Parallel Verses
Julia Smith Translation
Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they are of God: for many false prophets have come out into the world.
New American Standard Bible
King James Version
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Holman Bible
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits
International Standard Version
Dear friends, stop believing every spirit. Instead, test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
A Conservative Version
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but examine the spirits, whether they are of God, because many FALSE prophets have gone out into the world.
American Standard Version
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Amplified
Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.
An Understandable Version
Loved ones, do not believe [the message of] every spirit [i.e., every person claiming to be a teacher], but test the spirits [i.e., require proof that they and their message are genuine] to see whether they represent God [or not], because many false prophets have begun circulating throughout the world.
Anderson New Testament
Beloved, believe not every spirit; but prove the spirits, whether they are from God: for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Bible in Basic English
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.
Common New Testament
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Daniel Mace New Testament
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Darby Translation
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, if they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Emphatic Diaglott Bible
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be from God; because many false prophets are gone forth into the world.
Godbey New Testament
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits if they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Goodspeed New Testament
Dear friends, do not believe every inspired utterance, but test the utterances to see whether they come from God, for many false prophets have come out into the world.
John Wesley New Testament
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 2000
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits [to determine] if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Modern King James verseion
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Ye beloved, believe not every spirit: but prove the spirits whether they be of God, or not: for many false prophets are gone out in to the world.
Moffatt New Testament
Do not believe every spirit, beloved, but test the spirits to see if they come from God; for many false prophets have emerged in the world.
Montgomery New Testament
Do not believe every spirit, beloved, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets are gone out into the world.
NET Bible
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
New Heart English Bible
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Noyes New Testament
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
Sawyer New Testament
BELOVED, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
The Emphasized Bible
Beloved! not in every spirit, believe ye, but test the spirits, whether they are, of God; because, many false prophets, have gone out into the world.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
BELOVED, believe not every pretender to inspiration, but bring these spirits to the trial whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone forth into the world.
Twentieth Century New Testament
Dear friends, do not trust every inspiration, but test each inspiration, to see whether it proceeds from God; because many false Prophets have gone out into the world.
Webster
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Weymouth New Testament
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.
Williams New Testament
Dearly beloved, stop believing every so-called spiritual utterance, but keep testing them to see whether they come from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
World English 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.
Worrell New Testament
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
Worsley New Testament
Beloved, believe not every Spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be of God: for many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Youngs Literal Translation
Beloved, every spirit believe not, but prove the spirits, if of God they are, because many false prophets have gone forth to the world;
Themes
AntiChrist » The coming of antiChrist
AntiChrist » Who is an antiChrist
false Doctrines » Try, by scripture
Hearing » Why some do not hear the word of God
Hearing » Who does not hear the lord’s disciples
Hearing » Who hears the lord’s disciples
False prophets » Mode of trying and detecting
Truth » Who the truth is not in
Interlinear
Pisteuo
me
Pas
Pneuma
Pneuma
Exerchomai
References
Word Count of 38 Translations in 1 John 4:1
Images 1 John 4:1
Prayers for 1 John 4:1
Verse Info
Context Readings
How To Recognize The Spirit Of God
1 Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they are of God: for many false prophets have come out into the world. 2 In this ye know the spirit of God: Every spirit which acknowledges Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is of God:
Cross References
2 Peter 2:1
And also were there false prophets among the people, as also among you shall be false teachers, who shall privately bring in doctrines of perdition, and denying the master having purchased them, having brought upon themselves swift destruction.
1 John 2:18
Young children, it is the last hour: and as ye have heard that antichrist comes, and now many antichrists have come; whence we know that it is the last hour.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Try all things; hold the good.
Luke 12:57
And why also of yourselves judge ye not the just thing?
Acts 17:11
And they were of more noble birth than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all willingness, and examined the writings daily, if these things might hold thus.
1 Corinthians 12:10
And to another performances of powers; and to another discriminations of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another interpretation of tongues:
1 Corinthians 14:29
And let the prophets speak two or three, and let others decide.
1 Timothy 4:1
And the Spirit says expressly, that in later times some shall be removed from the faith, holding to deceitful spirits, and doctrines of evil spirits;
2 John 1:7
For many cheats come into the world, they not acknowledging Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. This is the cheat and antichrist.
Revelation 2:2
I know thy works, and thy fatigue, and thy patience, and that thou canst not bear the wicked: and thou bast tried them saying they are sent, and are not, and thou Last found them liars:
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
When there shall arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he gave to thee a sign or a wonder,
Proverbs 14:15
The simple will believe to every word: and the prudent will understand to his going.
Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesied in falsehood, and the priests will spread out with their hands; and my people loved it thus: and what will ye do to its last part
Jeremiah 29:8-9
For thus said Jehovah of armies, God of Israel, Your prophets in the midst of you shall not deceive to you, and your diviners and you shall not hear to your dreams which ye dream.
Matthew 7:15-16
And hold from false prophets which come in to you in sheep's dresses, but within they are rapacious wolves.
Matthew 24:4-5
And Jesus having answered, said to them, See lest any lead you astray.
Matthew 24:23-26
Then if any say to you, Behold, here Christ, or there; believe ye not.
Mark 13:21
And if any say to you, Behold, here Christ; or, behold, there; believe ye not:
Luke 21:8
And he said, See ye, be not deceived: for many shall come in my name,. saying, That I am; and the time has drawn near: therefore go not after them.
Acts 20:29
For I know this, that there shall come in after my departure grievous wolves to you, not sparing the flock.
Romans 16:18-19
For such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by specious language and praise completely deceive the hearts of the innocent.
2 Timothy 3:13
And evil men and impostors shall proceed to worse, deceiving, and being deceived.