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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 5:20 | Do not despise prophecies. | Direct Exhortation |
| 1 Cor 14:3 | ...but the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. | Defines the purpose of prophecy |
| 1 Cor 14:29 | Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. | Regulates prophetic utterance |
| 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... and on my servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.' | Fulfillment of Joel's prophecy |
| Joel 2:28-29 | 'And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy...' | Old Testament prophetic promise |
| Rom 12:6 | We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is... prophesying... | Prophecy as a spiritual gift |
| Eph 4:11-12 | So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service... | Prophets as gifted leaders |
| 1 Cor 14:1 | Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. | Encouragement to desire prophecy |
| 1 Tim 4:14 | Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the elders laid their hands on you. | Prophecy in gift conferral |
| 1 Tim 1:18 | Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies you once received, that by them you may fight the good fight. | Prophecies as guidance/motivation |
| Jer 23:21 | I did not send these prophets, yet they have run there. I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. | Warning against false prophets |
| Amos 7:12 | Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, 'Amos has conspired against you within the very house of Israel...' | Opposition to prophecy |
| Matt 7:15 | "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." | Warning about discerning spirits |
| Acts 11:27-28 | During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, Agabus, stood up and by the Spirit indicated that there would be a great famine... | Prophecy concerning future events |
| 1 Cor 13:8-10 | Prophecy will pass away. But there are three things that remain: faith, hope and love. | The enduring nature of love over prophecy |
| 1 Cor 14:30-32 | However, if a revelation is given to another sitting there, the first one should stop talking. For you can all take turns in prophesying... | Order and self-control in prophecy |
| Gal 1:8 | But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. | Standard for judging prophecy |
| 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... | God's past and present revelation |
| John 4:23 | Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. | Emphasis on Spirit in worship |
| Rev 1:3 | Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. | Blessedness in receiving prophecy |
| 1 Thess 5:21 | but examine everything carefully. Hold on to what is good. | The necessary counterpart to 5:20 |
1 Thessalonians 5 verses
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Meaning
The verse "Do not despise prophecies" emphasizes the importance of valuing and giving heed to divinely inspired messages or teachings within the Christian community. It serves as a directive to consider, examine, and respect prophetic utterances, recognizing their potential divine origin and guidance.
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Context
1 Thessalonians chapter 5 concludes with a series of exhortations to the believers in Thessalonica. Following instructions on watchfulness, preparedness for the Lord's return, and living peaceably, the Apostle Paul addresses the proper reception and use of spiritual gifts within the church. Specifically, verses 19-22 deal with the spiritual life of the community, urging them not to quench the Spirit, not to despise prophecies, not to make light of eagerly desired spiritual gifts, but to test all things and hold onto what is good. The context is the ongoing spiritual maturity and edification of the church, ensuring that the Spirit's work is not hindered by disrespect for His manifest operations. Historically, the early church experienced manifestations of spiritual gifts, including prophecy, and needed guidance on how to manage these gifts constructively and discerningly.
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Word Analysis
- "Do": This is a direct imperative verb in the Greek, me (μὴ), combined with the imperative form of "despise." It indicates a strong prohibition against an action.
- "not": The negative particle me (μὴ) used with the imperative stresses a continuous or habitual avoidance of the action.
- "despise": The Greek word used is exoutheneo (ἐξουθενέω). This verb means to regard as worthless, to scorn, to disdain, to make of no account, to reject contemptuously. It implies looking down upon something or someone with disrespect and undervaluation. It can carry the sense of treating as refuse or casting away.
- "prophecies": The Greek word is propheteia (προφητεία). This term refers to the gift of prophecy itself, or the utterances or messages that proceed from this gift. It signifies inspired speech, divine revelation communicated through a human agent. It doesn't necessarily imply predicting the future but rather speaking forth from God, often for edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor 14:3). The plural form "prophecies" suggests that such utterances might be varied and frequent within the community.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Do not despise prophecies": This is a compound imperative statement. It signifies that believers should not contemptuously disregard or treat as valueless the inspired messages that come forth within the community. This command implies that prophetic utterances were present among the Thessalonians, and they needed to learn how to interact with them correctly – neither blindly accepting them nor rejecting them outright, but testing them.
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Bonus Section
The concept of not despising prophecy connects with the Old Testament's view of prophets as God's messengers. However, the New Testament expands the prophetic office, with prophecy being a gift available to many in the Body of Christ, not confined to a select few. This widespread potential for prophetic utterance necessitates a communal process of discernment as laid out in 1 Corinthians 14. The danger Paul addresses is a spirit of cynicism or arrogance that might dismiss the true voice of God if it doesn't conform to one's expectations or preferences. The phrase is often quoted alongside verse 21 to underscore that valuing prophecy includes testing it.
1 Thessalonians 5 20 Commentary
The instruction "Do not despise prophecies" is a vital caution to the Church against rejecting or minimizing God's communicated word through inspired individuals. It's essential to understand that prophecy in the New Testament context is primarily about forth-telling God's message for the present moment – for building up, encouraging, and comforting the church, not exclusively about foretelling the future. Disregarding these divine messages can stifle the Holy Spirit's work in the community and lead to spiritual barrenness. However, this is immediately balanced by the need for discernment. Paul, in the following verse (5:21), commands believers to "test everything; hold fast to what is good." Therefore, one must approach prophetic utterances with reverence and an open mind, but also with critical, Spirit-led evaluation to distinguish genuine God-breathed messages from false or mistaken ones. This prevents both the arrogance of spiritual superiority that dismisses everything potentially spiritual and the gullibility that accepts everything without discernment.
Practical Usage:
- When someone shares what they believe is a God-inspired thought during prayer meeting or a small group, listen attentively and prayerfully.
- Read contemporary Christian writings or listen to sermons that speak prophetically to current issues, but always compare them with Scripture.
- Pray for discernment when evaluating messages that claim divine origin, seeking God's confirmation.