1 John 4:1

New International Reader's Version

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they belong to God. Many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Cross References

1 Kings 13:18

The old prophet answered, “I’m also a prophet, just like you. An angel gave me a message from the Lord. The message said, ‘Bring the man of God back with you to your house. Then he can eat bread and drink water with you.’ ” But the old prophet was telling him a lie.

Proverbs 14:15

A childish person believes anything. But a wise person thinks about how they live.

Jeremiah 14:14

Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them. I have not even spoken to them. Everything they tell you about their visions or secret knowledge is a lie. They pretend to bring you messages from other gods. They try to get you to believe their own mistaken ideas.

Jeremiah 23:16

The Lord who rules over all says to the people of Judah, “Do not listen to what the prophets are saying to you. They fill you with false hopes. They talk about visions that come from their own minds. What they say does not come from my mouth.

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesy lies. The priests rule by their own authority. And my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”

Mark 13:21

At that time someone may say to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ Or, ‘Look! There he is!’ Do not believe it.

Luke 12:57

“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

Luke 21:8

Jesus replied, “Keep watch! Be careful that you are not fooled. Many will come in my name. They will claim, ‘I am he!’ And they will say, ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them.

Acts 17:11

The Berean Jews were very glad to receive Paul’s message. They studied the Scriptures carefully every day. They wanted to see if what Paul said was true. So they were more noble than the Thessalonian Jews.

Acts 20:29

I know that after I leave, wild wolves will come in among you. They won’t spare any of the sheep.

1 Corinthians 12:10

To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages.

1 Corinthians 14:29

Only two or three prophets are supposed to speak. Others should decide if what is being said is true.

1 Thessalonians 5:20

Don’t treat prophecies as if they weren’t important.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

But test all prophecies. Hold on to what is good.

2 Thessalonians 2:2

What if you receive a message that is supposed to have come from us? What if it says that the day of the Lord has already come? If it does, we ask you not to become easily upset or alarmed. Don’t be upset whether that message is spoken or written or prophesied.

1 Timothy 4:1

The Holy Spirit clearly says that in the last days some people will leave the faith. They will follow spirits that will fool them. They will believe things that demons will teach them.

2 Timothy 3:13

Evil people and pretenders will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, and others will fool them.

2 Peter 2:1

But there were also false prophets among the people. In the same way there will be false teachers among you. In secret they will bring in teachings that will destroy you. They will even turn against the Lord and Master who died to pay for their sins. So they will quickly destroy themselves.

1 John 2:18

Dear children, we are living in the last days. You have heard that the great enemy of Christ is coming. But even now many enemies of Christ have already come. That’s how we know that these are the last days.

1 John 2:7

Dear friends, I’m not writing you a new command. Instead, I’m writing one you have heard before. You have had it since the beginning.

2 John 1:7

I say this because many people have tried to fool others. These people have gone out into the world. They don’t agree that Jesus Christ came in a human body. People like this try to trick others. These people are like the great enemy of Christ.

3 John 1:11

Dear friend, don’t be like those who do evil. Be like those who do good. Anyone who does what is good belongs to God. Anyone who does what is evil hasn’t really seen or known God.

Revelation 2:2

‘I know what you are doing. You work long and hard. I know you can’t put up with evil people. You have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not. You have found out that they are liars.