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

19Do not quench the Spirit, 20do not despise prophetic messages, but test all things, hold fast to what is good, 22keep away from every kind of evil. 23Now may the God of shalom Himself make you completely holy; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 word by word

πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε· τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Proveδοκιμάζωdokimazō · to testG1381
• all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• hold fastκατέχωkatechō · to hold back/fastG2722
• that which is goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570

Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 5:21

• Isaiah 8:20To Torah and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no light.
• Matthew 7:15“Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
• Mark 7:14Then Yeshua called the crowd again and began saying to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand.
• Luke 12:57Why can’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
• Acts 17:11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, because they received the message with goodwill, searching the Scriptures each day to see whether these things were true.
• Romans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
• 1 Corinthians 2:11For who among men knows the things of a man, except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the things of God except the Ruach Elohim.
• 1 Corinthians 14:28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the community but speak to himself and to God.
• Ephesians 5:10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
• Philippians 1:10in order to approve what is excellent—so that in the Day of Messiah you may be sincere and blameless,
• 1 John 4:1Loved ones, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
• Revelation 2:2I know all about your deeds and your toil and your patient endurance, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. You have tested those who call themselves emissaries and are not, and have found them to be liars.
• Deuteronomy 11:6and what He did to Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab son of Reuben—how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with their households and tents and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Israel—
• Deuteronomy 32:46he said to them, “Put in your hearts all the words that I call as witness against you today—that you may command your children to keep and do all the words of this Torah.
• Proverbs 3:1My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my mitzvot.
• Proverbs 4:13Hold on tightly to instruction, do not let it go— guard it, for it is your 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