⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.^(A)

¹⁷ This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be^[a] in^[b] you.^(A)

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.^(A)

¹² Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. ¹³ And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.^[a](A)

¹⁴ Those who are unspiritual^[b] do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.^(B)

²⁶ “When the Advocate^[a] comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.^(A)

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)

⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.^{[a] 46} Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”^(A)

⁴⁸ The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”^{(B) 49} Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.^(C)

⁴ Little children, you are from God and have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

³⁷ Anyone who claims to be a prophet or spiritual must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command^[a] of the Lord.^(A)

³⁷ Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”^(A)