Parallel Verses
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.
New American Standard Bible
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.
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.
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
Prayers for 1 John 4:1
Verse Info
Context Readings
How To Recognize The Spirit Of God
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Cross References
2 Peter 2:1
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
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 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Luke 12:57
Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
Acts 17:11
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 Corinthians 12:10
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 Corinthians 14:29
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1 Timothy 4:1
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;
2 John 1:7
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.
Revelation 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:
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Proverbs 14:15
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Jeremiah 5:31
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?
Jeremiah 29:8-9
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.
Matthew 7:15-16
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 24:4-5
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Matthew 24:23-26
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mark 13:21
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
Luke 21:8
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.
Acts 20:29
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Romans 16:18-19
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.
2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.