1 Thessalonians 5:20 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
1 Thessalonians 5:20 kjv
Despise not prophesyings.
1 Thessalonians 5:20 nkjv
Do not despise prophecies.
1 Thessalonians 5:20 niv
Do not treat prophecies with contempt
1 Thessalonians 5:20 esv
Do not despise prophecies,
1 Thessalonians 5:20 nlt
Do not scoff at prophecies,
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Valuing God's Word/Truth | ||
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's word guides. |
| Isa 55:11 | so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty... | God's word is effective. |
| Jer 1:9 | Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I have put my words in your mouth. | Prophetic call and words given by God. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... | The divine power of God's word. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching... | All scripture originates from God's breath. |
| Consequences of Despising God/His Word/Prophets | ||
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Folly in despising divine instruction. |
| Prov 23:9 | Do not speak to fools, for they will despise your prudent words. | Wisdom disregarded by fools. |
| Jer 26:4-6 | 'If you do not listen to me and follow my law... then I will make this house like Shiloh... | Despising prophets brings judgment. |
| Amos 2:4 | This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Judah... because they have rejected the law of the LORD..." | Despising God's law. |
| 2 Kgs 17:13-14 | But they would not listen... they stiffened their necks, like their ancestors, who did not trust... | Ignoring prophetic warnings leads to ruin. |
| New Covenant Prophecy & Practice | ||
| Acts 2:17-18 | 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy...' | Prophecy as a universal gift of the Spirit. |
| 1 Cor 14:1 | Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. | Prioritizing prophecy. |
| 1 Cor 14:3 | But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement and comfort. | Purpose of New Testament prophecy. |
| 1 Cor 14:24-25 | But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying... they are convicted by all... | Convicting power of prophecy. |
| Eph 4:11 | So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers... | Prophets as foundational gifts to the church. |
| Discerning & Testing Prophecy | ||
| Deut 18:20-22 | But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death. | Old Testament test for false prophecy. |
| 1 Cor 14:29 | Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. | Call for evaluation of prophecy in church. |
| 1 Jn 4:1 | Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God... | Imperative to test spiritual utterances. |
| Matt 7:15-20 | "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing... By their fruit you will recognize them." | Recognizing false prophets by their conduct. |
| Related Commands | ||
| 1 Thes 5:19 | Do not quench the Spirit. | Directly precedes 5:20, linked to spiritual gifts. |
| Matt 10:41 | Anyone who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. | Receiving and honoring God's messengers. |
1 Thessalonians 5 verses
1 Thessalonians 5 20 meaning
The verse "Do not despise prophecies" is a direct and strong command to the Thessalonian believers, and by extension, to all Christians, against treating prophetic utterances with contempt, scorn, or dismissal. It calls for valuing and respectfully considering messages believed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and spoken within the community of faith, acknowledging their potential role in conveying God's will, encouragement, and truth.
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Context
1 Thessalonians 5:20 is nestled within Paul's concluding ethical exhortations to the church in Thessalonica, forming part of a rapid-fire series of commands (1 Thes 5:12-22) concerning proper Christian conduct within the community and in anticipation of Christ's return. The immediate context links it directly to the previous verse, "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thes 5:19), suggesting that despising prophecies is a specific way in which the Holy Spirit's activity might be suppressed or stifled within the church. It is then balanced by the subsequent command, "Test everything; hold fast to what is good" (1 Thes 5:21), indicating that while prophetic messages should not be dismissed outright, they also require careful discernment and evaluation. This series of verses reflects a need to manage the spiritual gifts—particularly the more charismatic expressions like prophecy—in a way that fosters edification without falling into disorder or indiscriminate acceptance. The Thessalonian church likely experienced various spiritual manifestations, some perhaps genuine, others potentially misguided or disruptive, prompting Paul to guide them toward a balanced approach.
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Word analysis
- Do not: μὴ (mē). This Greek particle indicates a strong, absolute prohibition or a warning against a continuous or habitual action. It carries more weight than a simple "not."
- despise: ἐξουθενεῖτε (exoutheneite). This is a present imperative form of the verb ἐξουθενέω (exoutheneō), meaning "to treat as nothing," "to reject with contempt," "to regard as worthless or insignificant." The present imperative suggests "stop despising" or "do not habitually despise." It implies an active attitude of scorn or disdain, not just passive indifference. In other biblical contexts, it refers to despising people (e.g., Rom 14:3), God's commands (Num 15:31 LXX), or even Christ (Luke 23:11).
- prophecies: προφητείας (prophēteias). This is the plural accusative form of προφητεία (prophēteia), which refers to divinely inspired utterances. In the New Testament, prophecy is primarily "forth-telling" (speaking forth God's message) rather than exclusively "foretelling" (predicting the future). It is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:10) intended for edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor 14:3), and can bring conviction to unbelievers (1 Cor 14:24-25). The plural suggests that Paul is referring to multiple instances or expressions of prophetic messages within their church gatherings.
- Do not despise prophecies: This phrase constitutes a complete command to give proper respect and attentive consideration to those messages spoken by individuals within the Christian community who are operating under the influence of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of communicating God's will. It counters a tendency towards cynicism, intellectual snobbery, or a dismissive attitude towards charismatic manifestations, which, though sometimes imperfect or requiring discernment, originate from God.
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Bonus section
The concept of prophecy in the early church, as reflected in this verse, indicates a vibrant and interactive spiritual life. Prophecy was not exclusively limited to a select few, as the Old Testament prophets often were, but was anticipated to be widespread among believers, as prophesied by Joel (Acts 2:17-18). Paul is emphasizing that while excesses or human imperfections might occur in the expression of this gift, the gift itself and its potential for divine communication should not be discarded entirely. This warning serves as a safeguard against a reaction to charismatic chaos that swings too far, leading to the outright rejection of all Spirit-inspired expressions. It is a call for maturity, urging believers to develop discernment (as detailed in the subsequent verse) rather than retreating into a position of contemptuous dismissal. The balance here is between eager reception of the Spirit's gifts and responsible evaluation, preventing both spiritual suppression and uncritical acceptance.
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Commentary
Paul’s command in 1 Thessalonians 5:20 is a crucial exhortation for a healthy, Spirit-led church, directly following the admonition not to quench the Spirit. It prohibits the scornful rejection or contemptuous dismissal of prophetic messages within Christian gatherings. While such utterances must always be discerned (1 Thes 5:21), a cynical or premature devaluation of them stifles the Holy Spirit’s work of speaking to and through the body of Christ. Prophecy, encompassing both forth-telling and foretelling, serves to edify, encourage, comfort, and sometimes to convict, guiding the community in God’s truth. To despise prophecies is to despise one of the ways God communicates with His people in the New Covenant, showing a lack of reverence for the divine voice and potentially impeding spiritual growth and direction.