true prophet

²⁰But if a prophet, having been corrupted by arrogance, chooses to speak, in my name, things which I did not instruct him to say, or to speak in the name of foreign gods, he shall be put to death. ²¹But if, in silent thought, you respond: “How will I be able to recognize a word which the Lord has not spoken?” ²²you shall have this sign. If whatever that prophet predicts in the name of the Lord does not happen, then the Lord has not spoken it. Instead, the prophet has formed it through the swelling of his own mind. And for this reason, you shall not fear him.’ ”

¹⁶You shall know them by their fruits. Can grapes be gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit. ¹⁸A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire. ²⁰Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.

²¹For prophecy was not conveyed by human will at any time. Instead, holy men were speaking about God while inspired by the Holy Spirit.

⁶he said to them: “Listen to my words. If there will be among you a prophet of the Lord, I will appear to him in a vision, or I will speak to him through a dream.

²¹And they questioned him: “Then what are you? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

¹Most 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.

¹⁸I will raise up a prophet for them, from the midst of their brothers, similar to you. And I will place my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all the things that I will instruct him.

¹¹He went to his own, and his own did not accept him.

¹⁵The Lord your God will raise up for you a PROPHET from your nation and from your brothers, similar to me. You shall listen to him,

²⁴For there will arise false Christs and false prophets. And they will produce great signs and wonders, so much so as to lead into error even the elect (if this could be).

¹⁹And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him, so that they might ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰And he confessed it and did not deny it; and what he confessed was: “I am not the Christ.” ²¹And they questioned him: “Then what are you? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²²Therefore, they said to him: “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said, “I am a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ just as the prophet Isaiah said.” ²⁴And some of those who had been sent were from among the Pharisees.

¹Most 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. ²The Spirit of God may be known in this way. Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has arrived in the flesh is of God; ³and 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. ⁴Little sons, you are of God, and so you have overcome him. For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ⁵They are of the world. Therefore, they speak about the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶We 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.