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1 John 4:1

Most dear brethren, do not ye believe to each spirit, but prove ye the spirits, if they be of God, (or Most dear brothers, do not believe every spirit, but rather, test the spirits, to see if they be from God); for many false prophets went out into the world.

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

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

2In this thing the Spirit of God is known; each spirit that acknowledgeth that Jesus Christ hath come in (the) flesh, is of God; (The Spirit of God is known by this; every spirit that acknowledgeth that Jesus Christ hath come in the flesh, is from God;)

Read all of 1 John 4

Cross References

Proverbs 14:15An innocent man believeth to each word; a fell man beholdeth his goings. (An innocent person believeth each and every word; a clever person regardeth, or watcheth, his own steps.)

Jeremiah 29:8The Lord of hosts, God of Israel, saith these things, Your prophets, that be in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you not, (or Let not your prophets, and your diviners, who be in the midst of you, deceive you); and take ye none heed to your dreams, which ye dream;

Matthew 24:4And Jesus answered, and said to them, Look ye [or See ye], that no man deceive you.

Mark 13:21And then if any man say to you, Lo! here is Christ, (or Behold! here is the Messiah), lo! there, believe ye not.

Luke 21:8And he said, See ye, that ye be not deceived; for many shall come in my name, saying, For I am, and the time shall nigh, (or for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he, and the time is near); therefore do not ye go after them.

Acts 20:29I know, that after my departing, ravening (or snatching) wolves shall enter into you, 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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

King James VersionBíblia Almeida (Português)Luther Bibel (Deutsch)Bible Louis Segond (Français)Библия (Русский)聖經 (中文)성경 (한국어)聖書 (日本語)الكتاب المقدس (العربية)बाइबल (हिन्दी)Biblia (Kiswahili)Bibbia Diodati (Italiano)Alkitab (Bahasa Indonesia)

Study 1 John 4:1

Matthew HenryJamieson-Fausset-BrownAdam ClarkeAlbert BarnesJohn WesleyJohn CalvinScofieldWilliam BurkittFamily Bible NotesGeneva Bible Notes (1599)
1 John 41 John 4:2 →