Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 John 4:5
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
5. They are of the world ] This follows, though it has not yet been stated, from their not being ‘of us’ (1Jn 2:19): for there is no middle position. The verse is another reminiscence of the Lord’s farewell discourses: ‘If ye were of the world, the world would love its own’ (Joh 15:19; comp. Joh 17:14).
therefore speak they of the world ] Or, therefore of the world they speak: as in Joh 3:31, the Greek order is impressive and worth preserving. (See on 1Jn 3:1; but here is not followed by .) The impressive repetition of ‘the world’ is very characteristic of S. John’s style; e.g. Joh 1:10; Joh 3:17; Joh 15:19; Joh 17:14. Comp. ‘He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh’ (Joh 3:31): where, however, ‘to speak of the earth ’ or ‘ earthly things ’ is to speak of God’s work on earth; whereas ‘to speak of the world ’ is to speak what is alien from God’s work and opposed to it. ‘To speak of ’ ( ) is not the same as ‘to speak concerning ’ ( ) 1Jn 5:16; Joh 1:22; Joh 1:47; Joh 2:21, &c. ‘To speak of the world’ is to have the world as the source of one’s words, so that one’s inspiration flows from it: and of course the world ‘heareth’, i.e. loves to hear, the wisdom derived from itself.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 1Jo 2:15.
Therefore speak they of the world – Compare the notes at Joh 3:31. This may mean either that their conversation pertained to the things of this world, or that they were wholly influenced by the love of the world, and not by the Spirit of God, in the doctrines which they taught. The general sense is, that they had no higher ends and aims than they have who are influenced only by worldly plans and expectations. It is not difficult to distinguish, even among professed Christians and Christian teachers, those who are heavenly in their conversation from those who are influenced solely by the spirit of the world. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, and the general turn of a mans conversation will show what spirit is within him.
And the world heareth them – The people of the world – the frivoulous ones, the rich, the proud, the ambitious, the sensual – receive their instructions, and recognize them as teachers and guides, for their views accord with their own. See the notes at Joh 15:19. A professedly religious teacher may always determine much about himself by knowing what class of people are pleased with him. A professed Christian of any station in life may determine much about his evidences of piety, by asking himself what kind of persons desire his friendship, and wish him for a companion.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
He giveth here a further rule whereby to judge of doctrines and teachers, viz. what they severally savour of, and tend to. The doctrines and teachers whereby these Christians were assaulted and tempted, were of an earthly savour and gust, tending only to gratify worldly lusts and inclinations, and to serve secular interests and designs; and therefore men only of a worldly spirit and temper were apt to listen and give entertainment to them. On the other hand, says he, (in the name of the asserters and followers of true and pure Christianity, comprehended with himself):
We are of God; i.e. our doctrine and way proceed from God, and tend only to serve, please, and glorify him, and draw all to him; therefore such as
know God, i.e. are his friends, and converse much with him,
hear us; the things we propose and offer are grateful and savoury to them, {as Joh 8:37,47} having manifestly no other aim than to promote serious godliness. And hereby may the spirit of truth and the spirit of error in matters of this nature be distinguished; the one being next of kin to purity, and holiness, and a godly life; the other, to sensuality, and a design only of gratifying the animal life.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. of the worldThey derivetheir spirit and teaching from the world, “unregenerate humannature, ruled over and possessed by Satan, the prince of this world”[ALFORD].
speak they of the wordTheydraw the matter of their conversation from the life, opinions, andfeelings of the world.
the world heareth them(Joh 15:18; Joh 15:19).The world loves its own.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They are of the world,…. That is, the false prophets and teachers that were gone into the world, and had the spirit of antichrist in them; these were as they were when they came into the world, under the pollution, guilt, and dominion of sin, in a state of unregeneracy, carnality, and darkness; they properly belonged unto it, and walked after the course of it, and were under the influence of the god of it, who led them into error; and were sensual, and indulged themselves in worldly lusts, and were seeking after worldly things; supposed that gain was godliness, and had men’s persons in admiration because of advantage; their nature and disposition, their principles and practices, and their ends and views, were worldly; and were quite different from Christ and his apostles, Joh 17:14,
therefore speak they of the world; they speak the wisdom of the world, or that in which the world thinks wisdom lies, and cry up for true knowledge, and right principles; and this they do with the enticing words of man’s wisdom, or in words which man’s wisdom teacheth; speaking great swelling words of vanity, which take with vain and carnal minds; and preach doctrines suited to their own taste, and the taste of others, as carnal and worldly men; such as the purity of human nature, in its first conception and birth, its freedom from any original corruption, and from any concern with the sin of Adam, only with actual sin of its own; and the power of it to do that which is good, keep the law of God, and obtain his favour; the non-necessity of any internal work of efficacious grace, a reformation of life and manners being thought sufficient to render a man acceptable to God, and prepare him for eternal happiness; the doctrine of justification and salvation by works; all which are pleasing to carnal men: hence it follows,
and the world heareth them; the wicked of the world; worldly and unregenerate men attend on their ministry, approve of what they deliver, and receive it with pleasure, and believe it: this expresses both the quality of the hearers of false teachers, that they are that part of the world, the worse part of it, which lies in wickedness; and the quantity of them, the greater part of the world, as it was foretold by Christ, and his apostles, that they should deceive many, that many should follow their pernicious ways, and that they should draw many disciples after them; wherefore the numbers that attend such persons, as it need not be wondered at, since both preachers and hearers, and the doctrines preached and heard, are all alike, they are of the world, so it should not be stumbling to the people of God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Of the world ( ). As Jesus is not and as the disciples are not (Joh 17:14ff.).
As of the world ( ). No “as” (), but that is the idea, for their talk proceeds from the world and wins a ready hearing. The false prophets and the world are in perfect unison.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Of the world [ ] . Proceeding from, as their source [] . Different from ejk thv ghv from the earth (Joh 3:31), as marking the whole worldly economy morally considered.
Speak they of the world (ejk tou kosmou lalousin) An ambiguous rendering, which might readily be interpreted “they speak concerning the world.” Literally it is : “they speak out of the world; i e., the character of their utterances corresponds to their origin. Rev.,” speak they as of the world. “The position of the world in the sentence is emphatic :” it is out of the world that they speak. “
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
WORLDLINESS – Mark of False Teachers
1) “They are of the world.” The “they” of the world (world order) are false teachers and prophets whose spirits are to be tried (tested) by the Word. 2Ti 3:1-8.
2) “Therefore speak they of the world.” Their language, conversation, is concerning depraved things. Out of the abundance of the unregenerated heart their tongues wag. Their affections are motivated by a desire for things material, temporary. Luk 6:45, Mat 12:34-36.
3) “And the World heareth them.” In keeping with the principle “everything after his kind,” it is natural for the unsaved, the unregenerated to follow the spirits of false prophets who too are unregenerated. Joh 8:44; 2Pe 2:1-3; 2Pe 2:18-19; 1Jn 2:15-17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
5 They are of the world It is no small consolation that they who dare to assail God in us, have only the world to aid and help them. And by the world the Apostle means that portion of which Satan is the prince. Another consolation is also added, when he says that the world embraces through the false prophets that which it acknowledges as its own. (85) We see what great propensity to vanity and falsehood there is in men. Hence false doctrines easily penetrate and spread far and wide. The Apostle intimates that there is no reason why we should on this account be disturbed, for it is nothing new or unusual that the world, which is wholly fallacious, should readily hearken to what is false.
(85) The clause, “therefore speak they of the world,” is hardly a true rendering, for ἐκ never means “of,” in the sense of “concerning.” Macknight renders it “from.” Grotius paraphrases the sentence thus, “They preach things agreeable to the dispositions of the world;” and Doddridge thus, “They speak as of the world, as taking their instructions from it.” But ἐκ, like ex in Latin, means sometimes “according to,” as in Mat 12:37, “For by (or, according to) thy words thou shalt be justified.” See also Mat 12:34, “but of (or, according to) the abundance,” etc. Then this sentence may be thus rendered, “Therefore speak they according to the world:” that is, according to the views and principles of the superstitious and ungodly men of the world. — Ed
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
5. Speak they of (rather from) the world They draw their inspiration, not from Christ, but from the world-spirit; and their doctrines are but the expression of the world’s feelings; and themselves are the organs of the Satan-inspired world.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Jn 4:5. They are of the world: False prophets and corrupt teachers are of the world, as long as a worldly spirit influences them; therefore speak they from that worldlydisposition, suiting their hearers, and consulting worldly interests; and as they sooth men in their prejudices, flatter them, and make them easy in their vices, the world readily heareth them; for there are many who would be gladly freed from moral obligations, and reconcile religion and the love of the world.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Jn 4:5 . In chap. 1Jn 2:19 , John had said of the false teachers: ; now he states from what source they spring; this is the ; the antichristian nature in them belonged to the world , quatenus Satanas est ejus princeps (Calvin). The manifestation of life corresponds with the source of it; because they are of the world, ; . means: to speak that which the supplies, to take the burden of their speech from the , ex mundi vita ac sensu sermones suos promere (Bengel). This is not identical with (Joh 3:31 ), for is not an ethical idea like .
] The false prophets had gone out from the Church into the world, to which they inwardly belonged, and proclaimed to it a wisdom which originated in it; therefore the world heard them, i.e. gave to their words applause and assent: (Oecumenius); in contrast to which believers were hated and persecuted by the world.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
Ver. 5. They are of the world ] i.e. The seducers; fit lettuce for such lips; Dignum patella operculum. Vos infernates estis. “Ye are from beneath, I am from above,” saith Christ, Joh 8:23 .
Therefore speak they of the world ] The water riseth not (unless forced) above its source. Out of the warehouse, the shop is furnished. Carnal teachers gratify their hearers with pleasing positions. The Papists in their petition to King James for a toleration, plead this as an argument, That their religion is agreeable to men’s nature: and indeed it is an alluring, tempting, bewitching religion, giving way to all licentiousness and lasciviousness. So Mahomet in his Koran tells his followers concerning venery, That God did not give men such appetites to have them frustrated, but enjoyed, as made for the gust a of man, not for his torment; and a great deal more of such paltry stuff.
a Keen relish, appreciation, or enjoyment, esp. as displayed in speech or action. D
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
5 .] They are of the world (this description is not ethical, as Socinus and Grot., “affectus habent, quales habet mundus, i. e. pars longe maxima humani generis: amant splendorem hujus vit, opulentiam et voluptates:” but betokens the origin and source of that which they are and teach, as did on the other side. That origin and source is the world, unregenerate human nature, ruled over and possessed by the devil, the prince of this world): for this cause they speak of (not concerning , but of, as out of and from ; the material of what they say being cosmic: “ex mundi vita et sensu sermones suos promunt,” Bengel) the world, and the world heareth them (loving as it does its own, who aro of it, Joh 15:19 , from which our verse is mainly taken: see also Joh 8:47 ; Joh 18:37 ).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
1Jn 4:5 . (as opposed to ) , as its delegates, messengers, representatives, and as such . , not “speak” ( ), but “talk,” with a suggestion of prating ( cf. Joh 4:42 ). takes accus. of the thing heard, genit. of the person from whom it is heard. Cf. Luk 5:1 ; Act 1:4 (where both are combined). The world listens to those who speak its own language.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
therefore = on account of (App-104. 1Jn 4:2) this.
speak. App-121.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
5.] They are of the world (this description is not ethical, as Socinus and Grot.,-affectus habent, quales habet mundus, i. e. pars longe maxima humani generis: amant splendorem hujus vit, opulentiam et voluptates:-but betokens the origin and source of that which they are and teach, as did on the other side. That origin and source is the world, unregenerate human nature, ruled over and possessed by the devil, the prince of this world): for this cause they speak of (not concerning, but of, as out of and from; the material of what they say being cosmic: ex mundi vita et sensu sermones suos promunt, Bengel) the world, and the world heareth them (loving as it does its own, who aro of it, Joh 15:19, from which our verse is mainly taken: see also Joh 8:47; Joh 18:37).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Jn 4:5. ) they themselves.- , speak of the world) They derive their language from the life and perception of the world.-, heareth) on account of its agreement with them.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
are: Psa 17:4, Luk 16:8, Joh 3:31, Joh 7:6, Joh 7:7, Joh 8:23, Joh 15:19, Joh 15:20, Joh 17:14, Joh 17:16, Rev 12:9
and: Isa 30:10, Isa 30:11, Jer 5:31, Jer 29:8, Mic 2:11, Joh 15:19, Joh 17:14, 2Ti 4:3, 2Pe 2:2, 2Pe 2:3
Reciprocal: Neh 6:19 – they reported Psa 17:14 – men of Pro 17:4 – General Pro 28:4 – that Dan 11:34 – cleave Hos 7:3 – General Luk 6:26 – when Joh 10:5 – General Act 17:11 – and searched Rom 12:2 – be not 1Co 2:12 – not 1Co 5:10 – of this 1Jo 2:15 – Love not 1Jo 5:19 – and the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Jn 4:5. They (the antichrists) are of the world, which means they are interested in worldly practices. That is why they are opposing Christ because he condemns their evil ways. But the people of the world will hear their false teaching because it encourages their unrighteous life.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Here we have, 1. The character given of these seducers and false teachers, They are of the world; that is, men of worldly minds and interests, They speak of the world; that is, they preach a doctrine suitable to the lusts and inclinations of worldly men, who greedily hear them, and easily believe them; ordinarily our words are such as we are; they who are of the world must needs speak of the world, for they have nothing else to speak of. THe covetous man speaks covetously, and the proud man proudly.
Observe, 2. The character which the apostle gives of himself and his fellow-apostles, we are of God; that is, taught and instructed by God. We have our mission and our message from God, and he has given us his attestation, by opening the ears and hearts of those that attend upon our ministry, to receive and embrace our doctrine; but such as are not taught of God, reject both it and us.
Observe, 3. The inference and conclusion which our apostle draws from hence, namely, that by the doctrine and writings of the apostles and evangelists, the truth or falsehood of doctrines may and must be judged; for, says he, Hereby we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error; he that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God, heareth not us.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
4:5 {4} They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
(4) He brings a reason why the world receives these teachers more willingly than the true: that is, because they speak nothing but that which is worldly: which is another note also to know the doctrine of antichrist by.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The antichrists’ teachings have an appeal to worldly minds because they come from the world and share the viewpoint of the world (cf. Joh 3:31). Heterodoxy has a greater appeal than orthodoxy because many religious movements are composed mainly of unsaved people who find false doctrine appealing.
"How can a man whose watchword is competition even begin to understand an ethic whose key-note is service?" [Note: Barclay, p. 113.]
"The term ’world’ (kosmos) is probably to be understood in two ways: as a system of thought antithetical to Christian belief and as a description of those members of the community who were led astray by the false teachers. That some members of the community were easily persuaded to forsake the truth of the gospel should not bewilder the faithful." [Note: Barker, p. 341.]
"The word ’world’ has several nuances of meaning; in 1Jn 4:3 it means more the area inhabited by men, but in 1Jn 4:4 it refers rather to sinful mankind, while in 1Jn 4:5 the stress is more on the sinful principle found in such people" [Note: Marshall, p. 209, footnote 18.]