1  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.

1  Most beloved, do not be willing to believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1  MY beloved, do not believe every prophecy, but examine the prophecies to find out if they are of God: because many false prophets have appeared in the world.

2  By this the Spirit of God is known: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

2  The Spirit of God may be known in this way. Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has arrived in the flesh is of God;

3  and every spirit which does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the [spirit] of the Antichrist, which you have heard that it is coming, and now is already in the world.

3  and every spirit who contradicts Jesus is not of God. And this one is the Antichrist, the one that you have heard is coming, and even now he is in the world.

3  And every prophecy which does not declare that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God: but it is the prophecy of the false Christ, of whose coming you have heard, and who is even now already in the world.

4  You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

5  They are of the world: on account of this they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

6  We are of God. He that knows God hears us; [he] that is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

6  We are of God. Whoever knows God, listens to us. Whoever is not of God, does not listen to us. In this way, we know the Spirit of truth from the spirit of error.