But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
- KJV But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
- NKJV But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
- NASB But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
- NLT But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.
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
Those who refuse to recognize Paul's God-given authority are left in their ignorance. It matters as a sober warning against willful rejection of the Lord's word.
Overview
Paul offers no further argument to one who deliberately disregards apostolic teaching; such a person is simply left unacknowledged. The terse statement underscores that persistent refusal of God's word carries its own judgment. It calls hearers to humble receptiveness rather than stubborn self-confidence before the Lord who speaks.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Tim 4:3–4For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- Matt 7:6Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
- 1 Tim 6:3–5If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
- Rev 22:11–12Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”
- Hos 4:17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
- Matt 15:14Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
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 14:38 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.