If someone claims to be a Bible teacher or a Christian influencer, their words should align with God’s word. In 1 Corinthians 14:29, Paul says, “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” How do we weigh what is said? By testing it against God’s word. In chapter 14 he expands on the proper use of these gifts. Chapter 13 tells us how Christ-like love is the foundation for every spiritual gift (otherwise, it’s useless). Chapter 12 discusses the gifts at large and how the Spirit gifts each person differently to provide a necessary function within the church. While he doesn’t provide a definition of this gift within chapter 12, he gives us a glimpse of it in one of the following chapters. In 1 Corinthians 12:10, Paul simply lists it as “the ability to distinguish between spirits” amidst other spiritual gifts. The other passage on this spiritual gift of discernment tells us a very similar message. We are to weigh what is said by testing it against God’s word. By knowing and obeying these words, John says we will be able to recognize when a person is speaking truth. Now, we have the entire Bible where all of God’s perfect, inerrant words are contained in one book. Jesus, through his Holy Spirit, spoke through these men to lay the foundation for the New Testament church. At the time when John was writing, this would have been the teachings and letters that came from the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus himself. The next criteria John gives for discerning the spirits is if they listen to the Spirit-breathed, apostolic teachings. If they do not confess the truth about Jesus, if they distort the gospel message, they are not to be trusted. Rather, he appeals to the basics of the gospel that every believer knows: Jesus. He doesn’t give instructions on feelings, senses, or secret knowledge. Next, John goes on to explain how we test them. John appeals to the basics of the gospel that every believer knows when testing the spirits. He goes on to give an imperative: Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits. He begins by addressing the entire congregation: Beloved.

Instead, this is a command for every believer. The first thing we need to note about this passage is that it’s not describing a spiritual gift that some have and others don’t.

By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Whoever knows God listens to us whoever is not from God does not listen to us. They are from the world therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 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.

Because of that, let’s analyze the whole context of one of the key texts on the discernment of spirits:īeloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. Whenever we study the Bible, context and clearer passages of Scripture must drive our interpretations. May I offer you a different definition than the ones above? While I don’t believe I have all the right answers, based on my own study of Scripture and convictions I think the meaning of the gift of discernment about which the apostles wrote is more about the deep study of God’s revealed Word rather than a spooky sixth sense. This has left a lot of room for people to interpret and put their own experiences into what this gift could be. The spiritual gift of discernment shows up twice in Scripture and with very little for a working definition. “She gets this sense when someone isn’t being truthful,” or, “She gets this foreboding vibe when someone is a wolf in disguise,” or “She can tell when someone’s spirit isn’t in God’s will.” It was like they had a glimpse into the spiritual world, like Frodo when he put the ring on his finger. I heard adults talk about this gift like it was a mystical knowledge God endowed to certain believers. One that caught my attention was the discernment of spirits. As one who ran around her yard pretending the knotted stick she found was a magical wand, I deeply desired to have my own spiritual gifts. When I was a little girl, spiritual gifts sounded like magical powers God gave to especially wise and mature believers.

I had a keen interest in spiritual gifts growing up. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

Spirit of discernment meaning