1 John 4:1

American Standard Version (1901)

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Ἀγαπητοί, μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε, ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα εἰ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν: ὅτι πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τὸν κόσμον.

Transliteration

Agapētoi, mē every pneumati pisteuete, but dokimazete the pneumata if from the Theou estin: because many pseudoprophētai exelēlythasin into the kosmon.

Grammar Details

• *Agapētoi*: vocative, masculine, plural - beloved ones
• *mē*: negative particle with imperative - not/do not
• *pneumati*: dative, neuter, singular - spirit/to spirit
• *pisteuete*: present imperative, 2nd plural - believe/trust
• *dokimazete*: present imperative, 2nd plural - test/examine/prove
• *pneumata*: accusative, neuter, plural - spirits
• *estin*: present indicative, 3rd singular - is
• *Theou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of God
• *pseudoprophētai*: nominative, masculine, plural - false prophets
• *exelēlythasin*: perfect active indicative, 3rd plural - have gone out/have come forth
• *kosmon*: accusative, masculine, singular - world/universe/order

Word Meanings

• *Agapētoi*: beloved/dear ones
• *pneumati*: spirit/breath/wind
• *pisteuete*: believe/trust/have faith in
• *dokimazete*: test/examine/prove/discern
• *pneumata*: spirits/breaths/winds
• *exelēlythasin*: have gone out/have departed/have come forth
• *kosmon*: world/universe/ordered system

Referenced Verses

• 2 Pet 2:1 : 1 But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
• 1 John 2:18 : 18 Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour.
• 1 Thess 5:21 : 21 prove all things; hold fast that which is good;
• 1 Tim 4:1 : 1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
• Luke 12:57 : 57 And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
• 2 John 1:7 : 7 For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, [even] they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
• Acts 17:11 : 11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
• 1 Cor 12:10 : 10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: [
• 1 Cor 14:29 : 29 And let the prophets speak [by] two or three, and let the others discern.
• 2 Tim 3:13 : 13 But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• Acts 20:29 : 29 I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;
• Rom 16:18-19 : 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil.
• Luke 21:8 : 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [he] ; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.
• Deut 13:1-5 : 1 If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for Jehovah your God proveth you, to know whether ye love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after Jehovah your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
• Prov 14:15 : 15 The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
• Jer 5:31 : 31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
• Jer 29:8-9 : 8 For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your prophets that are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither hearken ye to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith Jehovah.
• Matt 7:15-16 : 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 16 By their fruits ye shall know them. Do [men] gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
• Matt 24:4-5 : 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.
• Matt 24:23-26 : 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe [it] not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26 If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe [it] not.
• Mark 13:21 : 21 And then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ; or, Lo, there; believe [it] not:
• Rev 2:2 : 2 I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;