A citation from the library
Augustine of Hippo, on 1John 4:2
Augustine of Hippo · A.D. 354–430
1John 4:2 · Douay-Rheims
“By this is the spirit of God known. Every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God:”
On this verse:
“Aye, here perchance they lift themselves up against us, and say: Ye have not the Spirit from God; but we confess "that Jesus Christ came in the flesh:" but the apostle here hath said that those have not the Spirit of God, who confess not "that Jesus Christ came in the flesh." Ask the Arians: they confess "that Jesus Christ came in the flesh:" ask the Eunomians; they confess "that Jesus Christ came in the flesh:" ask the Macedonians; they confess "that Jesus Christ came in the flesh:" put the question to the Cataphryges; they confess "that Jesus Christ came in the flesh:" put it to the Novatians; they confess "that Jesus Christ came in the flesh." Then have all these heresies the Spirit of God? Are they then no false prophets? Is there then no deception there, no seduction there? Assuredly they are antichrists; for "they went out from us, but were not of us."”
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.