1 John 2:4

4 He who saith that he knoweth him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar: and the truth is not in him.

1 John 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 2:4

He that saith I know him
God or Christ, as the Gnostics did, who pretended to great, even perfect, knowledge of divine things:

and keepeth not his commandments;
which the above persons had no regard to, and as many who profess great light and knowledge in our days show no concern for:

is a liar;
he contradicts what he says, and gives the lie to it; for though in words he professes to know God, in works he denies him, and which betrays his ignorance of him:

and the truth is not in him;
there is no true knowledge of God and Christ in him; nor is the truth of the Gospel in his heart, however it may be in his head; nor is the truth of grace in him, for each of these lead persons to obedience. The Ethiopic version renders it, "the truth of God is not with him"; (See Gill on 1 John 1:8).

1 John 2:4 In-Context

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

3 And by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He who saith that he knoweth him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar: and the truth is not in him.

5 But he that keepeth his word, in him in very deed the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him.

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.