A  (1-3a)  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,

B  (3b)  whereof ye have heard that it should come;

C  (3c)  and even now already is it in the world.

D  (4)  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

C’  (5)  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

B’  (6a)  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.

A’  (6b)  Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.