Back to 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:31

For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    For ye maye all prophesy one by one that all maye learne and all maye have comforte.

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    For ye may all prophecie one by one, that all may learne, and all may haue comfort.

View more translations →

Cross-references (13)

Passages linked to 1 Corinthians 14:31 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:14 We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.
  • Proverbs 1:5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
  • Proverbs 9:9 Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
  • Romans 1:12 that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:19 However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:35 if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.”
  • 2 Corinthians 1:4 who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
  • 2 Corinthians 7:6-7 Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
  • Ephesians 6:22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
  • Ephesians 4:11-12 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ,

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

↑ Top

Explain this verse (16 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 31. You can all, one by one. In the…

31. You can all, one by one. In the first place, when he says all, he does not include believers universally, but only those that were endowed with this gift. Farther, he does not mean that all ought to have equally their turn, but that, according as it might be for the advantage of the people, each one should come forward to speak either more frequently or more seldom. “No one will remain always unemployed; but an opportunity of speaking will present itself, sometimes to one and at other times to another.”

He adds, that all may learn. This is applicable, it is true, to the whole of the people, but it is particularly suited to the Prophets, and Paul more especially refers to them. For no one will ever be a good teacher, who does not show himself to be teachable, as no one will ever be found who has, in himself alone, such an overflowing in respect of perfection of doctrine, as not to derive benefit from listening to others. Let all, therefore, undertake the office of teaching on this principle, that they do not refuse or grudge, to be scholars to each other in their turn, whenever there shall be afforded to others the means of edifying the Church.

Read full note →

He says, in the second place, that all may receive consolation. Hence we may infer, that the ministers of Christ, so far from envying, should rather rejoice with all their heart, that they are not the only persons that excel, but have fellow-partakers of the same gift — a disposition which Moses discovered, as is related in sacred history. (Numbers 11:28.) For when his servant, inflamed with a foolish jealousy, was greatly displeased, because the gift of prophecy was conferred upon others also, he reproves him: “Nay,” says he, “would that all the people of God were sharers with me in this superior gift!” And, undoubtedly, it is a special consolation for pious ministers, to see the Spirit of God, whose instruments they are, working in others also, and they derive also from this no small confirmation. It is a consolation, too, that it contributes to the spread of the word of God, the more it has of ministers and witnesses.

As, however, the word παρακαλεῖσθαι, which Paul here employs, is of doubtful signification, it might also be rendered may receive exhortation. Nor would this be unsuitable, for it is sometimes of advantage to listen to others, that we may be more powerfully stirred up to duty.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one,…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Ye may not all prophesy in the same day,…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And the spirits of the prophets are subject to…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain All - Who have that gift. That all may…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 31. For ye may all prophesy one by…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain For ye may all prophecy ... - There is…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain For ye may--rather, "For ye can [if ye will]…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 31. Ye may—Rather, ye are able. St. Paul has…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 31. For ye may all prophesy one by one]…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (31) For ye may all prophesy one by one.—Better,…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Ye may all prophesy; rather, ye all can; that…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 31. For ye all may prophesy. All who have…
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain 31. “For all are able to prophesy, one at…
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain For ye all can prophesy one by one, that…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 prophesy one by one

↑ Top

Share