1 Corinthians 14:37
in 1 Corinthians 14If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
KJV
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
If any man think himself to be a prophet - See the note at 1Co 14:1. If any man claim to be divinely endowed. Macknight renders it, “be really a prophet.” But the more correct meaning here is, doubtless, “If any man “profess” to be a prophet; or is “reputed” to be a prophet.” Bloomfield. The proper meaning of the word δοκέω dokeō is to seem to oneself; to be of opinion, to suppose, believe, etc.; and the reference here is to one who should “regard himself,” or who should believe and profess to be thus endowed.
This site's exposition
If anyone considers himself a prophet
on 1 Corinthians 14:37-38
Paul closes with apostolic authority: anyone who considers himself a prophet or spiritual must acknowledge that his writing is the Lord's command. The claim answers any Corinthian tempted to set personal revelation above the apostle's instruction.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Next, what is strongest of all he puts last, saying, "God ordains these things even at this time by me." "If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you that they are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant." And wherefore did he add this? Intimating that he is not using violence nor contention, which is a sign of them who wish not to set up their own things, but aim at what is profitable to others. Wherefore also in another place he saith, "But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom." (1 Cor. 11:16) But he doth not this everywhere, but only where the offences are not very great, and then rather as putting them to shame. Since when he discourses of other sins, he speaks not thus. But how? "Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor effeminate, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor. 6:9-10) And again, "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing." (Gal. 5:2.) But here, since his discourse was of silence, he doth not very keenly inveigh against them, by this very thing attracting them the more.
Paul is alluding to the false apostles mentioned above, by whom they had been misled. They were teaching things which people wanted to hear but which were not of God. By saying that he was handing on nothing of his own, Paul was trying to …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says: If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, he refutes the greater ones in particular. In regard to this he does two things: first, he refutes them; secondly, he answers a tacit objection (v. 38). He says, therefore: Suppose …
He placed at the end what is strongest of all, namely, that God commands this through me, and this is undoubtedly recognized by the one who among you is regarded as a prophet or as having some other spiritual gift, for example, the gift of …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
): " If any man think himself a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge, &c., nay, let him be tried by this very rule. If he will not own what I deliver on this head to be the will of Christ, he himself never had the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit of Christ can never contradict itself; if it speak in me, and in them, it must speak the same things in both.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
If any man think himself to be a prophet,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The followers of Apollos prided themselves as "spiritual" (1Co 3:1-3; compare Ga 6:1). Here one capable of discerning spirits is specially meant. things that I write . . . commandments of the Lord--a direct assertion of inspiration. Paul's words as an apostle are Christ's words.
If any man think himself to be a prophet, etc. - He who is really a spiritual man, under the influence of the Spirit of God, and capable of teaching the Divine will, he will acknowledge that what I now say is from the same Spirit; and that the things which I now write are the commandments of God, and must be obeyed on pain of his displeasure.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Εἴ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| τις | tis | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| δοκεῖ | dokei | considers | G1380 → | 62 times |
| προφήτης | prophetes | a prophet | G4396 → | 144 times |
| εἶναι | einai | himself to be | G1511 → | 123 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| πνευματικός, | pneumatikos | spiritual, | G4152 → | 26 times |
| ἐπιγινωσκέτω | epiginosketo | he should recognize | G1921 → | 44 times |
| ἃ | ha | [the] things | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| γράφω | grapho | I write | G1125 → | 189 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| κυρίου | kuriou | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἐστὶν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐντολή· | entole | [the] command; | G1785 → |
ΕἴIf
eiG1487 →508 times
τιςanyone
tisG5100 →528 times
δοκεῖconsiders
dokeiG1380 →62 times
προφήτηςa prophet
prophetesG4396 →144 times
εἶναιhimself to be
einaiG1511 →123 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
πνευματικός,spiritual,
pneumatikosG4152 →26 times
ἐπιγινωσκέτωhe should recognize
epiginosketoG1921 →44 times
ἃ[the] things
haG3739 →1405 times
γράφωI write
graphoG1125 →189 times
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
κυρίουLord
kuriouG2962 →711 times
ἐστὶνis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἐντολή·[the] command;
entoleG1785 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 John 4:6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
it leads to
- John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.
- John 10:27
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12–14
We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
- John 15:26
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.
- John 8:45–50
But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
- John 14:17
Through
Jude 1:17But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
it leads to
- 2 Peter 3:2
by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
- 2 Peter 3:2
Through
2 Peter 3:2by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
it leads to
- Jude 1:17
But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
- 2 Peter 2:21
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
- Jude 1:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 37; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.