1 John 4:1

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1 John 4:1–3 · Berean Standard Bible

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

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

3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Deuteronomy 13:1

If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,

Deuteronomy 13:2

and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,”

Deuteronomy 13:3

you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 13:4

You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.

Deuteronomy 13:5

Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you.

Proverbs 14:15

The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?

Jeremiah 29:8

For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them.

Jeremiah 29:9

For they are falsely prophesying to you in My name; I have not sent them, declares the LORD.”

Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 7:16

By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Matthew 24:4

Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.

Matthew 24:5

For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Romans 16:18

For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

2 Peter 2:1

Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Luke 12:57

And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

Acts 17:11

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

Romans 16:19

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.

1 Corinthians 14:29

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

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

Revelation 2:2

I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.

1 John 2:18

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.

Matthew 24:23

At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

Matthew 24:24

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Matthew 24:25

See, I have told you in advance.

Matthew 24:26

So if they tell you, ‘There He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.

Mark 13:21

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

Luke 21:8

Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.

Acts 20:29

I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

2 Timothy 3:13

while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.