Bible Reference Quiz

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Where is it in the Bible?

1 John 4:1–2

1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

NIV — New International Version

In other translations

ESV
1Beloved, 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. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
NLT
1Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 2This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.
CSB
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
KJV
1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

The surrounding passage

1 John 4:1–4, King James Version

1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Context

John warns his readers about false prophets who had gone out into the world. The test he gives is what a spirit confesses about Jesus: whether it acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Some early teachers denied that Jesus had a real human body, a view later called Docetism.

About the book of 1 John

Tests of true faith: light, obedience, and love.

Read the summary of 1 John on Bible Book Summaries ↗

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