1 Thessalonians 5:21

1 Thessalonians 5:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
• New International Version (NIV)but test them all; hold on to what is good,
• English Standard Version (ESV)but test everything; hold fast what is good.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Test all things; hold fast what is good.

Context of 1 Thessalonians 5:21

19quench not the Spirit; 20do not lightly esteem prophecies; but prove all things, hold fast the right; 22hold aloof from every form of wickedness. 23Now the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly: and your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 word by word

πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε· τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε·Read the interlinear

• thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• holdκατέχωkatechō · to hold back/fastG2722
• rightκαλόςkalos · goodG2570

Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 5:21

• Isaiah 8:20To the law and the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, for them there is no daybreak.
• Matthew 7:15But beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but within are ravening wolves.
• Mark 7:14And having called again the crowd, he said to them, Hear me, all [of you], and understand:
• Luke 12:57And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
• Acts 17:11And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, receiving the word with all readiness of mind, daily searching the scriptures if these things were so.
• Romans 12:2And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [your] mind, that ye may prove what [is] the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
• 1 Corinthians 2:11For who of men hath known the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? thus also the things of God knows no one except the Spirit of God.
• 1 Corinthians 14:28but if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in [the] assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
• Ephesians 5:10proving what is agreeable to the Lord;
• Philippians 1:10that ye may judge of and approve the things that are more excellent, in order that ye may be pure and without offence for Christ's day,
• 1 John 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, if they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
• Revelation 2:2I know thy works and [thy] labour, and thine endurance, and that thou canst not bear evil [men]; and thou hast tried them who say that themselves [are] apostles and are not, and hast found them liars;
• Deuteronomy 11:6and what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, — how the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, with their households, and their tents, and all the living substance that belonged to them, in the midst of all Israel.
• Deuteronomy 32:46he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words that I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to take heed to do, all the words of this law.
• Proverbs 3:1My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
• Proverbs 4:13Take fast hold of instruction, let [her] not go: keep her, for she is thy life.

Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 5:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Prove all things - Whatever ye hear in these prophesyings or preachings, examine by the words of Christ, and by the doctrines which, from time to time, we have delivered unto you in our preaching and writings. Try the spirits - the different teachers, by the word of God. Hold fast that which is good - Whatever in these prophesyings has a tendency to increase your faith, love, holiness, and usefulness, that receive and hold fast. There were prophets or…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Prove all things - Subject everything submitted to you to be believed to the proper test. The word here used ( ́ dokimazete), is one that is properly applicable to metals, referring to the art of the assayer, by which the true nature and value of the metal is tested; see notes, 1 Corinthians 3:13. This trial was usually made by fire. The meaning here is, that they were carefully to examine everything proposed for their belief. They were not to receive it…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 We are to rejoice in creature-comforts, as if we rejoiced not, and must not expect to live many years, and rejoice in them all; but if we do rejoice in God, we may do that evermore. A truly religious life is a life of constant joy. And we should rejoice more, if we prayed more. Prayer will help forward all lawful business, and every good work. If we pray without ceasing, we shall not want matter for thanksgiving in every thing. We shall see…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21Do not treat prophecies with contempt: No one should dismiss prophecy intended to spiritually strengthen the church (1 Corinthians 14:1–4). Instead, the Thessalonians should evaluate the prophecies to understand where they come from. Paul says they should make sure any prophecies align with the apostles' teachings (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 John 4:1–3). The church should also assess the character of those who deliver the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2221-22. Some of the oldest manuscripts insert "But." You ought indeed not to "quench" the manifestations of "the Spirit," nor "despise prophesyings"; "but," at the same time, do not take "all" as genuine which professes to be so; "prove (test) all" such manifestations. The means of testing them existed in the Church, in those who had the "discerning of spirits" (1Co 12:10; 14:29; 1Jo 4:1). Another sure test, which we also have, is, to try the professed…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 5:21

• Commandments
• Perseverance
• Religion
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Edify
• Greet
• Patient
• Quench
• Render
• Sudden
• Warn
• Good
• Prove
• Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the

Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings