¶ Dearly beloved believe not every spirit: but prove the spirits whether they are of God, or no: for many false prophets are gone out in to the world. Hereby shall ye know the spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God. And every spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist, of whom ye have heard, how that he should come: and even now already is he in the world.
¶ Little children, ye are of God, and have overcome them: for greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us: He that is not of God, heareth us not. Hereby know we the spirit of verity, and the spirit of error.
¶ Dearly beloved, let us love one another: for love cometh of God. And every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, hath not known God: for God is love. In this appeared the love of God to us ward, because that God sent his only begotten son into the world, that we might live thorow him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to make agreement for our sins.
¶ Dearly beloved if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfect in us. Hereby know we, that we dwell in him, and he in us: because he hath given us of his spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the father sent the son, which is the saviour of the world. Whosoever confesseth that Iesus is the son of God, in him dwelleth God, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.
¶ God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is the love perfect in us, that we should have trust in the day of judgment, that as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out all fear, for fear hath painfulness. He that feareth is not perfect in love.
¶ We love him, for he loved us first. If a man say, I love God, and yet hate his brother, he is a liar. How can he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we of him: that he which loveth God, should love his brother also.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526