They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 1 John 4:5
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Who are the "They" in this scripture.
- Thread starter Jedi Knight
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Could be describing those Baptist pastors from Louisiana, the ones who ate starting an alternative worldly association
http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=97729
Sorry James your on my ignore list...you were a meanie. :smilewinkgrin: Anyone else?
Probably the false prophets mentioned in verse 1.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. - 1 Jn. 4:4
The contrast is between those who are children of God who have the Spirit of God indwelling them versus those who are not the children of God who have another spirit operating in them (see Eph. 2:2-3) which would include false prophets.
Hence, "they" are those without the Spirit of God - the lost world
I know it was very basic question BUT what I was fishing for was a name I heard many Pastors say like a cult that Jesus came in Spirit not flesh. Ring a bell?
Was there a person or group John has in mind?
What is meant by kosmos here?
The world.
Gnosticism? 2 John 1:7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:6 Gnosticism or Judaism being addressed in 1 John? I have heard many Pastors address this as the Gnosticism.... I believe it's Judaisum.
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I agree, it's Gnosticism and/or Judaism. Gnosticism is a daughter of the Harlot, it's Jewish in it's origin:
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6723-gnosticism
Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing. Jn 18:20
I suggest to you that John always uses kosmos in reference to 'the arrangement', i.e., the religious establishment/system.
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Hey Zenas, Here is an example of John vs 1 John....remember same author:1 John 4:6 But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception. Now John before wrote what Jesus said in John 8:47,
Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." See the same truth reiterated in 1 John? The Lord was talking to the Jews,Pharisees,etc when he spoke that.
Other scholars believe the "they" refers to "secessionist opponents" that left the congregation John was addressing. They left because they held differing views (i.e. Jesus did not come in the flesh). Compare 1 John 2:19 with 1 John 4:5.
In my opinion, John always uses Kosmos to refer to fallen mankind or the corrupt system and values of fallen mankind. Since Jesus came to take away the sin of the world, it is hard to define world as only Jews and their religious system, or only Gentiles and their pagan beliefs.
In my opinion, John always uses Kosmos to refer to fallen mankind or the corrupt system and values of fallen mankind. Since Jesus came to take away the sin of the world, it is hard to define world as only Jews and their religious system, or only Gentiles and their pagan beliefs.