1 John 4:1 Commentary, explanation, study verse by verse

“ 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 4:1 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Beloved, believe not every spirit - Do not confide implicitly in everyone who professes to be under the influences of the Holy Spirit. Compare Matthew 24:4-5 . The true and the false teachers of...
1 John 4:1 - Arno Geneva Study Bible

(1) Beloved, believe not every (a) spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1) Taking occasion by the name of the Spirit, lest l...
1 John 4:1 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

A digression. The reference to the Spirit ( 1 John 3:24 ) reminds John that some who claimed to possess the Spirit of God, e.g. the false prophets, did so unjustifiably. Hence his readers must have...
1 John 4:1 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Beloved . App-135. believe . App-150. spirit . App-101. try . test, prove. By the Word of God. Greek. dokimazo. See Romans 1:28 with Romans 12:2 . whether . if. App-118. of . App-104....
1 John 4:1 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

He returns to his former doctrine, which he had touched upon in the second chapter; for many (as it is usual in new things) abused the name of Christ for the purpose of serving their own errors...
1 John 4:1 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Beloved, believe not every spirit - Do not be forward to belie...
1 John 4:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Believe not every Spirit,— By the spirits, understand not the men pretending to inspiration, nor the doctrines which they delivered, but the spirits from whence the doctrines proceeded; namely,...
1 John 4:1 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Beloved - the affectionate address wherewith he calls...
1 John 4:1 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Fellowship with God in Love 1. Try the spirits] RV 'Prove the spirits.' The verb is used of testing metals. 2, 3 . See on 2 John 1:7 .
1 John 4:1 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

IV. (6) NOT ALL SPIRITS ARE THE RESULT OF THE SONSHIP: NECESSITY OF EXAMINING THEM ( 1 John 4:1-6 ). ( a ) The difference among spirits ( 1 John 4:1 ). ( b ) The measure ( 1 John 4:2-3 )....
1 John 4:1 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

the Token of God's Love 1 John 4:1-11 In those days the intense ferment of men's minds wrought many delusions and heresies which were fraught with temptation to young converts, and the Apostle...
1 John 4:1 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Two closely related perils threaten our fellowship with God as love, false prophets and the spirit which actuates them. Teaching is to be tested by the indwelling Spirit. All who refuse to confess th...
1 John 4:1 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

CONTENTS Here are contained Commands to try the Spirits, and Rules given for discovering of them. Some blessed Things are spoken of Christ. The Chapter concludes with an Account of God's Love.
1 John 4:1 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Beloved, believe not every spirit ,.... The apostle having mentioned the word "spirit" in the latter part of the preceding chapter, takes an occasion from thence to return to what he had been sugges...
1 John 4:1 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Ver. 1. But try the spirits ] As lapidaries do their stone...
1 John 4:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Because the Gnostics and other heretics, in the first age, to gain the greater credit to their erroneous doctrines, assumed to themselves the character and authority of inspired teachers, John put hi...
1 John 4:1 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

But there must be guards as to the operation of the Spirit of God, that is, the child of God must be guarded against all that would imitate the operation of the Spirit. Satan is extremely cunning, an...
1 John 4:1 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Concerning Antichrist. A. D. 80. 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whet...
1 John 4:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

1 JOHN CHAPTER 4 1 John 4:1-6 The apostle warneth to try by certain rules the spirits that pretend to come from God. 1 John 4:7-21 He presseth the obligation of mutual love upon Christians fr...
1 John 4:1 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

‘Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world.' ‘Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but prove the...
1 John 4:1 - Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

LOVE FINDS THE TRUTH; FEAR TAKES UP WITH ERROR CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES IN the first three verses the apostle guards his readers against being misled by false pretensions to the possession...
1 John 4:1 - Sermon Bible Commentary

1 John 4:1 This text shows (1) that the highest pretensions may be hypocritical, and therefore mere profession amounts to nothing; (2) that all pretensions should be submitted to trial, and theref...
1 John 4:1 - Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible

1 John 4:1 . Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. If John had need to say that in the early mor...
1 John 4:1 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 John 4:1 . Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God. Whether those teachers believe that Christ is come in the flesh, which to the present hour the unbelieving jews...
1 John 4:1 - The Biblical Illustrator

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God The test of truth--confessing Christ In the Word of God we are warned against sitting in judgment on others. Esp...
1 John 4:1 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary

EXPOSITION 1 John 4:1 - 1 John 5:12 (2) The source of son-ship. Possession of the Spirit. 1 John 4:1-62 Confession of the Incarnation is the assurance that the Spirit of God,...
1 John 4:1 - The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

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 4:1 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Corinthians 14:29 ; 1 John 2:18 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ; 1 Timothy 4:1 ; 2 John 1:7 ; 2 Peter 2:1 ; 2 Timothy 3:13 ; Acts 17:11 ; Acts 20:29 ; Deuteronomy 13:1-5 ; Jeremiah 29:8 ; Jerem...
1 John 4:1 - Wells of Living Water Commentary

Testing the True and the False 1 John 4:1-21 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We have in our opening verses some important admonitions, and also some important instructions. 1. Important admonitions. (1...
1 John 4:1 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Believe not every spirit — Whereby any teacher is actuated. But try the spirits — By the rule which follows. We are to try all spirits by the written word: "To the law and to the testimony!" If any...

1 John 4:1 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

1 John 4:1 - Arno Geneva Study Bible

1 John 4:1 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:1 - Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

1 John 4:1 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:1 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

1 John 4:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

1 John 4:1 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

1 John 4:1 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:1 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

1 John 4:1 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

1 John 4:1 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

1 John 4:1 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

1 John 4:1 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

1 John 4:1 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 John 4:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 John 4:1 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:1 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

1 John 4:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

1 John 4:1 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

1 John 4:1 - Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

1 John 4:1 - Sermon Bible Commentary

1 John 4:1 - Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible

1 John 4:1 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 John 4:1 - The Biblical Illustrator

1 John 4:1 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary

1 John 4:1 - The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

1 John 4:1 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 John 4:1 - Wells of Living Water Commentary

1 John 4:1 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes