1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit; but prove the spirits, whether they are from God: for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Henry Tompkins Anderson’s 1864 New Testament

In The King James Version

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

In Context

2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, is from God:

Read all of 1 John 4

Cross References

Matthew 24:4And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceive you.

Mark 13:21And then, if any one say to you: Lo! here is the Christ, or, Lo! there; believe him not.

Luke 21:8He replied: Take heed that you be not deceived; for many will come in my name, saying: I am he; and, The time is near. Go not, therefore, after them.

Acts 20:29For I know this, that, after my departure, rapacious wolves will enter in among you, who will not spare the flock;

Matthew Henry on 1 John 4:1

In this chapter the apostle exhorts to try spirits ( ver. 1 ), gives a note to try by ( ver. 2, 3 ), shows who are of the world and who of God ( ver. 4-6 ), urges Christian love by divers considerations ( ver. 7-16 ), describes our love to God, and the effect of it, ver. 17-21 . Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 John 4:1