1 Corinthians 14:38

1 Corinthians 14:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
• New International Version (NIV)But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Context of 1 Corinthians 14:38

36Did the word of the Lord originate from you [Corinthians], or has it come to you only [so that you know best what God requires]? 37If anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet [a true spokesman for God] or spiritually astute [filled with and energized by the Holy Spirit], let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. If anyone does not recognize this [that it is a command of the Lord], he is not recognized [by God]. 39Therefore, believers, desire earnestly to prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people], and do not forbid speaking in unknown tongues. 40But all things must be done appropriately and in an orderly manner.

1 Corinthians 14:38 word by word

εἰ δέ τις ἀγνοεῖ, ἀγνοεῖται.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• any manτιςtis · oneG5100
• be ignorantἀγνοέωagnoeō · be ignorantG50

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 14:38

• Hosea 4:17Ephraim is joined to idols, So let him alone [to suffer the consequences].
• Matthew 7:6“Do not give that which is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, for they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
• Matthew 15:14Leave them alone; they are blind guides [leading blind followers]. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
• 1 Timothy 6:3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine and teaching which is in agreement with godliness (personal integrity, upright behavior),
• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,
• Revelation 22:11Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy (vile, impure), still be filthy; and the one who is righteous (just, upright), still be righteous; and the one who is holy, still be holy.”

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 14:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38But if any man be ignorant - If he affect to be so, or pretend that he is ignorant; let him be ignorant - let him be so at his peril.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38But if any be ignorant … - If anyone affects to be ignorant of my authority, or whether I have a right to command. If he affects to doubt whether I am inspired, and whether what I utter is in accordance with the will of God. Let him be ignorant - At his own peril, let him remain so, and abide the consequences. I shall not take any further trouble to debate with him. I have stated my authority. I have delivered the commands of God. And now, if he…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 34-40Verses 34-40 When the apostle exhorts Christian women to seek information on religious subjects from their husbands at home, it shows that believing families ought to assemble for promoting spiritual knowledge. The Spirit of Christ can never contradict itself; and if their revelations are against those of the apostle, they do not come from the same Spirit. The way to keep peace, truth, and order in the church, is to seek that which is good for it, to bear…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-40Paul provides clear instructions for using spiritual gifts in the church. He stresses the importance of expressing them in an orderly manner. In the early Christian community, church meetings were not led by professional pastors or priests. Instead, everyone shared what God had given them to strengthen the church.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. if any man be ignorant--wilfully; not wishing to recognize these ordinances and my apostolic authority in enjoining them. let him be ignorant--I leave him to his ignorance: it will be at his own peril; I feel it a waste of words to speak anything further to convince him. An argument likely to have weight with the Corinthians, who admired "knowledge" so much.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 14:38

• Pride

In the dictionaries

• Confusion
• Desire
• Edification
• Except
• Pipe
• Profit
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Holy Spirit
• Ministry
• Prophecy; Prophets

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