A citation from the library
Patristic A.D. 735 · Historical Christian Faith commentaries database, on 1John 4:2 (Commentary on the Catholic Epistles)

Bede, on 1John 4:2

Bede · A.D. 673–735
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:
“In this is known the Spirit of God, etc. Confession in this place is understood not only as the Catholic faith but also as the good operation which is done through charity. Otherwise, some heretics confess, many schismatics, many false Catholics, that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, but they deny their confession by their deeds, not having charity. For charity brought the Son of God to the flesh. And therefore, whoever does not have charity denies that He has come in the flesh, such a one is convicted of not having the Spirit from God. But He is the Spirit of God, who says that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, who says it not with the tongue, but with deeds, not by sounding, but by loving.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

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