1 Corinthians 14:37
What does 1 Corinthians 14:37 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 14:37 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 14:37 means
Paul claims divine authority for his instructions. Anyone who considers himself a prophet or spiritually gifted must recognize that what Paul writes are the Lord’s commands. True spirituality submits to apostolic teaching, which carries Christ’s authority. This tests the spirits by doctrine: the genuinely inspired acknowledge the rule of Christ over the church’s order. The verse warns against using claims of gifting to evade obedience. It safeguards the congregation by tying practice to authoritative revelation, not to personal charisma. In short, the measure of a prophet is not only the content of his speech, but also his submission to the commands the Lord has given through his apostles.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If 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
King James Version · 1611If 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901If 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If any man seems to himself to be a prophet or to have the Spirit, let him take note of the things which I am writing to you, as being the word of the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862if any one doth think to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge the things that I write to you--that of the Lord they are commands;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752If any seem to be a prophet or spiritual, let him know the things that I write to you, that they are the commandments of the Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890If any one thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognise the things that I write to you, that it is [the] Lord's commandment.
Context
Following his rebuke of Corinthian exceptionalism, Paul directly asserts the divine authority behind his directives. This seals the instructions about orderly worship with the highest warrant. The next verse will address those who persist in ignorance, effectively leaving them to the consequences of their refusal. The flow moves from persuasion and explanation to a final assertion of authority and boundary-setting, preparing for the chapter’s closing summary exhortations.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jude 1:17
But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
- 2 Corinthians 10:7
Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also are we.
- 1 John 4:6
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
- 2 Corinthians 11:12
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
- Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.
- Luke 10:16
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.
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