1 John 4:1

World English Bible (2000)

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 2 Pet 2:1 : 1 But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.
  • 1 John 2:18 : 18 Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour.
  • 1 Thess 5:21 : 21 Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
  • 1 Tim 4:1 : 1 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
  • Luke 12:57 : 57 Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?
  • 2 John 1:7 : 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don't confess that Jesus Christ came 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 to see whether these things were so.
  • 1 Cor 12:10 : 10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
  • 1 Cor 14:29 : 29 Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
  • 2 Tim 3:13 : 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
  • Acts 20:29 : 29 For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
  • Rom 16:18-19 : 18 For those who are such don't serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.
  • Luke 21:8 : 8 He said, "Watch out that you don't get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is at hand.' Therefore don't follow them.
  • Deut 13:1-5 : 1 If there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder come to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, "Let us go after other gods" (which you have not known) "and let us serve them;" 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your God proves you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after Yahweh your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and cling to him. 5 That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk in. So you shall put away the evil from the midst of you.
  • Prov 14:15 : 15 A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
  • Jer 5:31 : 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority; and my people love to have it so. What will you do in the end of it?
  • Jer 29:8-9 : 8 For thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Don't let your prophets who are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in my name: I have not sent them, says Yahweh.
  • 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 you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
  • Matt 24:4-5 : 4 Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.
  • Matt 24:23-26 : 23 "Then if any man tells you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it. 24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 "Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26 If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner rooms,' don't believe it.
  • Mark 13:21 : 21 Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there!' don't believe it.
  • Rev 2:2 : 2 "I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 1 John 4:2-7
    6 verses
    76%

    2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

    3 and every spirit who doesn't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.

    4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

    5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

    6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn't listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

    7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God.

  • 1 Tim 4:1
    75%

    1 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

  • Matt 24:11
    73%

    11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.

  • Matt 7:15-16
    2 verses
    73%

    15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

    16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

  • 2 John 1:7-8
    2 verses
    73%

    7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don't confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.

    8 Watch yourselves, that we don't lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.

  • Mark 13:21-22
    2 verses
    71%

    21 Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there!' don't believe it.

    22 For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

  • Matt 24:23-24
    2 verses
    70%

    23 "Then if any man tells you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it.

    24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

  • 2 Pet 2:1-2
    2 verses
    70%

    1 But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.

    2 Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.

  • 1 Thess 5:20-21
    2 verses
    70%

    20 Don't despise prophesies.

    21 Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.

  • 1 Cor 14:32
    69%

    32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

  • Deut 13:3
    69%

    3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your God proves you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

  • Jude 1:19
    69%

    19 These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit.

  • 1 John 4:13
    68%

    13 By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

  • 1 Pet 4:12
    68%

    12 Beloved, don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.

  • Jude 1:17
    68%

    17 But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Ezek 13:2-3
    2 verses
    68%

    2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, Hear the word of Yahweh:

    3 Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

  • Jas 1:16
    68%

    16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.

  • 1 John 2:19
    68%

    19 They went out from us, but they didn't belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us.

  • 2 Cor 11:4
    68%

    4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different "good news", which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.

  • 1 John 2:15
    68%

    15 Don't love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love isn't in him.

  • Jer 23:16
    68%

    16 Thus says Yahweh of Armies, Don't listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.

  • Mic 2:11
    68%

    11 If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies: "I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink;" he would be the prophet of this people.

  • 1 Cor 14:24
    67%

    24 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.

  • 1 Cor 14:1
    67%

    1 Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

  • 3 John 1:11
    67%

    11 Beloved, don't imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn't seen God.

  • Matt 24:4
    67%

    4 Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.

  • 1 Cor 12:4
    66%

    4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

  • 2 Cor 11:13
    66%

    13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles.

  • 1 John 5:6
    66%

    6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

  • 1 Cor 2:12
    66%

    12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.

  • Acts 13:40
    66%

    40 Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:

  • 2 Cor 13:5
    66%

    5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don't you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

  • Rev 16:14
    66%

    14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty.

  • John 4:24
    66%

    24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

  • 2 Pet 1:20
    66%

    20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

  • 1 John 2:21
    66%

    21 I have not written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

  • Eph 4:14
    66%

    14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

  • 1 Tim 4:7
    66%

    7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.