1 John 4:1 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

¹ 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.

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.

1 John 4:1 Cross References

1 Thessalonians 5:21

but test everything; hold fast to what is good;

2 Peter 2:1

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

2 John 1:7

Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist!

Proverbs 14:15

The simple believe everything, but the clever consider their steps.

1 Corinthians 14:29

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

1 John 2:18

Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour.

Luke 12:57

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

Luke 21:8

And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

2 Timothy 3:13

But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived.

Revelation 2:2

“I know your works, your toil and your endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them to be false.

1 Corinthians 12:10

to another the working of powerful deeds, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

Acts 20:29

I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Mark 13:21

And if anyone says to you at that time, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘Look! There he is!’—do not believe it.

Jeremiah 5:31

the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule as the prophets direct; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

Acts 17:11

These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.

1 Kings 13:18

Then the other said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, ‘Bring him back with you into your house so that he may eat food and drink water.’ ” But he was deceiving him.

Jeremiah 14:14

And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.

Jeremiah 23:16

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:20

Do not despise prophecies,

2 Thessalonians 2:2

not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.

1 John 2:7

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard.

3 John 1:11

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.