1 John 4:5
in 1 John 4They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.
KJV
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
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This verse in 1 John 4
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
They are of the world - This was one of the marks by which those who had the spirit of antichrist might be known. They belonged not to the church of God, but to the world. They had its spirit; they acted on its principles; they lived for it. Compare the notes at 1Jn 2:15. Therefore speak they of the world - Compare the notes at Joh 3:
This site's exposition
have overcome them
on 1 John 4:4-6
The victory is already won, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. The false teachers speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. A voice's answer to the apostles shows the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
This site's exposition
They are of the world
The false teachers speak the world's language and draw the world's applause. Their success proves nothing about their truth. Jesus warned of the same pattern at John 15:19, where the world loves its own.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"These are of the world." Who? The antichrists. Ye have already heard who they be. And if ye be not such, ye know them, but whosoever is such, knows not. "These are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them." Who are they that "speak of the world"? Mark who are against charity. Behold, ye have heard the Lord saying, "If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your trespasses. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." It is the sentence of Truth: or if it be not Truth that speaks, gainsay it. If thou art a Christian and believest Christ, He hath said, "I am the truth." This sentence is true, is firm. Now hear men that "speak of the world." "And wilt thou not avenge thyself? And wilt thou let him say that he has done this to thee? Nay: let him feel that he has to do with a man." Every day are such things said, They that say such things, "of the world speak they, and the world heareth them." None say such things but those that love the world, and by none are such things heard but by those who love the world. And ye have heard that to love the world and neglect charity is to deny that Jesus came in the flesh. Or say if the Lord Himself in the flesh did that? if, being buffeted, He willed to be avenged? if, hanging on the cross, He did not say, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"? But if He threatened not, who had power; why dost thou threaten, why art thou inflated with anger, who art under power of another? He died because it was His will to die, yet He threatened not; thou knowest not when thou shall die, and dost thou threaten?
They are from the world, therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. For a similar thing runs to its like. "They are from the world, therefore they speak from the world." They are of the world, and when they speak …
The Medieval Church3 voices
Who are these but the heretics and Manichaeans? For they blaspheme, speaking evil words out of their evil minds.
They are from the world, etc. The Antichrists, that is, the heretics, even if they invoke the name of Christ or mark themselves with the sign of Christ, still they are from the world, that is, from the number of those who think worldly thoughts, …
And the world listens to them. For the hearts of the spiritual cannot be recalled to worldly and carnal senses from the simplicity of faith. But even the Catholics who, hearing that saying of the Lord: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate …
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he gives them yet another mark of the false prophets, in that it greatly distressed the simple ones among the faithful themselves. Some of them could naturally grieve, seeing that many received those others very eagerly, while they themselves were despised. The Apostle also …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
They - Those false prophets. Are of the world - Of the number of those that know not God. Therefore speak they of the world - From the same principle, wisdom, spirit; and, of consequence, the world heareth them - With approbation.
He who knows the purity and holiness of God, the love and grace of God, the truth and faithfulness of God, the ancient word and prophecies of God, the signals and testimonials of God, must know that he is with us; and he who knows this will attend to us, and abide with us." He that is well furnished with natural religion will the more faithfully cleave to Christianity.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
They are of the world,....
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| αὐτοὶ | autoi | They themselves | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐκ | ek | of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κόσμου | kosmou | world | G2889 → | 185 times |
| εἰσίν· | eisin | are; | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| διὰ | dia | because of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐκ | ek | from out | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κόσμου | kosmou | world | G2889 → | 185 times |
| λαλοῦσιν | lalousin | they speak | G2980 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κόσμος | kosmos | world | G2889 → | 185 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀκούει. | akouei | listens. | G191 → | 425 times |
αὐτοὶThey themselves
autoiG846 →5565 times
ἐκof
ekG1537 →911 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
κόσμουworld
kosmouG2889 →185 times
εἰσίν·are;
eisinG1510 →2333 times
διὰbecause of
diaG1223 →664 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
ἐκfrom out
ekG1537 →911 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
κόσμουworld
kosmouG2889 →185 times
λαλοῦσινthey speak
lalousinG2980 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
κόσμοςworld
kosmosG2889 →185 times
αὐτῶνto them
autonG846 →5565 times
ἀκούει.listens.
akoueiG191 →425 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 3:31The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is…
it leads to
- John 8:23
Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
- Romans 9:5
Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
- John 6:33
For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
- John 8:23
Through
John 17:14I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
it leads to
- John 17:16
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 4:5–6
They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 15:18–21
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.
- John 17:16
Through
John 17:16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
it leads to
- John 17:14
I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 17:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
On this chapter
About 1 John
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Augustine of Hippo, Ten Homilies on 1 John 7; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; John Calvin, Commentary on 1 John; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 John and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 John.