1Jo 4:2 | RWP | e4.org | Hereby know ye ( εν τουτω γινωσκετε ). Either present active indicative or imperative. The test of "the Spirit of God" ( το πνευμα του θεου ) here alone in this Epistle, save verse . With the clamour of voices then and now this is important. The test ( εν τουτω , as in ) follows. That Jesus Christ is come in the flesh ( Ιησουν Χριστον εν σαρκ εληλυθοτα ). The correct text (perfect active participle predicate accusative), not the infinitive ( εληλυθενα , B Vg). The predicate participle (see for predicate accusative with ομολογεω ) describes Jesus as already come in the flesh (his actual humanity, not a phantom body as the Docetic Gnostics held). See this same idiom in with ερχομενον (coming). A like test is proposed by Paul for confessing the deity of Jesus Christ in and for the Incarnation and Resurrection of Jesus in .

‏ 1 John 4:2

Hereby know ye ( εν τουτω γινωσκετε ). Either present active indicative or imperative. The test of "the Spirit of God" ( το πνευμα του θεου ) here alone in this Epistle, save verse 13. With the clamour of voices then and now this is important. The test ( εν τουτω, as in 3:19) follows.

That Jesus Christ is come in the flesh ( Ιησουν Χριστον εν σαρκ εληλυθοτα ). The correct text (perfect active participle predicate accusative), not the infinitive ( εληλυθενα, B Vg). The predicate participle (see Joh 9:22 for predicate accusative with ομολογεω ) describes Jesus as already come in the flesh (his actual humanity, not a phantom body as the Docetic Gnostics held). See this same idiom in 2Jo 1:7 with ερχομενον (coming). A like test is proposed by Paul for confessing the deity of Jesus Christ in 1Co 12:3 and for the Incarnation and Resurrection of Jesus in Ro 10:6-10.