Bible Verses about “discerning of spirits”
The Bible contains 50 verses about discerning of spirits across both Old and New Testaments. These scriptures offer guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
“¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
“For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
“¶ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law.”
“¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
“¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
“For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
“And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”
“¶ How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”
“¶ Follow after charity, and desire spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.”
“For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
“And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”
“If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret.”
“¶ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
“But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.”
“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.”
“So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.”
“¶ What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?”
“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”
“But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.”
“And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?”
“For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”
“For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.”
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”
“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”
“There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them [is] without signification.”
“Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.”
“If [any thing] be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.”
“Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret.”
“Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?”
“Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.”
“If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?”
“And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”
“He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”
“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.”
“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”
“No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
“I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”