1 John 4:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

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

Believe not

Try

General references

1 Corinthians 14:32

Bible References

Believe not

“If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,

The inexperienced one believes anything,
but the sensible one watches his steps.

The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule by their own authority.
My people love it like this.
But what will you do at the end of it?

For this is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them,

“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.

for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites.

They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.

Try

“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, yet innocent about what is evil.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.

but test all things.
Hold on to what is good.

I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.

General references

You may say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a message the Lord has not spoken?’

If you stop listening to correction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

And the prophets’ spirits are under the control of the prophets,