1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, if they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Darby Translation
In The King James Version
In Context
2Hereby ye know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses Jesus Christ come in flesh is of God;
Cross References
Proverbs 14:15The simple believeth every word; but the prudent [man] heedeth his going.
Jeremiah 29:8For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your prophets that are in your midst, nor your diviners deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams, which ye like to dream.
Matthew 24:4And Jesus answering said to them, See that no one mislead you.
Mark 13:21And then if any one say to you, Lo, here [is] the Christ, or Lo, there, believe [it] not.
Luke 21:8And he said, See that ye be not led astray, for many shall come in my name, saying, *I* am [he], and the time is drawn nigh: go ye not [therefore] after them.
Acts 20:29[For] *I* know [this,] that there will come in amongst you after my departure grievous wolves, not sparing 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 →