Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    But and yf eny man be ignorant let him be ignorant.

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    And if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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Cross-references (6)

Passages linked to 1 Corinthians 14:38 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables.
  • Matthew 7:6 “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
  • 1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
  • Revelation 22:11-12 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.” “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.
  • Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!
  • Matthew 15:14 Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

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

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Explain this verse (16 sources)

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

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 38. But if any man be ignorant The old…

38. But if any man be ignorant The old translation reads thus: He that knows not this, will be unknown; but this is a mistake. For Paul had it in view to cut off every handle from contentious persons, who make no end of disputing, and that, under the pretense of inquiring — as if the matter were not yet clear; or at least he intimates in general terms, that he regarded as of no account any one that would call in question what he said. “If any one is ignorant, I do not stop to take notice of his doubts, for the certainty of my doctrine is not at all impaired thereby. Let him go then, whoever he may be. As for you, do not the less on that account give credit to Christ, as speaking by me.” In fine, he intimates, that sceptics, contentious persons, and subtle disputants; do not by the questions they raise diminish, in any degree, the authority of sound doctrine, and of that truth as to which believers ought to feel assured, and at the same time he admonishes us, not to allow their doubts to be any hindrance in our way. That elevation of mind, however, which despises all human judgments, ought to be founded on ascertained truth. Hence, as it would be the part of perverse rashness, either to maintain pertinaciously, in opposition to the views of all others, an opinion that has once been taken up, or audaciously to cling to it, while others are in doubt, so, on the other hand, when we have felt assured that it is God that speaks, let us fearlessly break through all human impediments and all difficulties.

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.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain The Church ought not to care for such as…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain If any one will pretend ignorance in this, he…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Let all things be done decently and in order.…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Let him be ignorant - Be it at his…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 38. But if any man be ignorant] If…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain But if any be ignorant ... - If anyone…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain if any man be ignorant--wilfully; not wishing to recognize…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 38. If—A second if antithetic to the first if…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 38. But if any man be ignorant, let him…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (38) But if any man be ignorant.—There are here…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Let him be ignorant. The formula seems to fall…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 38. If any man be ignorant. If he will…
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain 38. “If any one ignores, he is ignored.” This…
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain But if any man is ignorant, let him be…

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