Revised Literal Translation
1 John 4:1
1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are 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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- 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.
Context of 1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it 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
- 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 there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
- Proverbs 14:15The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
- Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
- Jeremiah 29:8For thus saith Yhwh of Armies, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
- Matthew 7:15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
- Matthew 24:4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
- Romans 16:18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
- 2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
- Luke 12:57Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
- Acts 17:11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
- Romans 16:19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
- 1 Corinthians 14:29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
- Revelation 2:2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
- 1 John 2:18Little children, it is the end time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the end time.
- Matthew 24:5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall 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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries