1 Corinthians 14:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then the Apostle brings forward the final and strongest argument: even now, he says, God commands this through me.

“If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him understand that the things I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone does not understand, let him not understand” (1 Cor 14:37-38).

Why did he add this? To show that he does not compel and does not wish to contend. Such is the speech of those who do not strive to fulfill their own wishes, but have in view the benefit of others.

Therefore he also says elsewhere, “But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God” (1 Cor 11:16).

At the end he set what is strongest of all: that God commands this through me. This will undoubtedly be acknowledged by the one among you who is regarded as a prophet, or as having some other spiritual gift, such as the gift of knowledge.

He certainly wished the knowledge of the spiritual to be firm, where faith would not only be applied, but exact understanding would also abide.

Thus those who were carnal believed the same thing as the spiritual, though they did not yet grasp it with the mind.

Let him not understand, he said, who does not understand, for it has not yet been given to him to know what he believes.

When this takes place in a person’s mind, he is said to be known by God, because God has caused him to know Him.

As the Apostle says elsewhere, “But now, having known God, or rather being known by God” (cf. Gal 4:9).

For it was not that God then came to know them, since they were known to Him beforehand and chosen by Him before the foundation of the world (cf. Eph 1:4).

Rather, what took place was that He then caused them to know Him.

God knew, that is, He chose, in order to give grace, through which knowledge of God is given.

Therefore he said: if anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual, let him first know what I have written to you, because these are the commandments of the Lord.

With these words the Apostle touches upon the aforesaid false apostles, by whom they were being corrupted, and who were teaching them not heavenly things, but earthly things.

Therefore he says here that he teaches nothing of his own, but what belongs to the Lord. Thus it may be seen that the Lord, not men, finds those persuaded by him.

He constantly preaches this conviction of his, and with a free conscience, since he does not wish to please men, but God.

This is truly so, because whoever does not know that what the Apostle says is from the Lord will himself not be known by the Lord on the day of judgment.

And the Lord will say to them in answer, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you” (Mt 25:12).

The Apostle called those spiritual in whom the Spirit of God dwells. But one deprived of this grace cannot understand. Therefore the Apostle added: “But if anyone does not understand, let him not understand.”

“They are the commandments of the Lord.” He points to a special revelation of God given to him, because nowhere in the Gospel do we find a commandment about the use of the spiritual gifts.

A general exhortation to fulfill what has been said: “If anyone thinks himself a prophet or spiritual, for example, one who has the gift of tongues, let him understand what I write to you, for these are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor 14:37). “But if anyone does not understand, let him not understand” (1 Cor 14:38). That is, there is no use even speaking with him. He is not a prophet and not spiritual, though in conceit he thinks himself such. “I have said what is necessary. Let him who wishes obey, and let him who does not wish do as he wants” (Oecumenius; Theophylact).

Finally, striving to implant all that has been said in the minds and hearts of his readers, the Apostle reminds them that he is not speaking to them on his own authority. They submitted to the Lord voluntarily, and therefore they must voluntarily accept what is advised. Gathering all that has been said into one whole, he commands that the less useful gift not be forbidden, namely the gift of tongues. He also commands that they zealously seek the more important gift, prophecy. The chief point is that in everything there must be the order indicated by the Apostle, corresponding to the inner meaning of Christian worship.

By this Saint Paul confirms his instructions concerning the activity of the gifts of prophecy and tongues in the Church.

Therefore, he says, you who speak in tongues and prophesy, attend properly to what I write and fulfill it exactly, for these are the Lord’s commandments.

“God commands this through me” (Saint Chrysostom). I do not present this to you as counsel, but give it from the Lord’s person as a commandment to be fulfilled.

“I was not moved to say this of myself” (Oecumenius).

Who is the spiritual man here for the Apostle? In general, by a spiritual man one may understand him “in whom the Spirit of God dwells” (Theodoret), or “one who has some spiritual gift” (Oecumenius, Theophylact).