1 John 4:5
New International Version
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

New Living Translation
Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.

English Standard Version
They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.

Berean Standard Bible
They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.

Berean Literal Bible
They are of the world; because of this they speak from out of the world, and the world listens to them.

King James Bible
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

New King James Version
They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.

New American Standard Bible
They are from the world, therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.

NASB 1995
They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.

NASB 1977
They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.

Legacy Standard Bible
They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world hears them.

Amplified Bible
They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories—demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible one of the] world listens closely and pays attention to them.

Christian Standard Bible
They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.

American Standard Version
They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.

Contemporary English Version
These enemies belong to this world, and the world listens to them, because they speak its language.

English Revised Version
They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
These people belong to the world. That's why they speak the thoughts of the world, and the world listens to them.

Good News Translation
Those false prophets speak about matters of the world, and the world listens to them because they belong to the world.

International Standard Version
These people belong to the world. That is why they speak from the world's perspective, and the world listens to them.

Majority Standard Bible
They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.

NET Bible
They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world's perspective and the world listens to them.

New Heart English Bible
They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

Webster's Bible Translation
They are of the world: therefore they speak from the world, and the world heareth them.

Weymouth New Testament
They are the world's children, and so their language is that of the world, and the world listens to them. We are God's children.

World English Bible
They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They are of the world, because they speak of this from the world, and the world hears them;

Berean Literal Bible
They are of the world; because of this they speak from out of the world, and the world listens to them.

Young's Literal Translation
They -- of the world they are; because of this from the world they speak, and the world doth hear them;

Smith's Literal Translation
They are of the world: for this they speak of the world, and the world hears them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They are of the world: therefore of the world they speak, and the world heareth them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They are of the world. Therefore, they speak about the world, and the world listens to them.

New American Bible
They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them.

New Revised Standard Version
They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They are of the world; therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And these are from the world, therefore they speak from the world and the world listens to them.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
They are of the world: therefore, they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

Godbey New Testament
They are of the world: on this account they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

Haweis New Testament
They are of the world, therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.

Mace New Testament
they are of the world: therefore their doctrine is worldly, and the world are their disciples.

Weymouth New Testament
They are the world's children, and so their language is that of the world, and the world listens to them. We are God's children.

Worrell New Testament
They are of the world; for this cause they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

Worsley New Testament
They are of the world; therefore they speak as men of the world, and the world heareth them.
Audio Bible



Context
Testing the Spirits
4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.…

Cross References
John 15:19
If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

James 4:4
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

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.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

1 Corinthians 2:12
We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

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.

2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Galatians 1:10
Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

John 3:31
The 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 above all.

1 Corinthians 1:20
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

John 7:7
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

2 Timothy 4:10
because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.


Treasury of Scripture

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them.

are.

Psalm 17:4
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

Luke 16:8
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

John 3:31
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

and.

Isaiah 30:10,11
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: …

Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Jeremiah 29:8
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

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1 John 4
1. He warns them not to believe all who boast of the Spirit;
7. and exhorts to brotherly love.














They are of the world
The phrase "They are of the world" indicates a clear distinction between those who belong to God and those who belong to the world. The Greek word for "world" here is "kosmos," which often refers to the fallen, sinful system opposed to God. This phrase suggests that those who are "of the world" are influenced by worldly values and priorities, which are in direct contrast to the teachings of Christ. Historically, the early Christian community faced significant pressure from both Jewish and pagan societies, which often led to a blending of worldly philosophies with Christian doctrine. This warning serves as a reminder to remain vigilant against such influences.

That is why they speak from the world’s perspective
The phrase "speak from the world’s perspective" highlights the source and nature of their message. The Greek word for "speak" is "laleō," which implies not just casual conversation but a proclamation or teaching. Those who are "of the world" naturally communicate ideas and values that align with worldly principles. This reflects a broader biblical theme where speech is a reflection of the heart's condition (Matthew 12:34). In a historical context, this could refer to false teachers who were leading believers astray by integrating secular philosophies into their teachings, thus diluting the gospel's purity.

and the world listens to them
The phrase "and the world listens to them" underscores the receptivity of worldly people to messages that resonate with their own values and desires. The Greek word for "listens" is "akouō," which means to hear with attention and understanding. This implies an acceptance and approval of the worldly message. In the early church, this was a significant challenge as false teachers often gained large followings by appealing to popular cultural norms and desires. This serves as a cautionary note for believers to discern carefully what they hear and to ensure it aligns with the truth of Scripture, rather than the shifting values of society.

Verse 5. - The source of their character and their teaching is the world; from it they derive their inspiration; and of course the world listens to them. Once again (see on 1 John 3:23) we have an echo of Christ's last discourses: "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own" (John 15:19).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
They
αὐτοὶ (autoi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

are
εἰσίν (eisin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

of
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world.
κόσμου (kosmou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

That is why
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

they speak
λαλοῦσιν (lalousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

from the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world’s
κόσμου (kosmou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

perspective,
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world
κόσμος (kosmos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

listens to
ἀκούει (akouei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

them.
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Letters: 1 John 4:5 They are of the world (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)
1 John 4:4
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