² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh^(A) is from God,^{(B) 3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,^(C) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.^(D)

⁴ You, dear children,^(E) are from God and have overcome them,^(F) because the one who is in you^(G) is greater than the one who is in the world.^(H)