1 Corinthians 14:24

1 Corinthians 14:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
• New International Version (NIV)But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:24

22Therefore, [unknown] tongues are [meant] for a [supernatural] sign, not to believers but to unbelievers [who might be receptive]; while prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people] is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23So then, if the whole church gathers together and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and outsiders or those who are not gifted [in spiritual matters] or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said]; 25the secrets of his heart are laid bare. And so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you. 26What then is the right course, believers? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation (disclosure of special knowledge), a tongue, or an interpretation. Let everything be constructive and edifying and done for the good of all the church.

1 Corinthians 14:24 word by word

ἐὰν δὲ πάντες προφητεύωσιν, εἰσέλθῃ δέ τις ἄπιστος ἢ ἰδιώτης, ἐλέγχεται ὑπὸ πάντων, ἀνακρίνεται ὑπὸ πάντων,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• prophesyπροφητεύωprophēteuō · to prophesyG4395
• there come inεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
• oneτιςtis · oneG5100
• that believeth notἄπιστοςapistos · unbelievingG571
• orἤē · orG2228
• unlearnedἰδιώτηςidiōtēs · unlearnedG2399
• he is convincedἐλέγχωelegchō · to rebukeG1651
• ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• he is judgedἀνακρίνωanakrinō · to investigateG350

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:24

• 1 Corinthians 2:15But the spiritual man [the spiritually mature Christian] judges all things [questions, examines and applies what the Holy Spirit reveals], yet is himself judged by no one [the unbeliever cannot judge and understand the believer’s spiritual nature].
• John 1:47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Here is an Israelite indeed [a true descendant of Jacob], in whom there is no guile nor deceit nor duplicity!”
• John 4:29“Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done! Can this be the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)?”
• Acts 2:37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?”
• Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24But if all prophecy - If all those who teach do it in the tongue which all understand; if an unbeliever, or one who knows nothing of the sacred language, come in and hear things just suited to his own state, he is convicted by all, and he is judged by all.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24But if all prophesy - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. If all, in proper order and time, shall utter the truths of religion in a language intelligible to all. Or one unlearned - One unacquainted with the nature of Christianity, or the truths of the gospel. He is convinced of all - He will be convinced by all that speak. He will understand what is said; he will see its truth and force, and be will be satisfied of the truth of Christianity. The word here…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-25Verses 15-25 There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-25Paul used this quotation from Isaiah 28:11–12 to show that speaking in tongues is a sign for unbelievers, not believers. However, in 1 Corinthians 14:23–25, Paul argues that unbelievers are more likely to be convinced by prophecy than by speaking in tongues. He emphasizes that, in public worship, prophecy is more useful than speaking in tongues.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. all--one by one (1Co 14:31). prophesy--speak the truth by the Spirit intelligibly, and not in unintelligible tongues. one--"anyone." Here singular; implying that this effect, namely, conviction by all, would be produced on anyone, who might happen to enter. In 1Co 14:23 the plural is used; "unlearned or unbelievers"; implying that however many there might be, not one would profit by the tongues; yea, their being many would confirm them in rejecting…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:24

• Conviction
• Language
• Preaching
• Tongues (the Gift)

In the dictionaries

• Confusion
• Desire
• Edification
• Except
• Pipe
• Profit
• Tongues, Gift of
• Convict; Conviction
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Evidence; Evident; Evidently

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings