Discernment of Spirits

Definition and Meaning

Discernment of spirits is the act of determining whether a given utterance, phenomenon, or spiritual experience comes from the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, or instead from human thinking or an evil spirit. The term derives from "discerning of spirits" in 1 Corinthians 12:10 and refers to one of the gifts of the Spirit listed by Paul. More broadly, it is also used for the spiritual discernment that distinguishes true teaching from false teaching.

Biblical and Historical Background

In 1 Corinthians 12:4–11, Paul lists the discerning of spirits as a gift alongside prophecy and tongues. In 1 Corinthians 12:3, he presents the confession "Jesus is the Lord" as a sign by which the work of the Holy Spirit may be recognized. The apostle John exhorts in 1 John 4:1, "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God." The verses that follow, 1 John 4:2–3, give as the criterion of judgment whether a spirit confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. Also frequently cited is 1 Thessalonians 5:21: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

Throughout church history, the discernment of spirits has resurfaced as a topic whenever controversies arose over prophecies and visions. In the Catholic tradition, Ignatius of Loyola is known for setting out rules for the discernment of spirits in his Spiritual Exercises. Among Protestants, Jonathan Edwards wrote during the Great Awakening on the criteria for distinguishing the genuine work of the Holy Spirit amid revival phenomena.

Practice in the Korean Church

Churches in the Pentecostal and charismatic traditions, such as the Korea Assemblies of God, regard discernment of spirits as a supernatural gift that is still given today. In these traditions, discernment of spirits is treated together with prophecy, the interpretation of tongues, and deliverance ministry (the casting out of demons). It is also associated with judging whether phenomena occurring at prayer mountains or revival meetings are the work of the Holy Spirit.

Some Presbyterian churches of a Reformed orientation hold that the revelatory gifts ceased after the apostolic age. This debate is discussed in the article Cessationism and Continuationism. In this view, discernment of spirits is understood primarily as testing teaching in the light of Scripture. Even among denominations that affirm the continuation of the gifts, many stress that the gifts must be placed under the judgment of Scripture and the church.

Across denominational lines, the term is frequently used in the Korean church in the context of guarding against heresy. Some, however, criticize it as a misuse when individuals invoke discernment of spirits to pronounce definitive judgments on the spiritual state of other church members. This issue has also been raised in the controversy surrounding the New Apostolic Reformation.