1 John 4:1 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹ Loved ones, do not believe [the message of] every spirit [i.e., every person claiming to be a teacher], but test the spirits [i.e., require proof that they and their message are genuine] to see whether they represent God [or not], because many false prophets have begun circulating throughout the world.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹ BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Common English Bible

¹ Dear friends, don’t believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they are from God because many false prophets have gone into the world.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹ Most beloved, do not be willing to believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹ Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1 Cross References

Mark 13:21

And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is Christ,’ or ‘Look, there He is,’ do not believe him.

Luke 12:57

“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

Luke 21:8

And He replied, “Pay attention, so that you are not led astray [from the truth]. For many [false teachers] will come, claiming to be me, and saying, ‘I am [the Christ],’ and ‘The time is near.’ [But] do not go after them.

Acts 17:11

Now these people [in Berea] had more character than those in Thessalonica because they [not only] received the message with an open mind but [also] examined the [Old Testament] Scriptures every day to see if what they had heard was really true.

Acts 20:29

[Because] I know that after I am gone [from here] there will be vicious wolves [i.e., ravaging false teachers] who will come in among you, and they will not spare the flock [i.e., the congregation].

1 Corinthians 12:10

Another [is given] the ability to perform miracles; and another [is given] the ability to prophesy [supernaturally]; and another [is given] the ability to speak in different languages [supernaturally]; and still another [is given] the ability to interpret those languages [supernaturally].

1 Corinthians 14:29

And [only] two or three prophets should speak [in one meeting], and [then] other people should determine the significance [of their messages]

1 Thessalonians 5:20

Do not look down on prophetic messages.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

Put everything [i.e., speakers and their messages] to the test, [then] hold onto what is good.

2 Thessalonians 2:2

we request that you people do not become shaken up in your mind, nor alarmed, either by a spirit [i.e., by some prophetic prediction], or by a report, or by a letter supposedly from us, that the day of the Lord [i.e., when Jesus returns] has already come.

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Holy Spirit specifically says that in later times [Note: “Later times” in the New Testament usually refers to the period following the first coming of Christ and the establishment of the church], some people will fall away from the faith [i.e., the true teaching of Christianity]. They will pay attention to deceitful spirits [i.e., lying people] and the teaching of evil spirits.

2 Timothy 3:13

But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse [in their behavior], deceiving people and being deceived by them.

2 Peter 2:1

But just as there were false prophets among the people before, there will also be false teachers among you [Christians]. They will privately teach harmful doctrines that destroy people [spiritually], by even denying [that Jesus is] the Master, [and thereby] destroying themselves quickly.

1 John 2:18

Dear children, it is [now] the last hour [i.e., the final period of God’s dealing with people on earth], and since you have heard that an antichrist [i.e., a person who is against Christ] is coming, even now [you should be aware that] many antichrists have [already] come. This is [one way] we know that this is the last hour.

1 John 2:7

My dearly loved ones, I am not writing to you about a new commandment, but about an old one. [It is the one] you had learned about from the beginning. [Note: This is the commandment to love one another (3:1; II John 5) which Jesus had taught his disciples during His earthly ministry. See Mark 12:31]. This old commandment is the word [of God] which you heard [previously].

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers have begun circulating in the world; they are those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come [to earth] in a physical body. Such a person is the deceiver and the antichrist [See I John 2:18f].

3 John 1:11

Dear [friend], do not imitate what is evil, but [only] what is good. The person who does what is good is [a child] of God; the one who does evil has not seen God [spiritually].

Revelation 2:2

I know about your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. [I know] that you cannot tolerate wicked men and that you have tested those who call themselves apostles, but really are not, and found them to be liars.