averagefellar,

Quote
1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (KJV)

Act 17:10-11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (KJV)

Yes, however, the first one of I John, the presumption is that one already has the Truth in order to test other teachings. You are first interpreting it, then testing to see if all others match your interpretation.

Second one is the same. The Bereans were simply going back to the OT which Paul was quoting to see if he was correct. They were not interpreting against what Paul was teaching. Again, one must know truth before one can rightly divide.