1 John 4:1

My beloved, believe not all spirits; but discriminate among spirits, whether they are of God: for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

James Murdock's Translation of the Syriac Peshitta

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 the Spirit of God is known, every spirit that confesseth that Jesus the Messiah hath come in the flesh, is of God.

Read all of 1 John 4

Cross References

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

Mark 13:21Then, if any one shall say to you: Lo, here is Messiah, or lo, there; give not credence.

Luke 21:8And he said to them: See, that ye be not deceived; for many will come in my name, and will say: I am Messiah and the time is near. But go ye not after them.

Acts 20:29For I know, that after I am gone, fierce wolves will come in among you, and will have no mercy on 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