And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
and this.
1 John 2:18,22 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time…
2 Thessalonians 2:7,8 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way…
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
This is the spirit of the antichrist,
The term "antichrist" refers to any force or individual opposing Christ and His teachings. In the context of 1 John, it highlights the presence of false teachers who deny Jesus' incarnation and divinity. The concept of the antichrist is further explored in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and Revelation 13, where it is associated with end-times deception. The spirit of the antichrist is characterized by opposition to Christ's truth and authority.
which you have heard is coming
This phrase indicates that the early Christians were already warned about the coming of false teachers and the spirit of the antichrist. Jesus Himself spoke of false prophets in Matthew 24:24, and Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29-30. The anticipation of such challenges was part of the apostolic teaching, preparing believers to stand firm in their faith.
and which is already in the world at this time.
John asserts that the spirit of the antichrist was not only a future threat but a present reality. This reflects the ongoing struggle between truth and deception within the church. The presence of false teachings in the first-century church is documented in other New Testament writings, such as Galatians and Colossians. This phrase serves as a call to vigilance and faithfulness, reminding believers that spiritual discernment is crucial in every age.
John speaks of unseen spiritual influences rather than mere human opinion (1 John 4:1). He takes for granted that behind teachings stand spirits, either holy or deceptive (Ephesians 6:12). The command is to test all of them, because “every spirit” will ultimately side either with God or against Him. You and I are therefore called to vigilance, refusing blind acceptance while holding fast to what is true (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Confession means open agreement with God’s testimony about His Son. It is not enough to mention Jesus’ name; the spirit must affirm the full biblical portrait that
• Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh (1 John 4:2)
• He is God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16)
• He is Lord, risen from the dead (Romans 10:9)
Any teaching that diminishes His deity, His incarnation, or His saving work betrays a counterfeit source (1 John 2:22–23; John 14:6).
The dividing line is clear. If the spirit refuses to honor the biblical Jesus, it is not of divine origin. Paul warned of workers who appear righteous yet are empowered by another source (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). Even dazzling displays can accompany error (Matthew 7:21–23). Sound doctrine and humble obedience reveal the genuine presence of God (John 8:47).
John has already introduced “antichrist” as anyone who denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:18, 22). Here he shows the driving force behind such denial. Antichrist means both “against” and “instead of” Christ, a counterfeit that opposes while pretending to replace Him (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4). Behind false teaching lies a personal, organized hostility to Jesus.
Believers were taught to expect a climactic manifestation of evil (Matthew 24:24; Revelation 13). Scripture foresees a final antichrist figure, energized by Satan, who will deceive many (Daniel 7:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:8–10). John reminds his readers that the danger was never theoretical; prophecy had already sounded the alarm.
While the ultimate antichrist is future, the same spirit is presently active. Even in the first century, John could say, “many antichrists have appeared” (1 John 2:18). Hostile influences infiltrate culture, religion, and thought (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Our task is to recognize them, stand firm in truth, and abide in Christ, who is greater than the one in the world (1 John 4:4).
1 John 4:3 draws a sharp, loving line: embrace every spirit that exalts the biblical Jesus, reject every spirit that will not. Anything less is antichrist in origin, already operating around us and pointing to a future, more blatant rebellion. Discernment, anchored in God’s Word and empowered by His Spirit, keeps believers safe and fruitful until the Lord returns.
Verse 3. - Every spirit (not so much the personal teacher as the principle or tendency of the doctrine) which confesseth not Jesus. This is the true reading, the words Ξριστὸν ἐν σαρκὶ ἐληλυθότα being a spurious addition from verse 1. As so often, St. John states the case both negatively and positively for emphasis. There is an ancient variant reading of much interest, probably of Latin origin, which can be traced back to the second century, being known to Tertullian and Iranaeus. For μὴ ὁμολογεῖ τὸν Ἰησοῦν it gives λύει τὸν Ἰησοῦν, solvit Jesum. This corruption of the text was evidently aimed at those who distinguished the man Jesus from the Divine Christ, and thus "dissolved" his Personality. The Greek manuscripts are quite unanimous against the reading. Is not of God; and therefore is of the evil one (see on 1 John 3:10). These professedly Christian teachers are ever among the most dangerous who treat the Divinity of Jesus Christ as more or less of an open question, or as a matter of indifference. Τὸ τοῦ ἀντιχρίστου probably means "the spirit of antichrist," understanding πνεῦμα from the preceding clause rather than (quite vaguely) "the characteristic of antichrist" (see on 1 John 2:18, to which passage, however, ἀκηκόατε does not refer, (but to Christian teaching in general). And now it is in the world already. This is an independent statement; St. John does not say that they had heard this previously.