But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;
Parallel translations
- WEB But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
- 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:
- BSB But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
- NKJV But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
- NLT But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If all prophesy and an unbeliever enters, he is convicted and called to account by what he hears. Intelligible truth pierces the conscience.
Overview
In contrast to the previous scene, Paul describes the power of prophecy on a visitor. Understandable, Spirit-given speech convicts and examines the unbeliever, exposing his true condition. This shows how clear ministry of the word, unlike unintelligible tongues, can lead an outsider toward repentance and faith in God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Acts 2:37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
- Heb 4:12–13For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- John 4:29“Come, see a man who told me everything that I did. Can this be the Christ?”
- 1 Cor 2:15But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.
- John 1:47–49Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 14:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.