1 Corinthians 14:29

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

1 Corinthians 14:29 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
English Standard Version (ESV)
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
New Living Translation (NLT)
29 Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.
The Message Bible (MSG)
29 And no more than two or three speakers at a meeting, with the rest of you listening and taking it to heart.
American Standard Version (ASV)
29 And let the prophets speak [by] two or three, and let the others discern.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
29 Two or three people should speak what God has revealed. Everyone else should decide whether what each person said is right or wrong.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
29 Only two or three prophets are supposed to speak. Others should decide if what is being said is true.

1 Corinthians 14:29 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:29

Let the prophets speak, two or three
The apostle having finished the rules for streaking with an unknown tongue, proceeds to lay down some for the gift of prophesying; and observes, that where there are a number of prophets, as very likely there were in the church at Corinth, two or three of them might prophesy, or explain the prophecies of the Old Testament, or preach the Gospel at one opportunity or meeting: he does not use that restrictive clause, "at most", as before, because if there was any necessity or occasion for it, more might be employed, so that care was taken not to burden the people, and send them away loathing; and this they were to do, as before, in course, one after another, otherwise it would be all confusion, nor could they be heard to edification. Though some have thought that they might speak together at one and the same time, in different parts of the church:

and let the other judge:
the other prophets that sit and hear, and all such as have a spirit of discerning, whether what the prophets say comes from their own spirits, or from a lying spirit, from the spirit of antichrist, or whether from the Spirit of God; and even the body of the people, private members of the church, and hearers, might judge of the doctrine for themselves, according to the word of God, the standard of faith and practice; and were not to believe every spirit, but try them, whether they were of God, and their doctrines by his word, whether they were true or false; for the spiritual man is in a measure capable of judging all things of a spiritual kind, through that spiritual experience he has of the word of God, and divine things, and by the assistance of the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 14:29 In-Context

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver 32,37; S 1 Corinthians 13:2
  • 2. 1 Corinthians 12:10
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