Bible Strands
1 Thessalonians 5:21
but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Thessalonian believers, placing this instruction between a command not to despise prophecy and a warning to avoid every kind of evil.
The words — δοκιμάζετε (dokimazete) literally means "do test" or "examine," and κατέχετε (katechete) means "do hold fast" to the proven good.
The thread — The directive to examine aligns with the testing of spirits in 1 John 4:1, the mind-renewed discernment in Romans 12:2, and the command to prove what pleases the Lord in Ephesians 5:10.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to actively verify teachings and practices before accepting them, then to deliberately retain only what proves sound.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Cross-references
- 1 John 4:1 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.
- Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- Ephesians 5:10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
- Luke 12:57 And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
- Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
- Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Revelation 3:3 Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.