1 Corinthians 14:37 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.
1 Corinthians 14:37 nkjv
If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 14:37 niv
If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.
1 Corinthians 14:37 esv
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 14:37 nlt
If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.
1 Corinthians 14 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 14:37 | If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandments. | Commands of the Lord |
| Deut 4:2 | You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. | Against altering Scripture |
| Deut 12:32 | "Whatever I command you, be careful to do. You shall not add to it nor take away from it." | Obedience to Command |
| John 14:24 | Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. | Jesus' Words are the Father's |
| John 12:48 | The one who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. | Word as Judge |
| Luke 10:16 | "The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me. And the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” | Listening to Apostles is Listening to Christ |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. | Inspiration of Scripture |
| Heb 1:1-2 | In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. | God Speaking Through His Son |
| 1 Thess 4:8 | Consequently anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. | Rejecting Instruction is Rejecting God |
| Ps 19:7 | The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple. | Perfection of God's Law |
| Isa 8:20 | To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. | Authority of Law and Testimony |
| Prov 30:5-6 | Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. | Truth and Warning of Addition |
| Rom 15:4 | For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance commanded in the Scriptures and the encouragement they offer we might have hope. | Purpose of Scripture |
| 1 Pet 4:11 | Whoever speaks, as one speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves, as from the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. | Speaking God's Utterances |
| Matt 28:18-20 | Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” | Great Commission - Teach Obedience |
| Acts 4:32 | All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. | Unity in the Spirit |
| Eph 5:15-17 | See then that you walk as wise people, not as unwise people, but redeeming the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. | Understanding God's Will |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. | Ambassadors for Christ |
| Col 3:16 | Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God. | Message of Christ Dwelling |
| 1 Tim 5:17 | Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. | Honor for Teachers |
| John 1:14 | The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We saw his glory, the glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | The Word is Jesus |
1 Corinthians 14 verses
1 Corinthians 14 37 Meaning
This verse asserts that whatever is written in God's Word is a command from the Lord himself. Therefore, obedience to the Scriptures is obedience to God, and disregard for the Scriptures is disregard for God. This places the highest authority on the written Word, differentiating it from personal feelings or interpretations.
1 Corinthians 14 37 Context
First Corinthians chapter 14 deals extensively with the exercise of spiritual gifts within the church assembly, particularly prophecy and speaking in tongues. Paul is addressing issues of order and intelligibility during worship services, aiming to build up the church. In this final verse of the chapter, Paul offers a strong concluding statement regarding the authority of his own apostolic teaching. He addresses those who might question his instructions, asserting that his written words are not mere human suggestions but divinely given commands from the Lord himself. This statement serves to validate his apostleship and the divine origin of the doctrine he is conveying to the Corinthian church, especially concerning the proper regulation of spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 14 37 Word Analysis
- Εἴ τις (ei tis): "If anyone." This introduces a conditional statement.
- Εἴ (ei): "if." A common conditional particle.
- τις (tis): "anyone," "someone." An indefinite pronoun.
- εἶναι (einai): "to be." The infinitive form of the verb "to be."
- προφήτην (prophētēn): "a prophet." Accusative case, functioning as the predicate nominative after "to be." Refers to a divinely inspired speaker.
- ἢ (ē): "or." A conjunction connecting two alternatives.
- πνευματικόν (pneumatikon): "spiritual." Adjective in the accusative masculine singular. Refers to someone endowed with or controlled by the Holy Spirit, particularly one recognized for their spiritual discernment or gifts.
- ἐπιγινωσκέτω (epiginōsketō): "let him recognize," "let him acknowledge." Imperative mood, third person singular, present active. This is a strong command urging acknowledgment and understanding.
- Root verb: ἐπιγιγνώσκω (epiginōskō): To know well, to recognize, to understand, to distinguish. It implies a deeper or more certain knowledge.
- ὅτι (hoti): "that." A conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, a declarative or object clause.
- ἃ (ha): "the things which," "what." Neuter plural relative pronoun, accusative case, acting as the direct object of the verb "writes."
- γράφω (graphō): "I write." First person singular, present active indicative of γράφω (graphō), "to write." Refers to Paul's written communication, specifically this epistle.
- ὑμῖν (hymin): "to you," "to you all." Second person plural, dative case. Refers to the recipients of the letter, the church at Corinth.
- εἰσιν (eisin): "are." Third person plural, present active indicative of the verb "to be."
- κυριακὴ (kyriakē): "of the Lord." Genitive singular feminine adjective modifying "commandments." It denotes something belonging to or pertaining to the Lord Jesus Christ. The term κυριακή (kyriakē) can also refer to "the Lord's Day" (e.g., Rev 1:10). Here, it clearly links the writings to the authority of the Lord.
- ἐντολαί (entolai): "commandments." Nominative plural feminine noun. These are the specific directives and teachings Paul is delivering.
Group Analysis:
- "εἴ τις εἶναι προφήτην ἢ πνευματικόν": This phrase targets individuals who might be self-proclaimed prophets or spiritual persons within the Corinthian church. It sets up a contrast between potentially inflated self-perception and the reality of divine authority.
- "ἐπιγινωσκέτω ὅτι ἃ γράφω ὑμῖν εἰσιν κυριακὴ ἐντολαί": The core of the verse. It equates Paul's written words ("ἃ γράφω ὑμῖν") with "Lord's commandments" ("κυριακὴ ἐντολαί"). The use of ἐπιγιγνωσκέτω emphasizes a duty to understand and acknowledge this divine authorship, not to casually dismiss it. The adjective κυριακή strongly asserts the divine origin and binding authority of these directives.
1 Corinthians 14 37 Bonus Section
The Greek word κυριακή (kyriakē) here specifically denotes possession or origination from the Lord. While this same word later became specifically associated with "The Lord's Day" (Sunday) as seen in Revelation 1:10 and church history, its primary function here is to ascribe absolute divine authority to Paul's writings. This direct linkage of the apostle's words to "Lord's commandments" serves as a potent defense of the canonicity and divine inspiration of the New Testament writings. The structure implies a direct line of authority from Christ to His apostles, and through them to the churches, as recorded in their letters. This is fundamental to understanding how authority functions within the early church and the foundational role of the apostles' teachings.
1 Corinthians 14 37 Commentary
Paul concludes his discussion on spiritual gifts by firmly establishing the divine authority behind his apostolic instructions. He asserts that his writings are not merely his personal opinions but are, in fact, commands originating from the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a critical assertion to counter any defiance or dismissal by the Corinthian believers, particularly those who were proud of their spiritual status.
For anyone who claimed to be a prophet or to possess superior spiritual understanding, their acknowledgment of Paul's written words as divinely authoritative was paramount. It meant that any claim of spiritual superiority must align with and submit to the clear teaching of God's appointed apostles. This highlights a key principle: true spirituality is always in submission to the revealed Word of God. Disregarding Paul's teachings was equivalent to disregarding the Lord Jesus Himself. This principle extends to all apostolic writings, emphasizing that the New Testament, as inspired scripture, carries the unassailable authority of Christ for the Church.
Practical Usage:
- When studying or discussing biblical teachings, recognize them as more than human advice; they are divine commands.
- If you question a specific teaching in scripture, the responsibility is yours to prayerfully seek to understand its divine source and implication, not to automatically dismiss it.
- Claims of spiritual insight or experience should be tested against the clear teachings of Scripture.