ideas in antithesis to one another: light and darkness; righteousness and sinfulness; truth and lies; Christ and antichrist; love and hate. This also found in 1 John 4:1-5. There are “two spiritual spheres in this world: one is the domain of the Holy Spirit; the other is the domain of the devil. The Holy Spirit dwells in the children of God (3:24), but the spirit of the devil lives in false prophets who speak in his name.” [1]
In this context “the word spirit, then, is equivalent to ‘teaching.’ ” [2] John use of the term “spirits” for teaching was typical among Jewish thinkers of that day. “Judaism especially associated the Spirit of God with prophecy but acknowledged the existence of false prophets, who John says are moved by other spirits” writes Craig Keener, who further adds, “His readers would understand his point; Jewish people were familiar with the idea of other spirits besides the Spirit of God…There were many pagan ecstatics in Asia Minor, as well as Jewish mystics claiming special revelations; the need for discernment would be acute.” [3] This distinction between true and false prophets is illustrated in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, who prophesied, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the LORD” (Jer. 23:16).
In the immediate context of 1 John 4, we find there is the Spirit of God or the teaching which confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh from God (4:2). Conversely, we find there are other spirits or teachings that do not confess Jesus Christ has come from God, which are essentially antichrist (4:3). John apparently was addressing a group of false teachers who reject the essential truths of Jesus Christ’s incarnation and divinity.
This is certainly not the politically correct thing to say in a culture of postmodern relativism; yet, if the truth has come to us, then it is reasonable to believe there is an antithesis to the truth, which is the lie. Although the temptation is to smooth over all the differences on faith matters, ignore them, and simply emphasize whatever similarities that can be found, truth demands something more.
When people proclaim the truth of God, they can be identified with the kingdom of heaven. They are for Christ. When people propagate false teaching, they are in allegiance to the kingdom of darkness. They are antichrist.
Notes:
1. Simon Kistemaker, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986), 323-324
2. Kistemaker, 324
3. Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 743
John’s first epistle addresses subjects by introducing two ideas in antithesis to one another: light and darkness; righteousness and sinfulness; truth and lies; Christ and antichrist; love and hate. This also found in 1 John 4:1-5. There are “two spiritual spheres in this world: one is the domain of the Holy Spirit; the other is the domain of the devil. The Holy Spirit dwells in the children of God (3:24), but the spirit of the devil lives in false prophets who speak in his name.” [1]
In this context “the word spirit, then, is equivalent to ‘teaching.’ ” [2] John use of the term “spirits” for teaching was typical among Jewish thinkers of that day. “Judaism especially associated the Spirit of God with prophecy but acknowledged the existence of false prophets, who John says are moved by other spirits” writes Craig Keener, who further adds, “His readers would understand his point; Jewish people were familiar with the idea of other spirits besides the Spirit of God…There were many pagan ecstatics in Asia Minor, as well as Jewish mystics claiming special revelations; the need for discernment would be acute.” [3] This distinction between true and false prophets is illustrated in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, who prophesied, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the LORD” (Jer. 23:16).
In the immediate context of 1 John 4, we find there is the Spirit of God or the teaching which confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh from God (4:2). Conversely, we find there are other spirits or teachings that do not confess Jesus Christ has come from God, which are essentially antichrist (4:3). John apparently was addressing a group of false teachers who reject the essential truths of Jesus Christ’s incarnation and divinity.
This is certainly not the politically correct thing to say in a culture of postmodern relativism; yet, if the truth has come to us, then it is reasonable to believe there is an antithesis to the truth, which is the lie. Although the temptation is to smooth over all the differences on faith matters, ignore them, and simply emphasize whatever similarities that can be found, truth demands something more.
When people proclaim the truth of God, they can be identified with the kingdom of heaven. They are for Christ. When people propagate false teaching, they are in allegiance to the kingdom of darkness. They are antichrist.
Notes:
1. Simon Kistemaker, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986), 323-324
2. Kistemaker, 324
3. Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 743
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