1 John
King James Version (KJV)
1 John 4:1
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
King James Version (KJV)
1 John 4:1 Context
1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
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Other Translations for 1 John 4:1
Beloued, beleeue not euery spirit, but trie the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
- American Standard Version (1901)
My loved ones, do not put your faith in every spirit, but put them to the test, to see if they are from God: because a great number of false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Basic English Bible
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 Bible
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Webster's Bible
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but put the spirits to the test to see whether they are from God; for many false teachers have gone out into the world.
- Weymouth Bible
Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- World English Bible
Moost dere britheren, nyle ye bileue to ech spirit, but preue ye spiritis, if thei ben of God; for many false prophetis wenten out in to the world.
- Wycliffe Bible
Beloved, every spirit believe not, but prove the spirits, if of God they are, because many false prophets have gone forth to the world;
- Youngs Literal Bible
Bible Commentary for 1 John 4:1
Wesley's Notes for 1 John 4:1
4:1 Believe not every spirit - Whereby any teacher is actuated. But try the spirits - By the rule which follows. We are to try all spirits by the written word: To the law and to the testimony! If any man speak not according to these, the spirit which actuates him is not of God.
People's Bible Notes for 1 John 4:1
1Jo 4:1 Trying the Spirits SUMMARY OF I JOHN 4: How to Distinguish the Spirits of Truth and Error. Love a Proof That We Are Born of God. God's Great Love for Us. How We Secure the Indwelling of God. How Love Is Made Perfect. Believe not every spirit. The last chapter has closed concerning the Spirit, but some are moved by other spirits than that of Christ. But try the spirits whether they are of God. Test the spirit that moves teachers and see whether it be of God. 1Jo 4:2 tells how to test. Because many false prophets are gone out into the world. There were many false teachers in that age as well as in ours, and some claimed to be inspired.
He is the One the scriptures describe:
John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Luke 18:20
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
In the Book of Job you will clearly see that Satan seeks to hurt people; even kill them or cause them to be killed. He's the one who causes bad things to hurt good people or children.
God is not doing it. Satan has free will just as we do.
If we follow God: Receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; He will protect us.
There is no other way to escape Satan's deceptions and false illusions. No offense, just suppose bu iif tv, satellite and internet are your God that you look to for entertainment and comfort; You are in danger. Come away and follow Jesus.
He is the One the scriptures describe:
John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Luke 18:20
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
In the Book of Job you will clearly see that Satan seeks to hurt people; even kill them or cause them to be killed. He's the one who causes bad things to hurt good people or children.
God is not doing it. Satan has free will just as we do.
If we follow God: Receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; He will protect us.
There is no other way to escape Satan's deceptions and false illusions. No offense, just suppose bu iif tv, satellite and internet are your God that you look to for entertainment and comfort; You are in danger. Come away and follow Jesus.
Genesis 1:26 tells us that "God made man in His Own Image, after His Likeness". This means that He has given us the qualities that He possesses within Himself (Truth, Compassion, Love, Forgiveness, Choice, Reasoning, etc. etc.). Adam & Eve would have possessed these qualities but when they fell into sin, those qualities became tainted & they fell short of what God intended for them & how they should live & behave.
What if God prevented Satan from approaching Adam & Eve, so that they wouldn't be in a place of testing & possible failure? Could such an action by God be considered reasonable, given that He gave His new creation all His attributes? If He denied them this confrontation by Satan, would God have to continue to guard them & their descendants from the evil one? Or maybe, God could have just locked Satan & his followers away for good right after they sinned against Him, & prevented us from facing this aspect of sinning because of wrong choices?
The reason I believe what prevented God from acting in the ways suggested above, is simply because He didn't want to remove any of His attributes, however marred, from within man or remove man from any wrong external influences; He expected that man, given his power of choice & with his desire to only serving His Creator, would either fulfil God's Plan perfectly, or if he should fail, that he would one day come back to a place of sorrow, repentance & restoration back to God.
And of course, we know that God had chosen a special people to place His Love upon them & to given them His Law to direct them to Him & for their course of living. And then later, the provision of His Son for our full & eternal redemption. So it was God's Plan, that whether in sin or holy living, mankind would find full forgiveness, godly living & a restored relationship, as He desires for us.
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