New International Version
1 John 4:1
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
Context of 1 John 4:1
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
Read all of 1 John 41 John 4:1 word by word
Ἀγαπητοί, μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα εἰ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν, ὅτι πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τὸν κόσμον.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
- believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- notμήmē · notG3361
- everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
- spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- tryδοκιμάζωdokimazō · to testG1381
- the spiritsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- whetherεἰei · ifG1487
- they areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- false prophetsψευδοπροφήτηςpseudoprophētēs · false prophetG5578
- are gone outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
Cross-references for 1 John 4:1
- Deuteronomy 13:1If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder,
- Proverbs 14:15The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
- Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
- Jeremiah 29:8Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.
- Matthew 7:15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
- Matthew 24:4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.
- Romans 16:18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
- 2 Peter 2:1But 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 sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
- Luke 12:57“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
- Acts 17:11Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
- Romans 16:19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
- 1 Corinthians 14:29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21but test them all; hold on to what is good,
- Revelation 2:2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
- 1 John 2:18Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
- Matthew 24:5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
Commentaries on 1 John 4:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Beloved, believe not every spirit - Do not be forward to believe every teacher to be a man sent of God. As in those early times every teacher professed to be inspired by the Spirit of God, because all the prophets had come thus accredited, the term spirit was used to express the man who pretended to be and teach under the Spirit's influence. See 1 Corinthians 12:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1. Try the Spirits - · Put these teachers to the proof. Try them by that…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Beloved, believe not every spirit - Do not confide implicitly in everyone who professes to be under the influences of the Holy Spirit. Compare Matthew 24:4-5. The true and the false teachers of religion alike claimed to be under the influence of the Spirit of God, and it was of importance that all such pretensions should be examined. It was not to be admitted because anyone claimed to have been sent from God that therefore he was sent. Every such claim…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Believers cautioned against giving heed to every one that pretends to the Spirit. (1-6) Brotherly love enforced. (7-21) Verses 1-6 Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures, may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who contradict them. The sum of revealed religion is in the doctrine concerning Christ, his person and office. The false teachers spake of the world…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1every spirit: The teachers who left John’s churches said they were prophets, but a true prophet is someone the Holy Spirit uses to bring his message (Acts 4:25; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 19:10). Every speaker should be tested by comparing their message with what the Holy Spirit has already said through the apostles (1 John 4:2–3, 6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-211Jo 4:1-21. Tests of False Prophets. Love, the Test of Birth from God, and the Necessary Fruit of Knowing His Great Love in Christ to Us. 1. Beloved--the affectionate address wherewith he calls their attention, as to an important subject. every spirit--which presents itself in the person of a prophet. The Spirit of truth, and the spirit of error, speak by men's spirits as their organs. There is but one Spirit of truth, and one spirit of Antichrist…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 John 4:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 John 4
- 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
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