Observation: What do I see in the text?
1. Read all of chapter 4 at least twice making mental notes of Who, What, When, Why, Where, and How.
2. Read 1 John 4:1-6, 15 through at least twice.
- While reading somehow mark the key word/terms. For example in verse 1 the term "spirit(s)" would be a key term. Spirit(s) refers to the doctrine or teaching that is presented by teachers who believe in their own minds that they are teaching what God would have them to teach but yet this "doctrine" is not in accordance with the Word of God.
- Mark key verbs or verbal phrases that might be important in understanding the meaning of the text. For example in verse 1 the apostle John uses the verb "test." "Test" is in the present imperatve tense in the Greek New Testament. John is saying that these believers are to make "testing the spirits" not only a habit or lifestyle but also an action carried out whenever the occasion arises. The word "test" refers to examination, proving and scrutinizing. In other words we are to always examine and evaluate everything we hear in light of God's Word.
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