1 John 4:1
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Testing the Spirits
4 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.(A)
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1 Thessalonians 5:21
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21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good;(A)
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2 John 7
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7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist!(A)
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2 Peter 2:1
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False Prophets and Their Punishment
2 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.(A)
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1 Timothy 4:1
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False Asceticism
4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later[a] times some will renounce[b] the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,(A)
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Matthew 24:4-5
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4 Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.(A) 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’[a] and they will lead many astray.
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- 24.5 Or the Christ
1 John 2:18
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Warning against Antichrists
18 Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour.(A)
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2 Timothy 3:13
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13 But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived.(A)
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Matthew 7:15-16
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A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.(A) 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles?(B)
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Jeremiah 29:8-9
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8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to your dreams that you dream,(A) 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the Lord.(B)
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Acts 20:29
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29 I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.(A)
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Proverbs 14:15
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15 The simple believe everything,
but the clever consider their steps.
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
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13 [a]“If prophets or those who divine by dreams appear among you and show you omens or portents,(A) 2 and the omens or the portents declared by them take place, and they say, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (whom you have not known) ‘and let us serve them,’(B) 3 you must not heed the words of those prophets or those who divine by dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.(C) 4 The Lord your God you shall follow, him alone you shall fear, his commandments you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast.(D) 5 But those prophets or those who divine by dreams shall be put to death for having spoken treason against the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to turn you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.(E)
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- 13.1 13.2 in Heb
Revelation 2:2
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2 “I know your works, your toil and your endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them to be false.(A)
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1 Corinthians 14:29
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29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
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Luke 21:8
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8 And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’[a] and, ‘The time is near!’[b] Do not go after them.(A)
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Matthew 24:23-26
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23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’[a] or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it.(A) 24 For false messiahs[b] and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.(B) 25 Take note, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
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1 Corinthians 12:10
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10 to another the working of powerful deeds, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.(A)
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Romans 16:18-19
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18 For such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites,[a] and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.(A) 19 For your obedience is known to all; therefore, I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil.(B)
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- 16.18 Gk their own belly
Acts 17:11
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11 These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.(A)
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Luke 12:57
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Settling with Your Opponent
57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
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Mark 13:21
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21 And if anyone says to you at that time, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’[a] or ‘Look! There he is!’—do not believe it.(A)
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- 13.21 Or the Christ
Jeremiah 5:31
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31 the prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule as the prophets direct;[a]
my people love to have it so,
but what will you do when the end comes?(A)
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- 5.31 Or rule by their own authority
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.