Judging Prophecy: Navigating the Line Between Insight and Illusion Part 3
The purpose of this article is to the people of Most High God distinguish spirits and discriminate between impurities and authenticity in spirit, especially regarding prophecy, the prophetic, and when prophets prophesy.
Part 3 is about the “why” and why we should test everything. A close look at what Paul’s and John’s intentions were when they used that phrase.
By the end of this four-part teaching, you will be equipped to:
- Evaluate truths through uncertainty.
- The power and perils of divine forecasts.
- Decode the truth behind the forecasts.
The Use of dokimazō in 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Here, Paul uses dokimazō to instruct the Thessalonians to examine or evaluate everything carefully, particularly in relation to prophecies, teachings, and spiritual claims.
The Thessalonian church was likely experiencing prophetic utterances and spiritual gifts within their community.
There was a need to assess these messages to ensure they aligned with truth, avoiding the influence of false teachings.
Paul is not calling for casual judgment but a serious, thoughtful examination.
He uses a word that implies a thorough process of evaluation, just as precious metals are tested to reveal their purity.
This emphasizes the need for discernment in spiritual matters — not merely rejecting teachings outright but testing them carefully to understand their truth and value.
The Thessalonians were in a context where many claimed to speak for God, either through prophecy or spiritual insight. By urging them to “test everything,” Paul is advocating for a discernment that is discerning the spirit behind a message, not just the message itself.
They are not to accept all prophecies uncritically; they must evaluate them considering God’s revealed truth in Christ and the Gospel.
Paul follows the command to “test everything” with the directive to “hold fast what is good” and “abstain from every form of evil” (v. 22). The testing process is part of a larger goal of moral and doctrinal purity.
Testing is not just about identifying errors but also about safeguarding what is truly good and keeping it central to the community’s faith.
Test Everything
Now, we come to the specific command to “test everything” (v.21), which is especially important in the context of Paul’s broader exhortations in this passage.
In the early church, there was a proliferation of spiritual teachings, some of which were genuine, and others distorted or false.
Given that the Thessalonians were living in an age of prophecy and spiritual gifts, Paul emphasized the need for discernment in their spiritual practices.
While the Holy Spirit was active among them, not every expression of the Spirit was trustworthy.
“Test everything” calls Christians to evaluate teachings, prophecies, and spiritual expressions to ensure they align with God’s truth.
Test Everything…Again
Paul specifically mentions the need to test prophecy, as the church was likely experiencing individuals claiming to speak on behalf of God. Paul was not dismissing prophecy altogether.
Rather, he was urging the believers to carefully discern whether what was being spoken was truly from God. This was important because, in the first century, prophecy was (and is) a common means by which God communicated with His people (e.g., through prophets or inspired individuals).
However, the presence of false teachers or misguided individuals could easily lead believers astray, which is why testing was essential.
Paul’s directive does not stop with “testing everything”; he goes on to say, “hold fast to what is good.”
Hold Fast to What Is Good
This means that once something has been tested and found to be true, the believer should cling to it, protect it, and allow it to shape their life. This helps guard against both embracing falsehood and discarding the truth.
In connection with testing everything, Paul instructs the Thessalonians to “abstain from every form of evil.”
Testing is not just about rejecting wrong prophetic character, teachings or behaviors but is part of a broader call to live in holiness.
This is what this new era is all about—holiness, a peculiar, set apart kingdom of priests.
Anything that deviates from God’s truth or leads believers away from holiness should be avoided.
Why Didn’t Paul Choose a Different Word?
Paul could have used other Greek words for “judging” or “discerning,” but he chose dokimazō for several important reasons:
Words like krino can mean “to judge” in the sense of condemnation or decision-making, but dokimazō specifically implies an evaluative process, often with the intent of approving what is genuine or good.
Paul is not instructing the Thessalonians to be overly critical or condemning of others but to carefully evaluate whether spiritual messages and actions align with God’s truth.
Dokimazō carries a positive connotation of proving something to be genuine and worthy. By using this word, Paul is encouraging believers not only to reject what is false but to embrace and hold fast to what is truly good.
The Purpose of Word Selections
This is a proactive approach to spiritual life, focusing on finding and clinging to what aligns with God’s will. Discard what isn’t good; keep and implement what is.
Given the metaphor of testing metals, dokimazō implies a process of purification or refinement. This is important in the context of spiritual growth.
Paul is not simply advising the Thessalonians to discern between good and evil but to engage in a process that refines their understanding and strengthens their faith.
Unlike words that may carry connotations of judgment or criticism (like krino), dokimazō suggests an examination for authenticity and value.
Paul’s use of this word promotes a spirit of careful discernment rather than harsh condemnation, which aligns with his overall pastoral tone of encouragement and instruction.
The Use of dokimazō in 1 John 4:1
In 1 John 4:1, the Apostle John uses the Greek word dokimazō, which is often translated as “test” or “examine,” to emphasize the necessity of discerning the authenticity of spiritual claims.
The verse states, “Beloved, 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.”
This imperative highlights the active role believers must play in evaluating the messages and influences that claim divine origin.
In the context of 1 John, the testing involves comparing the teachings and actions of spirits and prophets against the truth of the gospel as revealed in Christ and Scripture.
This process guards the community against deception and ensures alignment with God’s truth.
John’s use of dokimazō also underscores the communal responsibility of believers in safeguarding their faith.
The command is not given to an individual but to the collective “beloved,” implying that the process of testing is a shared duty within the body of Christ.
This aligns with the broader theme of 1 John, which stresses love, unity, and truth as defining characteristics of the Christian community.
By urging the church to test the spirits, John acknowledges the reality of spiritual conflict and the prevalence of false teachings, while providing a practical safeguard: discernment through reliance on the Holy Spirit and Scripture.
Conclusion
- Judging prophecies from children of light (of God) is trifold:
- To correct the person in love for false or inaccurate oracles.
- To reconcile and restore the person (spirit of the person) to a whole state of receiving and delivering God’s messages in purity that build others up regardless of the brevity or gravity of the message(s).
- To ensure the hearers of the prophecies are not deceived but are also maturing to the point where they themselves can be like the Bereans and know the truth that sets free while also not ostracizing or condemning members of the household of faith who may have gotten it wrong.
- Judging prophecies is about community and communal responsibility.
- Judging prophecies is as active as hearing or releasing prophecies. There is a dual responsibility to toss out false elements or false prophecies altogether while adhering to and implementing the true elements, and not “making the one who prophesied wrong a leper.”
- Where we’re heading this era is not only about a kingdom of priests, but also about a kingdom of prophesiers—the Jacob generation. This means it isn’t about one prophet, one main prophet, a notable group, or the elite. Rather, it is about the whole of God’s children declaring, revealing, and speaking as oracles of God, ones who heartily pursue Him to know Him.
