1 John 4:1

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try 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 were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
• 1 John 2:18 : 18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
• 1 Thess 5:21 : 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
• 1 Tim 4:1 : 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
• Luke 12:57 : 57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
• 2 John 1:7 : 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
• Acts 17:11 : 11 {G1161} These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
• 1 Cor 12:10 : 10 {G1161} To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
• 1 Cor 14:29 : 29 {G1161} Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
• 2 Tim 3:13 : 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
• Acts 20:29 : 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
• Rom 16:18-19 : 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
• Luke 21:8 : 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
• Deut 13:1-5 : 1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth 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 that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after the LORD 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 to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away 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 the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken 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 the LORD.
• Matt 7:15-16 : 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. 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 deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
• Matt 24:23-26 : 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
• Mark 13:21 : 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
• Rev 2:2 : 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: