Keraia
1 John 4

1 John 4:1

Testing the Spirits · 1 John 4:1–6
Read 1 John 4

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Literal
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.
Latin
Carissimi, nolite omni spiritui credere, sed probate spiritus si ex Deo sint: quoniam multi pseudoprophetæ exierunt in mundum.

Original

Greek
English
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.

Notes

1 John 4:1

every 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).

1 John 4:1–6

Those who belong to God can tell the difference between spiritual truth and error (4:4). The presence of the Holy Spirit teaches them (3:23–24; see 2:20, 27; John 14:15–26; 16:5–15). Yet John gives clear tests that Christians can use so that there will be no confusion. These tests are a beginning point for identifying true teachers, not a complete list. John designed them to answer the false teachings that were spreading in the churches of the people he is writing to.

Theme notes and profiles

False Prophets The Gift of Prophecy

Glossary

Cerinthus Discerning of Spirits False Prophets First Letter of John Prophets, False Son of God

Topics

Archangels Assumption Bad Attitude Bad Company Bad Dreams Bad Friends Bad Relationships Being a Mason Being Careful Being Deceived Being Unfair Broken Promises Casting out Demons Chain Letters Christian Minister: False and Corrupt Church: Harmonious Fellowship of Commandments: Other Apostles: Precepts of, Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles Communicating with the Dead Contacting the Dead Crystal Healing Cults Deceivers Demonic Possession Demonic Spirits Denying God Discerning of Spirits Discernment Dishonest People Doctrine Dreamers Ears Evil Spirits Exposing False Teachers Fallen Angels False Christians False Doctrine False Doctrines: Try, by Scripture False Prophets: Mode of Trying and Detecting Family Rejection Freemasons