Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
By every spirit I mean every doctrine claiming to come from God, or every teacher professing to be sent and qualified by Him. Some who call themselves ministers have neither grace nor gifts from the Spirit, nor any call from Him, though they possess natural abilities and human learning.
AI summary
The apostle guards us against supposing every spirit that animates professed friends of religion is the Spirit of God. Since the teachers of error claim the same Spirit, we must know how to discern whether we truly have the Spirit of God or the spirit of antichrist.
AI summary
We must discern the spirits of God to be followed from impure spirits to be avoided. Take heed of two things: that seeing many false prophets exist, trust no man unchecked; and that because many teach falsely, believe not all on that account.
AI summary