While reading First John chapter 4 one day, it occured to me to study the meaning of the word for “confesseth” used in that passage. Following the Helenic (Greek) word definitions using the Strong’s numbers, I learned that the meaning of the phrase “every spirit that confesseth” means more than simply opening one’s mouth and saying one believes in Jesus Christ. First notice that homologeo <3670> (from which is translated "confesseth") is a compound of homou <3674> and logos <3056>. “Homou” has to do with being together and, in contrast to “hama”(see <5807>), has to do with locality rather than time. “Logos” has to do with words and, in contrast to “lego” <3004>, has to do not only with speech and discourse, but also with doctrine, reason and a mentality which evidences itself by words and deeds.

So “believe not every spirit,” but “dokimazo” <1381>, “test, examine, prove, scrutinise,” and “recognise as genuine after examination” those who come in God’s name, “because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” We are to examine them for being counterfeits. By following the definitions of "dokimazo"<1381>, we find that this entails a thorough and studied examination, though not based soley on external evidence. Nonetheless, it requires a genuine, knowledgeable examination, not being content to accept someone else's lazy view. (If you had opportunity to buy a supposed painting by a famous artist but had doubts about its authenticity, upon going to an art expert to have it verified, would you be satisfied with a quick look and a shrug of the shoulders and the answer that "It looks OK"? I hope not. We should examine our Christian leaders with at least as much scrutiny as we would a valuable work of art; our spiritual well-being is far more important.)

Another verse witnessing on this matter is Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2* And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed <3339> by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove <1381> what is that good <18>, and acceptable <2101>, and perfect <5046>, will of God.

We are not to let ourselves be fooled by the false mechanizations of this world or to give in to popular beliefs, but are, with a renewed mind, to prove / discern the true nature of people or things. This verse is not merely about our "inner selves," it is about our perceiving and rightfully responding to the spirits, or the true natures, of people and things around us.

Someone merely speaking “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” does not, to my mind, rise to the standard of “homologeo”. One has to examine the whole words, doctrine, reason and deeds to know whether all these are “all together”. The “confession” is not merely a spoken series of words made at some time, perhaps made in church in unison with others, but a consistency of words, doctrines and deeds which acknowledge Jesus Christ’s deity, His works, and His ressurection. (It does appear that “homologeo” sometimes deals only with speech, the confessing “with the mouth,” but usually implies more than words; see Titus 1:16.)

The (New Testament) instances of the use of homologeo are:

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess <3670> unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matt 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess <3670> me before men, him will I confess <3670> also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mtat 14:7* Whereupon he promised <3670> with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
Luke 12:8* Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess <3670> me before men, him shall <3670> the Son of man also confess <3670> before the angels of God:
John 1:20 And he confessed <3670>, and denied not; but confessed <3670>, I am not the Christ.
John 9:22* These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess <3670> that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
John 12:42* Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did <3670> not confess <3670> him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Acts 23:8* For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess <3670> both.
Acts 24:14* But this I confess <3670> unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Rom 10:9* That if thou shalt confess <3670> with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made <3670> unto salvation.
1Tim 6:12* Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed <3670> a good profession before many witnesses.
Titus 1:16 They profess <3670> that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Heb 11:13* These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed <3670> that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 13:15* By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks <3670> to his name.
1John 1:9* If we confess <3670> our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1John 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth <3670> the Son hath the Father also.
1John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth <3670> that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1John 4:3* And every spirit that confesseth <3670> not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess <3670> that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
2John 1:7* For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess <3670> not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

A related word is “exomologeo” <1843>, derived from “ek” or “ex” <1537> and “homologeo” <3670>. “Ek” denotes origin, implying “exomologeo” deals with professions and actions based on firmly held, self-consistent beliefs.

The (New Testament) instances of the use of exomologeo are:

Matt 3:6* And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing <1843> their sins.
Matt 11:25* At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank <1843> thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing <1843> their sins.
Luke 10:21* In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank <1843> thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Luke 22:6 And he promised <1843>, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
Acts 19:18* And many that believed came, and confessed <1843>, and shewed their deeds.
Romans 14:11* For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess <1843> to God.
Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess <1843> to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
Phillipians 2:11* And that every tongue should confess <1843> that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
James 5:16* Confess <1843> your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Rev 3:5* He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess <1843> his name before my Father, and before his angels.

======================= Strong’s Definitions ============================

18 agathos {ag-ath-os'}
a primary word; TDNT - 1:10,3; adj
AV - good 77, good thing 14, that which is good+3588 8, the thing which is good+3588 1, well 1, benefit 1; 102
1) of good constitution or nature
2) useful, salutary
3) good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy
4) excellent, distinguished
5) upright, honourable

2101 euarestos {yoo-ar'-es-tos}
from 2095 and 701; TDNT - 1:456,77; adj
AV - acceptably 4, well pleasing 3, please well + 1510 1, accepted 1; 9
1) well pleasing, acceptable

3670 homologeo {hom-ol-og-eh'-o}
from a compound of the base of 3674 and 3056; TDNT - 5:199,687; v
AV - confess 17, profess 3, promise 1, give thanks 1, confession is made 1, acknowledgeth 1; 24
1) to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent
2) to concede
   2a) not to refuse, to promise
   2b) not to deny
      2b1) to confess
      2b2) declare
      2b3) to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of
3) to profess
   3a) to declare openly, speak out freely
   3b) to profess one's self the worshipper of one
4) to praise, celebrate

3674 homou {hom-oo'}
genitive case of homos (the same, akin to 260) as adv;; adv AV - together 3; 3
1) together: of persons assembled together
For Synonyms see entry 5807

3056 logos {log'-os}
from 3004; TDNT - 4:69,505; n m
AV - word 218, saying 50, account 8, speech 8, Word (Christ) 7, thing 5, not tr 2, misc 32; 330
1) of speech
   1a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea
   1b) what someone has said
      1b1) a word
      1b2) the sayings of God
      1b3) decree, mandate or order
      1b4) of the moral precepts given by God
      1b5) Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets
      1b6) what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim
   1c) discourse
      1c1) the act of speaking, speech
      1c2) the faculty of speech, skill and practice in speaking
      1c3) a kind or style of speaking
      1c4) a continuous speaking discourse - instruction
   1d) doctrine, teaching
   1e) anything reported in speech; a narration, narrative
   1f) matter under discussion, thing spoken of, affair, a matter in dispute, case, suit at law
   1g) the thing spoken of or talked about; event, deed
2) its use as respect to the MIND alone
   2a) reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating, reasoning, calculating
   2b) account, i.e. regard, consideration
   2c) account, i.e. reckoning, score
   2d) account, i.e. answer or explanation in reference to judgment
   2e) relation, i.e. with whom as judge we stand in relation
      2e1) reason would
   2f) reason, cause, ground
3) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world's life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man's salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.
*****
A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe. This word was well suited to John's purpose in John 1.

3004 lego {leg'-o}
a root word; TDNT - 4:69,505; v
AV - say 1184, speak 61, call 48, tell 33, misc 17; 1343
1) to say, to speak
   1a) affirm over, maintain
   1b) to teach
   1c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct
   1d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
   1e) to call by name, to call, name
   1f) to speak out, speak of, mention

3339 metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o}
from 3326 and 3445; TDNT - 4:755,607; v
AV - transfigure 2, transform 1, change 1; 4
1) to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure
   1a) Christ appearance was changed and was resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration
For Synonyms see entry 5863

5046 teleios {tel'-i-os}
from 5056; TDNT - 8:67,1161; adj
AV - perfect 17, man 1, of full age 1; 19
1) brought to its end, finished
2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
3) perfect
4) that which is perfect
   4a) consummate human integrity and virtue
   4b) of men
      4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature

<5807>
Synonyms
See Definition for hama 260
See Definition for homou 3674
The distinction for these is 260 is temporal and 3674 is local. This seems to hold in most places. However, see Rom. 3:12.

1843 exomologeo {ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o}
from 1537 and 3670; TDNT - 5:199,687; v
AV - confess 8, thank 2, promise 1; 11
1) to confess
2) to profess
   2a) acknowledge openly and joyfully
   2b) to one's honour: to celebrate, give praise to
   2c) to profess that one will do something, to promise, agree, engage

1537 ek {ek} or ex {ex}
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative;; prep
AV - of 367, from 181, out of 162, by 55, on 34, with 25, misc 97; 921
1) out of, from, by, away from

1381 dokimazo {dok-im-ad'-zo}
from 1384; TDNT - 2:255,181; v
AV - prove 10, try 4, approve 3, discern 2, allow 2, like 1, examine 1; 23
1) to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals
2) to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy

1384 dokimos {dok'-ee-mos}
from 1380; TDNT - 2:255,183; adj
AV - approved 6, tried 1; 7
1) accepted, particularly of coins and money.
2) accepted, pleasing, acceptable
-----
In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of honour who put only genuine full weighted money into circulation. Such men were called "dokimos" or "approved". Donald Barnhouse

1380 dokeo {dok-eh'-o}
a prolonged form of a primary verb, doko {dok'-o} (used only in an alternate in certain tenses; cf the base of 1166) of the same meaning; TDNT - 2:232,178; v
AV - think 33, seem 13, suppose 7, seem good 3, please 2, misc 5; 63
1) to be of opinion, think, suppose
2) to seem, to be accounted, reputed
3) it seems to me
   3a) I think, judge: thus in question
   3b) it seems good to, pleased me, I determined
For Synonyms see entry 5837

5836:
Synonyms
   See Definition for metamorphoo 3339
   See Definition for metaschematizo 3345
   3339 - refers to the permanent state to which a change takes place
   3345 - refers to the transient condition from which a change happens

5837:|
Synonyms
   See Definition for dokeo 1380
   See Definition for hegeomai 2233
   See Definition for nomizo 3543
   See Definition for oiomai 3633
   See Definition for phaino 5316
Compare: 1380, 5316
   1380 - refers to the subjective judgment, which may or may not conform to the fact
   5316 - refers to the actual external appearance, generally correct, but possibly deceptive
Compare: 1380, 2233 (2), 3543 (2), 3633
   2233 and 3543 denote a belief resting not on one's inner feeling or sentiment, but on the due consideration of external grounds, and the weighing and comparing of facts.
   1380 and 3633 on the other hand, describe a subjective judgment growing out of inclination or a view of facts in their relation to us.
   2233 denotes a more deliberate and careful judgment than 3543; 3633 a subjective judgment which has feeling rather than thought (1380) for its ground.