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1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

KJV

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

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Commentary

4 voices

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Original language & word study

21 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
Ἀγαπητοί,AgapētoiBeloved,G27 →
μὴmēnotG3361 →
παντὶpantieveryG3956 →
πνεύματιpneumatispiritG4151 →
πιστεύετεpisteuetedo believeG4100 →
ἀλλὰallabutG235 →
δοκιμάζετεdokimazetedo testG1381 →
τὰtatheG3588 →
πνεύματαpneumataspiritsG4151 →
εἰeiwhetherG1487 →
ἐκekofG1537 →
τοῦtou<the>G3588 →
θεοῦtheouGodG2316 →
ἐστιν,estinthey are,G1510 →
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754 →
πολλοὶpolloimanyG4183 →
ψευδοπροφῆταιpseudoprophētaifalse prophetsG5578 →
ἐξεληλύθασινexelēluthasinhave gone outG1831 →
εἰςeisintoG1519 →
τὸνtontheG3588 →
κόσμον.kosmonworld.G2889 →

The walk

Related verses

18 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

1 Thessalonians 5:21but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.Matthew 7:15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.2 Peter 2:1Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,Proverbs 14:15The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.2 John 1:7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.Matthew 24:4–5Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.Jeremiah 29:8–9For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them.Matthew 7:15–16Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.2 Corinthians 11:3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.1 Corinthians 14:29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.John 10:1“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.Matthew 24:4Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.1 John 2:18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.Luke 12:57And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.Luke 21:8Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.Deuteronomy 13:1–5If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,

Featured studies on this passage

The Archangel Michael Weighing Souls — Hans Holbein the Younger

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Discerning of Spirits

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Saint John the Evangelist — El Greco

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The Tests of Life — 1 John's Three Tests

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Sermon and Deeds of the Antichrist — Luca Signorelli

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Antichrist (the Word and the Figure), MannaFest

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Bruegel's Fall of the Rebel Angels — the older Christian reading of the demonic's origin.

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Demonology

What Scripture actually says about the unseen adversary — named, bounded, and already defeated.

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The Evangelist Matthew Inspired by an Angel — Rembrandt

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Theological Words

Eight words that carry the Bible's theology — agape, chesed, logos, hilastērion, berith, shalom, emunah, doxa — each a door into its full workbench page.

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About 1 John

The Last Supper — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Last Supper — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
1 John: the study guide →Read chapter 4 →The featured study →
Continue: 1 John 4 →