1 YHN 4:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=important (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

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

UST Dear friends, there are many people who have a false message, and they are going around teaching it to others. So do not trust every teacher. Instead, think carefully about what each teacher says and decide whether it came from God’s Spirit or from a different spirit.

BSB 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.

BLB 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.

AICNT Beloved, 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.

OEB Dear friends, do not trust every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

WEBBE 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.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET 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.

LSV Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits, if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

FBV Dear friends, don't trust every spirit, but put the spirits to the test to find out whether they're from God, for there are many false prophets out there in the world.

TCNT Beloved, 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.

T4T Dear friends, many people who have a false message are teaching it to people [MTY]. So do not trust every message that someone claims/says that God’s Spirit [MTY] gave to him. Instead, ◄test/think carefully about► the teachings that you hear in order to know whether they are from God or not.

LEB 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.

BBE 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.

Moff 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.

Wymth 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.

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

DRA Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

YLT Beloved, every spirit believe not, but prove the spirits, if of God they are, because many false prophets have gone forth to the world;

Drby Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, if they are of [fn]God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

4.1 Elohim

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

SLT 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.

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

KJB-1769 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

KJB-1611 ¶ Beloued, beleeue not euery spirit, but trie the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
(¶ Beloued, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.)

Bshps Dearly beloued, beleue not euery spirite: but proue the spirites whether they are of God or not: for many false prophetes are gone out into the worlde.
(Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit: but prove the spirits whether they are of God or not: for many false prophets are gone out into the world.)

Gnva Dearely beloued, beleeue not euery spirit, but trie the spirits whether they are of God: for many false prophets are gone out into this worlde.
(Dearely beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: for many false prophets are gone out into this world. )

Cvdl Dearly beleued, beleue not ye euery sprete, but proue the spretes, whether they be of God. For many false prophetes are gone out in to the worlde.
(Dearly believed, believe not ye/you_all every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they be of God. For many false prophets are gone out in to the world.)

TNT Ye beloved beleve not every sprete: but prove the spretes whether they are of God or no: for many falce Prophetes are gone out into the worlde.
(Ye/You_all beloved believe not every spirit: but prove the spirits whether they are of God or no: for many falce Prophets are gone out into the world. )

Wycl Moost dere britheren, nyle ye bileue to ech spirit, but preue ye spiritis, if thei ben of God; for many false prophetis wenten out in to the world.
(Moost dear brethren/brothers, won’t ye/you_all believe to each spirit, but prove ye/you_all spirits, if they been of God; for many false prophets went out in to the world.)

Luth Ihr Lieben, glaubet nicht einem jeglichen Geist, sondern prüfet die Geister, ob sie von GOtt sind; denn es sind viel falsche Propheten ausgegangen in die Welt.
(You(pl) loved_(one), believes not on anyone spirit, rather checks/examines the spirits/ghosts, if/whether they/she/them from God are; because/than it are many false prophet(s) assumed in the world.)

ClVg Carissimi, nolite omni spiritui credere, sed probate spiritus si ex Deo sint: quoniam multi pseudoprophetæ exierunt in mundum.[fn]
(Carissimi, don't all spiritui to_believe, but approvese spirit when/but_if from to_God let_them_be: since/because many pseudothe_prophets they_went_out in/into/on the_world. )

4.1 Quoniam multi. Multi hæretici, multi schismatici confitentur Jesum in carne venisse, sed factis negant, non habendo charitatem. Charitate Verbum caro factum est; qui non habet charitatem, negat eum venisse in carne, et hic convincitur spiritum ex Deo non habere. Spiritus Dei non sono linguæ, sed amando et faciendo dicit Jesum in carne venisse. Jesus venit ut colligat, hæreticus spargit: hic non habet spiritum Dei.

4.1 Since multi. Multi heretics, many schismatici they_confess Yesus in/into/on flesh/meat came, but deeds/activities they_deny, not/no habendo charity. Charitate The_word/saying flesh/meat done it_is; who/which not/no has charity, denies him came in/into/on flesh/meat, and this/here conis_defeated spirit from to_God not/no to_have. Spirit of_God not/no sono tongues/languages, but amando and doing he_says Yesus in/into/on flesh/meat came. Yesus he_came as neckgat, thesereticus sprinkles: this/here not/no has spirit of_God.

UGNT ἀγαπητοί, μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε, ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα, εἰ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν, ὅτι πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τὸν κόσμον.
(agapaʸtoi, maʸ panti pneumati pisteuete, alla dokimazete ta pneumata, ei ek tou Theou estin, hoti polloi pseudoprofaʸtai exelaʸluthasin eis ton kosmon.)

SBL-GNT Ἀγαπητοί, μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε, ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα εἰ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν, ὅτι πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τὸν κόσμον.
(Agapaʸtoi, maʸ panti pneumati pisteuete, alla dokimazete ta pneumata ei ek tou theou estin, hoti polloi pseudoprofaʸtai exelaʸluthasin eis ton kosmon.)

RP-GNT Ἀγαπητοί, μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε, ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα, εἰ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστίν· ὅτι πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τὸν κόσμον.
(Agapaʸtoi, maʸ panti pneumati pisteuete, alla dokimazete ta pneumata, ei ek tou theou estin; hoti polloi pseudoprofaʸtai exelaʸluthasin eis ton kosmon.)

TC-GNT Ἀγαπητοί, μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε, ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα, εἰ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν· ὅτι πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τὸν κόσμον.
(Agapaʸtoi, maʸ panti pneumati pisteuete, alla dokimazete ta pneumata, ei ek tou Theou estin; hoti polloi pseudoprofaʸtai exelaʸluthasin eis ton kosmon. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:28–4:6: We should obey God’s commands in order to avoid being ashamed when we meet Christ

Read 2:28–4:6 carefully.

Section Theme: In this section (after the main theme in 2:28–29), John is saying that in order not to be ashamed when we meet Christ we must do the following:

3:1–10	We should live pure and righteous lives as Christ did.
3:11–18	We should love and help our fellow Christians.
3:19–24	We should obey God’s commands to believe in his Son and to love one another.
4:1–6	We should carefully test what teachers say so that we know whether they are speaking for the Holy Spirit.

Paragraph 4:1–3

Read 4:1–3 in both BSB and GNT. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John warns his readers to test anyone who claims to have a message from the Holy Spirit.

4:1a

Beloved, do not believe every spirit,

¶ My dear people, do not believe the words of anyone who just says that he has the Holy Spirit of God in him.
¶ You who I love, do not trust a person just because he claims to be teaching something he has received from the Holy Spirit.

every spirit: (Meaning) See Spirit in Key Biblical Terms. Here John is telling his readers not to accept without question the words of anyone who claims that they received from the Holy Spirit the message which they are proclaiming or teaching. John warns that some people who do this are false prophets and their messages come from evil spirits, which are enemies of Christ. Therefore the term spirit here includes both the Holy Spirit and evil spirits. In translation it may be clearer if it is made explicit that every spirit refers to people who claim to be speaking messages from God. See GNT, LB.

4:1b

but test the spirits

Instead, you^(plur) should examine carefully what such a person says,

test the spirits: (Meaning) This again refers to testing the words of people who give messages or teaching in God’s name. In translation it must not sound like an instruction to Christians to seek oracles or soothsayers or spirit diviners.

4:1c

to see whether they are from God.

so that you will know if he really does have the Spirit of God in him.
to find out whether his teaching was truly given to him by the Holy Spirit.

from God: (Meaning) If the spirit is from God, it is the Holy Spirit, since no other “spirit” comes from God.

4:1d

For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

You need to do this because everywhere there are many liars who claim falsely to be giving messages which they have received from God.

For many: (Logical Relationship) This clause gives John’s reason for his instruction to test those who claim to speak for God. In your language, it may be more natural to put the reason first. For example:

“Everywhere there are many liars who claim that they are speaking words from God. So do not believe everyone who says that he has the Spirit of God in him. Instead you should test everything so that you may know whether that person really has God’s Spirit.”

false prophets: (Biblical Term) See prophet in Key Biblical Terms.

have gone out: (Multiple Senses) This is not used here in the sense of leaving a specific place; rather it is referring to many people going to different places.

into the world: (Multiple Senses) See world in Key Biblical Terms. Here world is used in the sense of “everywhere.”

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

ἀγαπητοί

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀγαπητοί μή παντί πνεύματι πιστεύετε ἀλλά δοκιμάζετε τά πνεύματα εἰ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστίν ὅτι πολλοί ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τόν κόσμον)

See how you translated Beloved in [2:7](../02/07.md). Alternate translation: [You people whom I love]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε, ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα

John is speaking of a prophet by association with the spirit that would inspire a prophet to speak. Alternate translation: [do not believe every prophet; instead, consider carefully what prophets say]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν

whether of ¬the God (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀγαπητοί μή παντί πνεύματι πιστεύετε ἀλλά δοκιμάζετε τά πνεύματα εἰ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστίν ὅτι πολλοί ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τόν κόσμον)

John uses the expression from God in various ways in this letter. Here it refers to origin. Alternate translation: [in order to determine whether God has sent them] or [in order to determine whether God is inspiring them]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

εἰ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν

This sentence leaves out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words. Alternate translation: [to see whether they are from God or whether they are not from God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τὸν κόσμον

˓have˒_come_out into (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀγαπητοί μή παντί πνεύματι πιστεύετε ἀλλά δοκιμάζετε τά πνεύματα εἰ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστίν ὅτι πολλοί ψευδοπροφῆται ἐξεληλύθασιν εἰς τόν κόσμον)

John uses world to mean various things in this letter. Here it refers to the people living in the world. Alternate translation: [are out there speaking to people]