And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. John presents the negative test—denial of Christ's incarnation reveals false teaching. "Every spirit that confesseth not" (kai pan pneuma ho mē homologei)—the negative emphasizes willful rejection or denial, not mere ignorance. Some manuscripts read "divides Jesus" or "denies Jesus," but the meaning is consistent—rejecting the incarnation's truth.
"Is not of God" (ek tou theou ouk estin)—such teaching doesn't originate from God but from another source. "And this is that spirit of antichrist" (kai touto estin to tou antichristou)—the definite article identifies a specific entity. Antichristos (ἀντίχριστος) means against or instead of Christ—both opposing Christ and offering a counterfeit substitute. John introduced this term earlier (2:18, 22), warning that many antichrists exist, though a final Antichrist will come.
"Whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (ho akēkoate hoti erchetai kai nyn en tō kosmō estin ēdē). The spirit of antichrist was expected eschatologically but operates currently. This "already but not yet" pattern pervades Scripture—the kingdom has come but awaits consummation; antichrist's spirit is present but the person will appear later. False teaching denying Christ is antichrist's work, whether in the first century or today. The test remains unchanged—does teaching confess Jesus Christ's incarnation truthfully?
Historical Context
The concept of antichrist developed from Jewish apocalyptic expectation of a final enemy opposing God's Messiah (Daniel 7:24-27, 11:36-45). Paul described the "man of lawlessness" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10). John's contribution was identifying the spirit of antichrist already active in false teaching, particularly denying Christ's incarnation. This challenged believers to recognize that eschatological evil wasn't merely future but present in subtle forms.
Throughout church history, various figures have been identified as Antichrist—Roman emperors, papal corruption (by Reformers), political tyrants. While debate continues about a final personal Antichrist, John's point is clear—the antichrist spirit manifests in any teaching that denies Christ's true nature, especially His incarnation. Vigilance against such false teaching is always necessary.
Questions for Reflection
How can you recognize the spirit of antichrist in contemporary teaching that subtly denies Christ's incarnation?
What's the relationship between the many antichrists currently active and the final Antichrist expected to come?
Why does denial of Christ's incarnation specifically characterize the spirit of antichrist rather than other theological errors?
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Analysis & Commentary
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. John presents the negative test—denial of Christ's incarnation reveals false teaching. "Every spirit that confesseth not" (kai pan pneuma ho mē homologei)—the negative emphasizes willful rejection or denial, not mere ignorance. Some manuscripts read "divides Jesus" or "denies Jesus," but the meaning is consistent—rejecting the incarnation's truth.
"Is not of God" (ek tou theou ouk estin)—such teaching doesn't originate from God but from another source. "And this is that spirit of antichrist" (kai touto estin to tou antichristou)—the definite article identifies a specific entity. Antichristos (ἀντίχριστος) means against or instead of Christ—both opposing Christ and offering a counterfeit substitute. John introduced this term earlier (2:18, 22), warning that many antichrists exist, though a final Antichrist will come.
"Whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (ho akēkoate hoti erchetai kai nyn en tō kosmō estin ēdē). The spirit of antichrist was expected eschatologically but operates currently. This "already but not yet" pattern pervades Scripture—the kingdom has come but awaits consummation; antichrist's spirit is present but the person will appear later. False teaching denying Christ is antichrist's work, whether in the first century or today. The test remains unchanged—does teaching confess Jesus Christ's incarnation truthfully?