Bible Verses about “identifying false teachers”

“¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

“¶ ‹Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.›”

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

“¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

“‹Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?›”

“‹Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.›”

“‹Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.›”

“And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

“¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

“‹A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither› [can] ‹a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.›”

“‹Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.›”

“‹For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if› [it were] ‹possible, they shall deceive the very elect.›”

“¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

“Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

“Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

“For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.”

“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”

“¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:”

“For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

“¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

“But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

“As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

“Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

“Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

“¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:”

“One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.”

“Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”

“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:”

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”

“‹I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:›”

“¶ For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;”

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

“Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.”

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”

“He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,”

“Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”

“And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;”

“Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”