Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
BSB
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern.
And prophets--let two or three speak, and let the others discern,
And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
1 Corinthians — A pastoral letter answering a long list of questions and problems — unity, ethics, worship, and the resurrection — written to a gifted but divided church.
The verses this one reaches9
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.
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
Do not extinguish the Spirit.
Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
Voices4
Neither must we prescribe this from custom, but overcome opposite custom by reason. For neither did Peter, whom first the Lord chose, and upon whom He built His Church, when Paul disputed with him afterwards about circumcision, claim anything to himself insolently, nor arrogantly assume anything; so as to say that he held the primacy, and that he ought rather to be obeyed by novices and those lately come.
Cyprian· Epistle LXX, 258patristic
Let the prophets speak, two or three,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Entire Bible, 1771reformed
Let the prophets - See the note at 1Co 14:1. Speak two or three - On the same days, or at the same meeting; see the note at 1Co 14:27. And let the other judge - The word other (οἱ ἄλλοι hoi alloi, the others), Bloomfield supposes refers to the other prophets; and that the meaning is, that they should decide whether what was said was dictated by the Holy Spirit, or not.
Albert Barnes· Notes on the Old and New Testaments, 1870evangelical
He forbids women speaking in the church; and closes this subject by requiring them to perform every thing in the public worship with order and decency,
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan
The walk8
Two steps out along the cross-reference floor, votes-ranked — destinations reached by more than one path rise (the text's own hubs). Every stop is a page, and every stop travels with its words.
Through
1 Corinthians 12:10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
leads to
So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
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.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Through
1 Corinthians 14:39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
leads to
But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
The whole web at once: see the Arc.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.