1 John 4, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Classic

1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Modern

2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

Classic

2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

Modern

3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

Classic

3And 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.

Modern

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.

Classic

4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Modern

5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.

Classic

5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

Modern

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.

Classic

6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Modern

7Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Classic

7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

Modern

8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Classic

8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Modern

9This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

Classic

9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Modern

10And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Classic

10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Modern

11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Classic

11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Modern

12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.

Classic

12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Modern

13By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

Classic

13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Modern

14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

Classic

14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Modern

15If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Classic

15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

Modern

16And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Classic

16And 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.

Modern

17In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

Classic

17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Modern

18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

Classic

18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Modern

19We love because He first loved us.

Classic

19We love him, because he first loved us.

Modern

20If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Classic

20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Modern

21And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

Classic

21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.