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1 John 4:1-6 – Chiasm
Formal Chiasm
All through 1 John, the writer has been contrasting the two groups. In this chiasm we can see these contrasts in the complementary parts.
A – TRUE AND FALSE SPIRITS (1a) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God,
B – FALSE PROPHETS (1b) because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
C – TRUE WORDS (2) This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.
D – FALSE SPIRITS (3) But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.
D’ – TRUE SPIRITS (4) You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
C’ – FALSE WORDS (5) They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.
B’ – TRUE PROPHETS (6a) We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us.
A’ – TRUE AND FALSE SPIRITS – (6b) From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
Rearranged Chiasm
A – TRUE AND FALSE SPIRITS (1a) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God,
A’ – TRUE AND FALSE SPIRITS – (1b) From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
- If the spirits are from God (small caps shows this references the speakers), then they are speaking from the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit is the true illuminator. The NASB does not capitalize “spirit” of truth.
- The “What’s More” aspect is added to the Spirit of truth is the spirit of deception.
- In vv.1-6 “spirit” is going to be used at least three different ways: 1) Spirit as an object or force personified (vv.1,6) 2) Spirit as in Holy Spirit (vv.2,) ; 3) Spirit as in people (v.2).
B’ – TRUE PROPHETS (6a) We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us.
B – FALSE PROPHETS (6b) because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- There are two contrasts: 1) those from God vs. false prophets; 2) those who listen to those from God vs. the world.
C – TRUE WORDS (2) This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.
C’ – FALSE WORDS (5) They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.
- Contrasts again, and in 1 John the most important words are the confession that “Jesus has come in the flesh.” Therefore the contrast from the world although unstated is plain: Jesus has not come in the flesh.
D – FALSE CHRISTIANS (3) But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.
D’ – TRUE CHRISTIANS (4) You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
- John uses cause and effect often and it is important to determine which is which. For example, is confession the cause that leads to the effect of being born of God; or is being born of God the cause that leads to the effect of confession? In this context, it is the latter.
- Here is an example of how the chiasm helps to interpret, although since this one is the center it would simply be normal context. John is not speaking about how to become a Christian; but rather how to determine who is a Christian. The antichrist does not confess. The true Christian does confess as a result or consequence of his salvation.
- This chiastic structure can help interpret the phrase “the One who is in you.” Suggestions are: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit. It is not God because the spirits are from a source or not from a source. Most likely then “the One who is in you” is the Holy Spirit who is greater than Devil who is the spirit behind the antichrist.
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