In the Christian tradition, the role of a minister is to shepherd the flock, teach sound doctrine, and exemplify Christ-like behavior. However, Scripture warns against false and corrupt ministers who deviate from these responsibilities, leading believers astray and causing harm to the body of Christ.

Biblical Warnings and Characteristics

The Bible provides numerous warnings about false and corrupt ministers. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself cautions against false prophets, saying, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). This imagery highlights the deceptive nature of such individuals, who may appear genuine but harbor destructive intentions.

The Apostle Paul also addresses this issue, particularly in his letters to the early churches. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul writes, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions" . Here, Paul emphasizes the deceitful nature of false ministers and their ultimate judgment.

Motivations and Behaviors

False and corrupt ministers are often driven by selfish motives, such as greed, power, or personal gain. The Apostle Peter warns against such individuals in 2 Peter 2:1-3: "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words" .

These ministers may exploit their positions for financial gain, manipulate their followers, or promote teachings that deviate from orthodox Christian doctrine. Their actions often lead to division, confusion, and a tarnished witness of the church.

Discernment and Response

Believers are called to exercise discernment in identifying and responding to false and corrupt ministers. The Apostle John advises, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). This testing involves comparing teachings and behaviors against the truth of Scripture and the character of Christ.

Paul further instructs Timothy, a young pastor, to "preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires" (2 Timothy 4:2-3). This charge underscores the importance of steadfastness in teaching sound doctrine and correcting error.

Consequences and Accountability

The Bible makes it clear that false and corrupt ministers will face severe consequences. James 3:1 warns, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly" . This heightened accountability reflects the significant influence and responsibility that comes with the role of a minister.

Ultimately, false and corrupt ministers will be held accountable by God. As Jesus states in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’" . This passage serves as a sobering reminder of the ultimate judgment awaiting those who misuse their ministerial calling.Deuteronomy 13:1-5
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder,
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Deuteronomy 18:20-22
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
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1 Kings 12:31
And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
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2 Chronicles 29:34
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: why their brothers the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
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2 Chronicles 30:15
Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.
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Nehemiah 13:29
Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
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Proverbs 19:27
Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge.
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Isaiah 3:12
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.
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Isaiah 5:20
Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
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Isaiah 8:19,20
And when they shall say to you, Seek to them that have familiar spirits, and to wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek to their God? for the living to the dead?
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Isaiah 9:14-16
Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
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Isaiah 28:7
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
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Isaiah 29:10,11
For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers has he covered.
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Isaiah 30:10
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not to us right things, speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
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Isaiah 43:27,28
Your first father has sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me.
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Isaiah 44:20
He feeds on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
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Isaiah 56:10-12
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
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Jeremiah 2:8
The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
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Jeremiah 5:13,14,30,31
And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done to them.
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Jeremiah 6:13,14
For from the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest every one deals falsely.
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Jeremiah 8:10,11
Therefore will I give their wives to others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even to the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even to the priest every one deals falsely.
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Jeremiah 10:21
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
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Jeremiah 12:10
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
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Jeremiah 13:20
Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
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Jeremiah 14:13-16
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say to them, You shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.
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Jeremiah 23:1,2,11,14-16,21,25-39
Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! said the LORD.
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Jeremiah 27:9-18
Therefore listen not you to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak to you, saying, You shall not serve the king of Babylon:
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Jeremiah 48:10
Cursed be he that does the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keeps back his sword from blood.
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Jeremiah 50:6
My people has been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.
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Lamentations 2:14
Your prophets have seen vain and foolish things for you: and they have not discovered your iniquity, to turn away your captivity; but have seen for you false burdens and causes of banishment.
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Lamentations 4:13,14
For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her,
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Ezekiel 13:1-23
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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Ezekiel 14:9,10
And if the prophet be deceived when he has spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand on him, and will destroy him from the middle of my people Israel.
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Ezekiel 22:25,26,28
There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the middle thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the middle thereof.
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Ezekiel 34:1-31
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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Ezekiel 44:8,10
And you have not kept the charge of my holy things: but you have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
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Hosea 4:6,8-13
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
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Hosea 5:1
Hear you this, O priests; and listen, you house of Israel; and give you ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because you have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.
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Hosea 6:9
And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
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Hosea 9:7,8
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of your iniquity, and the great hatred.
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Amos 2:11,12
And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O you children of Israel? said the LORD.
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Micah 2:11
If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
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Micah 3:5-7,11
Thus said the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that puts not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
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Zephaniah 3:4
Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
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Zechariah 10:3
My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts has visited his flock the house of Judah, and has made them as his goodly horse in the battle.
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Zechariah 11:4,5,16,17
Thus said the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;
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Zechariah 13:2-5
And it shall come to pass in that day, said the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
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Malachi 1:6-10
A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? said the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name. And you say, Wherein have we despised your name?
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Malachi 2:1-3,8,9
And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you.
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Matthew 5:19
Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
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Matthew 7:15,22,23
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
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Matthew 15:9,14
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
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Matthew 20:20-27
Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
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Matthew 23:3,4,13
All therefore whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not.
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Matthew 24:4,5,24,26,48-51
And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
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Mark 9:33-35
And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that you disputed among yourselves by the way?
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Mark 10:35-37
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come to him, saying, Master, we would that you should do for us whatever we shall desire.
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Mark 13:21,22
And then if any man shall say to you, See, here is Christ; or, see, he is there; believe him not:
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Luke 6:39
And he spoke a parable to them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
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Luke 9:46
Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
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Luke 11:35,46-52
Take heed therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness.
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Luke 12:45,46
But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
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Luke 21:8
And he said, Take heed that you be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draws near: go you not therefore after them.
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Luke 22:24
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
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John 3:10
Jesus answered and said to him, Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things?
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John 5:43
I am come in my Father's name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.
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John 10:1,5,8,10-13
Truly, truly, I say to you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
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Acts 20:29,30
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
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Romans 2:19-25
And are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
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Romans 16:17,18
Now I beseech you, brothers, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.
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1 Corinthians 3:1-4,10-16,21
And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.
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1 Corinthians 11:18,19
For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
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2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
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2 Corinthians 11:1-31
Would to God you could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
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Galatians 1:6-8
I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ to another gospel:
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Galatians 5:10
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he be.
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Ephesians 4:14
That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
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Philippians 1:15,16
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
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Philippians 3:2
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
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Colossians 2:4,8,18,19
And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
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1 Timothy 1:3-7,19
As I sought you to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that you might charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
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1 Timothy 4:1-3,7
Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
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1 Timothy 6:3-5,20,21
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;
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2 Timothy 2:14-18
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
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2 Timothy 3:6-9,13
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
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2 Timothy 4:3
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;
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Titus 1:10-14
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
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Titus 3:10,11
A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
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Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
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2 Peter 2:1-22
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
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2 Peter 3:16
As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
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1 John 2:18,26
Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
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1 John 4:1-3,5
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
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2 John 1:7-10
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.
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3 John 1:10
Why, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church.
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Jude 1:4-11
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.
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Revelation 2:1,2,12,14,15,18,20-23
To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things said he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks;
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The Almost Christian
... I shall mention is, because so many set out with false notions of ... It has been, no
doubt, a misfortune that many a minister and sincere Christian has met ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the almost christian.htm

1 Corinthians xi. 26
... special request of the diseased, the minister may alone ... which we still derive from
the Christian Church"from ... is the natural process of all false and corrupt ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xxx 1 corinthians xi.htm

Concerning the Ministry.
... he needs not such false and corrupt members to make ... there were false prophets, really
false, without the ... grace is not necessary to a true christian minister. ...
/.../proposition x concerning the ministry.htm

The First Sermon in the Tabernacle
... a congregation grow less spiritual by a minister preaching Christ ... the marrow of his
bones; but what a Christian! ... grant, but that he was an Antinomian is false. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/the first sermon in the.htm

Instability
... thinkest that thou shalt excel, because the minister has been ... praises in the day
of judgment with false lip ... you not think you see the godly Christian deacon, so ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/instability.htm

Christian Perfection
... the word; for this is palpably false in fact ... unto themselves, but unto us they did
minister the things ... is the glorious privilege of every Christian; yea, though ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 40 christian perfection.htm

Concerning Christian Liberty
... if we could, ought we all to minister and teach ... before God, will not bear with this
false notion"but ... he were previously a believer and a Christian, none of ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/concerning christian liberty.htm

The Bible
... I can receive them as Christian brethren and sisters; but ... asked what she remembered
of the minister's sermon, said ... Unless his own mistake, false application make ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the bible.htm

Storming the Battlements
... most High, had set up for herself false gods, and ... the state; Why she has become a
corrupt mass of ... the city is not yet taken: the Christian minister, under the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/storming the battlements.htm

The Ministry.
... Then said Christian to his fellow, "Now do I see myself in an ... said he with the whip,
"It is Flatterer, a false apostle that ... THE MINISTER AT THE DAY OF JUDGMENT ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxii the ministry.htm

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