The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits(A) to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh(B) is from God,(C) but every spirit that does not confess Jesus[a] is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,(D) which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.

You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you(E) is greater than the one who is in the world.(F) They are from the world.(G) Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us;(H) anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.(I)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:3 Other mss read confess that Jesus has come in the flesh

Bible Gateway Recommends

CSB Gift & Award Bible--imitation leather, black
CSB Gift & Award Bible--imitation leather, black
Retail: $7.99
Our Price: $6.29
Save: $1.70 (21%)
CSB Outreach Bible, Large Print Edition
CSB Outreach Bible, Large Print Edition
Retail: $7.99
Our Price: $6.29
Save: $1.70 (21%)
3.5 of 5.0 stars
CSB She Reads Truth Bible--LeatherTouch, rose gold
CSB She Reads Truth Bible--LeatherTouch, rose gold
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $25.49
Save: $24.50 (49%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
CSB Explorer Bible for Kids--soft leather-look, brown mountains
CSB Explorer Bible for Kids--soft leather-look, brown mountains
Retail: $44.99
Our Price: $33.49
Save: $11.50 (26%)
CSB She Reads Truth Bible--hardcover cloth over board, green
CSB She Reads Truth Bible--hardcover cloth over board, green
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $29.99
Save: $20.00 (40%)
CSB Men's Daily Bible, Hardcover
CSB Men's Daily Bible, Hardcover
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $25.99
Save: $14.00 (35%)