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1 John 4:1 — King James Version← Study notes

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


1 John 4:1Greek Interlinear

Greek · 1 John 4:121 words
GreekMeaning
ἈγαπητοίAgapētoi
BelovedadjectiveG27
μὴ
notadverbG3361
παντὶpanti
everyadjectiveG3956
πνεύματιpneumati
spiritnounG4151
πιστεύετεpisteuete
do believeverbG4100
ἀλλὰalla
butwordG235
δοκιμάζετεdokimazete
do testverbG1381
τὰta
thearticleG3588
πνεύματαpneumata
spiritsnounG4151
εἰei
whetherparticleG1487
ἐκek
ofprepositionG1537
τοῦtou
thearticleG3588
θεοῦtheou
GodnounG2316
ἐστινestin
they areverbG1510
ὅτιhoti
becausewordG3754
πολλοὶpolloi
manyadjectiveG4183
ψευδοπροφῆταιpseudoprophētai
false prophetsnounG5578
ἐξεληλύθασινexelēlythasin
have gone outverbG1831
εἰςeis
intoprepositionG1519
τὸνton
thearticleG3588
κόσμονkosmon
worldnounG2889
Greek text from the SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT). Transliteration follows SBL Academic conventions.

Church Fathers on 1 John 4:1

“Beloved, believe not every spirit.” 1 John 4:1 Because he had said, “In this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us.” But how this same Spirit is known, mark this: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they be from God.” And who is he that proves the spirits? A hard matter has he put to us, my brethren! It is well for us that he should tell us himself how we are to discern them. He is about to tell us: fear not: but…

Augustine · 4th century · Homily 6 on the First Epistle of John
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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