Testing the Spirits with Scripture Alone in 1 John

The Apostle John exhorts believers to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1 NASB) ^[1]. This command emphasizes the need for discernment regarding spiritual claims and teachings ^[9]. The "spirits" in question refer to those who claim to speak by divine inspiration, or "every spirit which presents itself in the person of a prophet" ^{[7, 5]}.

The immediate context of 1 John 4:1-6 provides a primary test for discerning true spirits from false ones: the confession concerning Jesus Christ ^[5]. John states, "By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God" (1 John 4:2-3 NASB). This confession is a crucial indicator, as the Holy Spirit is necessary for confessing Christ ^[3]. False prophets, conversely, are characterized by a "spirit of antichrist" that denies Jesus ^[6].

While the specific test in 1 John 4 focuses on Christology, the broader principle of testing spirits implies a reliance on established truth. The Scriptures are understood to be "given by inspiration of God" and "by inspiration of the Holy Spirit" ^[2]. Christ himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them ^[2]. Therefore, the written Word of God serves as a foundational standard for evaluating spiritual claims. The "Word of God" is also referred to as the "Word of Christ" and the "Word of truth" ^[2].

The ability to distinguish spiritual truth from error is attributed to the presence of the Spirit within believers, who teaches them ^[5]. This indwelling Spirit guides believers to understand the truth about Christ ^[6]. However, this internal guidance does not negate the need for external, objective standards. The apostle Paul similarly instructs believers to "prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV). The means of testing included those in the early church who possessed the "discerning of spirits," but also the consistent standard of Scripture ^[8]. The Bereans, for example, were commended for examining the Scriptures daily to verify the teachings they received (Acts 17:11) ^[8].

The "hearing of faith" is also connected to receiving the Spirit ^[10]. The Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture can be compared with the Gospel revealed by the same Spirit, and vice versa, to illustrate spiritual mysteries ^[4]. This process of "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" suggests that Scripture itself provides the framework for understanding and evaluating spiritual phenomena ^[4].

Therefore, while the immediate test in 1 John 4:2-3 is Christological, the broader biblical understanding of discernment points to Scripture as the ultimate authority. The teachings of the apostles, which form the basis of Christian doctrine, are presented as a standard against which claims are measured ^[6]. Fidelity to Christ's work is evidenced by listening to and agreeing with these apostolic teachings ^[6]. The "Spirit of truth" (the Holy Spirit) teaches the truth about Christ, and those who are "of God" listen to the apostles, while those who are not "do not listen to us" (1 John 4:6 NASB) ^[6]. This implies that the apostolic teaching, preserved in Scripture, is the benchmark for discerning the spirits.

Sources

1 John “1 John 4:1 (NASB) — Beloved, 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.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confessing Christ — Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to -- 1Co 12:3; 1Jo 4:2. A test of being saints -- 1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3. An evidence of union with God -- 1Jo 4:15. Necessary to salvation -- Ro 10:9,10. Ensures his confessing us -- Mt 10:32. The fear of man prevents -- Joh 7:13; 12:42,43. Persecution should not prevent us from -- Mr 8:35; 2Ti 2:12. Must be connected with faith -- Ro 10:9. Consequences of not -- Mt 10:33. Exemplified Nathanael. -- Joh 1:49. Peter. -- Joh 6:68,69; Ac 2:22-36. Man born blind. -- Joh 9:25,33. Martha. -- Joh 11:27. Peter and John. -”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:13: also--We not only know by the Holy Ghost, but we also speak the "things freely given to us of God" (Co1 2:12). which the Holy Ghost teacheth--The old manuscripts read "the Spirit" simply, without "Holy." comparing spiritual things with spiritual--expounding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture, by comparison with the Gospel which Jesus by the same Spirit revealed [GROTIUS]; and conversely illustrating the Gospel mysteries by comparing them with the Old Testament types [CHRYSOSTOM]. So the Greek word is translated, "comparing" (Co2 10:”
1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 4:1: 4:1-6 Those who belong to God (4:4) can distinguish spiritual truth from error, because the Spirit’s presence (3:23-24) teaches them (see 2:20, 27; John 14:15-26; 16:5-15). Yet John provides concrete tests for the believers to apply so that there will be no confusion. These tests are a starting point for true teachers, not an exhaustive set; they were designed to address the false teachings that were being promoted in the churches of John’s readers. 4:1 everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit (literally every spirit): The teachers who left John’s churches claime”
1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 4:6: 4:6 John tests the reality of a person’s Christianity by whether they listen to and agree with the teachings of the apostles. • The Spirit of truth is the Holy Spirit (John 14:17, 26; 15:26; 16:13-15), who teaches the truth about Christ (1 Jn 2:20, 27). • False prophets have the spirit of deception, the spirit of antichrist, which leads people away from Christ (see study note on 2:22). Therefore, union with the historic body of Christ and the consensus of teaching that began with the apostles is a sign of fidelity to Christ’s work in the world.”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 4 (introduction): TESTS OF FALSE PROPHETS. LOVE, THE TEST OF BIRTH FROM GOD, AND THE NECESSARY FRUIT OF KNOWING HIS GREAT LOVE IN CHRIST TO US. (1Jo. 4:1-21) Beloved--the affectionate address wherewith he calls their attention, as to an important subject. every spirit--which presents itself in the person of a prophet. The Spirit of truth, and the spirit of error, speak by men's spirits as their organs. There is but one Spirit of truth, and one spirit of Antichrist. try--by the tests (Jo1 4:2-3). All believers are to do so: not merely ecclesiastics. Even”
1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 5:21: Some of the oldest manuscripts insert "But." You ought indeed not to "quench" the manifestations of "the Spirit," nor "despise prophesyings"; "but," at the same time, do not take "all" as genuine which professes to be so; "prove (test) all" such manifestations. The means of testing them existed in the Church, in those who had the "discerning of spirits" (Co1 12:10; Co1 14:29; Jo1 4:1). Another sure test, which we also have, is, to try the professed revelation whether it accords with Scripture, as the noble Bereans did (Isa 8:20; Act 17:11; Gal”
1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 4:1: The apostle, having said that God's dwelling in and with us may be known by the Spirit that he hath given us, intimates that that Spirit may be discerned and distinguished from other spirits that appear in the world; and so here, I. He calls the disciples, to whom he writes, to caution and scrutiny about the spirits and spiritual professors that had now risen. 1. To caution: "Beloved, believe not every spirit; regard not, trust not, follow not, every pretender to the Spirit of God, or every professor of vision, or inspiration, or revelation from God." Truth is the ”
Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:2: "Was it by the works of the law that ye received the Spirit (manifested by outward miracles, Gal 3:5; Mar 16:17; Heb 2:4; and by spiritual graces, Gal 3:14; Gal 4:5-6; Eph 1:13), or by the hearing of faith?" The "only" implies, "I desire, omitting other arguments, to rest the question on this alone"; I who was your teacher, desire now to "learn" this one thing from you. The epithet "Holy" is not prefixed to "Spirit" because that epithet is a joyous one, whereas this Epistle is stern and reproving [BENGEL]. hearing of faith--Faith consists not in wo”

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