Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 14:30
If [any thing] be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
30. If any thing be revealed to another ] If it should appear that some special message from God had been sent to one of the prophets during the discourse of another, the first was to bring his discourse to an end as soon as might be, in an orderly manner, so as to give the other an opportunity of saying what had occurred to him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
If anything be revealed to another – If, while one is speaking, an important truth is revealed to another, or is suggested to his mind by the Holy Spirit, which he feels it to be important to communicate.
Let the first hold his peace – That is, let him that was speaking conclude his discourse, and let there not be the confusion arising from two persons speaking. at the same time. Doddridge understands this as meaning, that he to whom the revelation was made should sit still, until the other was done speaking, and not rise and rudely interrupt him. But this is to do violence to the language. So Macknight understands it, that the one who was speaking was first to finish his discourse, and be silent. before the other began to speak. But this is evidently a forced construction. Locke understands it as meaning, that if, while one was speaking, the meaning of what he said was revealed to another, the first was to cease speaking until the other had interpreted or explained it. But the obvious meaning of the passage is, that the man that was speaking was to close his discourse and be silent. It does not follow, however, that he was to be rudely interrupted. He might close his discourse deliberately, or perhaps by an intimation from the person to whom the revelation was made. At any rate, two were not to speak at the same time, but the one who was speaking was to conclude before the other addressed the assembly.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 30. Be revealed to another that sitteth by] Probably those who were teachers sat on a particular seat, or place, from which they might most readily address the people; and this may be the meaning of sitting by. If such a person could say, I have just received a particular revelation from God, then let him have the liberty immediately to speak it; as it might possibly relate to the circumstances of that time and place.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
There were two modes or sorts of prophecies; the one ordinary, when the teacher came to those assemblies furnished with a revelation from some previous impression of God upon him, enabling him to give the sense of some scripture, or to open some Divine truth; not as we are, but by some influence of the Holy Spirit upon him, without the use of such means as we use. The other was, by some present afflatus or impression. The apostle seems not to speak of the latter; or if of both, he plainly lets them know, that even such a one was under the government of natural order, and obliged to do nothing confusedly and tumultuously, but might, without any offence to God, stay until the other had finished his discourse.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
30. If any thingTranslate,”But if any thing.”
another that sitteth byahearer.
let the first hold hispeaceLet him who heretofore spoke, and who came to theassembly furnished with a previous ordinary (in those times)revelation from God (1Co 14:26),give place to him who at the assembly is moved to prophesy by asudden revelation from the Spirit.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by,…. To another prophet that sits, and hears, and tries, and judges what he hears; if he has a clearer revelation made to him of what the other is speaking of, and has a more distinct knowledge of it, and is capable of removing any difficulty that attends it, and of expressing it more plainly, and of proving it more largely, and of setting it in an easier light to the understandings of men:
let the first hold his peace; be that was speaking, upon such an intimation being made to him, let him stop, and give way to him that has the revelation, that the church may receive the benefit of it: hence it may be observed, that the custom of the primitive churches was to hear the word sitting, and the prophet or preacher stood, or sat, as he thought fit; [See comments on Mt 5:1], and that sometimes a revelation was made, and light conveyed to these prophets in a very sudden and extraordinary manner, when it was proper that it should be at once communicated for the good of the whole society: but this is to be understood only of those prophets or preachers, not of the common people; for it must not be thought that any that rose up, and pretended to a revelation, might be indulged to deliver it, and the speaker give way to him, which might be attended with much confusion, and many bad consequences; but only such who were known to have gifts, and who at certain times had peculiar revelations made unto them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Let the first keep silence ( ). To give the next one a chance.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
That sitteth. Rev., sitting by. The speaker standing.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by,” (ean de allo aopkaluphthe kathemeno) “But if something is revealed or disclosed to another of the assembly, other than the one speaking.”
2) “Let the first hold his peace.” (ho protos; sigato) “Let the first in order or rank, the one speaking, be silent a moment.” The speaker may not be the only person specially led by the spirit in the congregation, 1Th 5:19-20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
30. But if anything be revealed to another. Here is another advantage — that whenever there will be occasion, the way will also be open to them. (866) Hence they have no longer any occasion to complain, that the Spirit is bound, or that his mouth is shut. For all have opportunity and liberty allowed them of speaking, when there is occasion for it, provided only no one unseasonably intrudes — having it in view to please himself, rather than to serve some useful purpose. Now he requires this modesty on the part of all — that every one in his place shall give way to another that has something better to bring forward. (867) For this only is the true liberty of the Spirit — not that every one be allowed to blab out rashly whatever he pleases, but that all, from the highest to the lowest, voluntarily allow themselves to be under control, and that the one Spirit be listened to, by whatever mouth he speaks. As to the certainty of the revelation, we shall see ere long.
(866) “ Que toutes fois et quantes qu’il sera besoin, eux aussi auront lieu de parler;” — “That as often, and in as far as there will be occasion, they will also have opportunity of speaking.”
(867) “But if anything be revealed to another that sitteth by That is very frequently said of the Jewish doctors, היה יושכ He sat — which means not barely he was sitting, but he taught out of the seat of the teacher, or he sat teaching, or ready to teach So that, indeed, he sat and he taught are all one. Examples among the Talmudists are infinite. In the same sense the Apostle: ‘If something be revealed to some minister, who hath a seat among those that teach, etc., not revealed in that very instant: but if he saith that he hath received some revelation from God, then ὁ πρῶτος σιγάτω — let the first be silent: , let him be silent who ψαλμὸν ἔχει — hath a psalm — and give way to him.’” Lightfoot. — Ed
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
30. Revealed sitteth by If while one charismatic is speaking a special revelation is made to another, let the first stop and allow the latter to utter it, and not discourteously keep on talking and so create disorder. The reason why the first should promptly be silent is, that a revelation, just made, if genuine, is supposably not only more authoritative, but is given for immediate use, and should suspend, if not entirely supersede, the ordinary current of prophetic discourse.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted, and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.’
Whatever these verses mean they cannot mean blatantly that ‘all can prophesy one by one’ without restriction. That would be to contradict the ‘two or three’ on any interpretation. And it would cause the meeting to be taken over by prophecy, which would go on and on, resulting in listener fatigue, and the hearing of large numbers of prophecies that were in fact never completed because others kept stepping in. Paul can surely not mean that?
What then does he mean? The answer would seem to be that firstly he is pointing out that if a special revelation from God comes they must remember that there will be many future opportunities to prophesy, and thus prophets must be prepared to give way. For the fact is that all such prophets (over a number of gatherings) will have ample opportunity to prophesy one by one. Furthermore prophecy is under the control of the prophet. But revelation only comes more rarely and is specific. And this is said so as to justify the fact that someone who receives a revelation can interrupt a prophet.
‘But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.’ For there may be a time when a particular prophet receives a special revelation from God which cannot wait, and the urgency of this is such that it is seen as justifying the interruption of a prophecy. This confirms quite clearly that such a revelation had precedence (compare Act 11:28). This was not just speaking of another ‘prophecy’, and it would not be something that would be happening all the time. It was speaking of a specific revelation from God, possibly an instruction on something that required doing (see Gal 2:2). But when it did come it must be given preference.
‘The first’ is the first prophet as compared with ‘another’. He will usually be allowed to give out his full prophecy, with an exception arising in the circumstances when another receives ‘a revelation’. His prophecy might normally be followed by another prophecy, but a revelation overrides such prophecies. So if a revelation from God comes, then any prophet can be interrupted. We see from this that from time to time the early church did expect to receive such special revelations from God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Co 14:30. Let the first hold his peace. Some think that the word here should be rendered, have done speaking; for if the direction had been, “Let him that was speaking immediately hold his peace, as soon as another intimates that he has a revelation,” it would have introduced a confusion which this advice was intended to prevent.“If any thing be revealed to another, &c. let him not immediately arise and interrupt the first, but let him sit still till he have done speaking.” See 1Co 14:32-33.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Co 14:30 . But two prophets were never to speak together . The order ought, on the contrary, to be this, that if a revelation shall have been imparted to another prophet ( ) while he sits listening, the first shall be silent (not simply soon cease, as Neander, Maier, and others would take it; comp., too, Hofmann) and let the second speak. Paul thus does not enjoin that the second shall wait until the first is finished, to which meaning Grotius, Storr, and Flatt twist the words (comp. 1Co 14:28 ; 1Co 14:34 ); on the contrary, he attaches more importance to the fresh undelayed outburst of prophetic inspiration, than to the further continuance of the address after the first outburs.
.] for the prophets spoke standing , Luk 4:17 . See Grotius in loc.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
Ver. 30. That sitteth by ] And is extraordinarily inspired and qualified; a little otherwise than our enthusiasts, that brag of their lumen propheticum, light of prophecy.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
30. ] But if a revelation shall have been made to another (prophet) while sitting by, let the first (who was prophesying) hold his peace (give place to the other: but clearly, not as ejected by the second in any disorderly manner: probably, by being made aware of it and ceasing his discourse). The rendering of Grot., al., ‘ let him (the second) wait till the first has done speaking ,’ q. d., ‘ let the first have left off ,’ is ungrammatical. See also 1Co 14:28 ; 1Co 14:34 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
revealed. App-106.
hold his pence. Same as “keep silence” in verses: 1Co 14:28, 1Co 14:34.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
30.] But if a revelation shall have been made to another (prophet) while sitting by, let the first (who was prophesying) hold his peace (give place to the other: but clearly, not as ejected by the second in any disorderly manner: probably, by being made aware of it and ceasing his discourse). The rendering of Grot., al., let him (the second) wait till the first has done speaking, q. d., let the first have left off, is ungrammatical. See also 1Co 14:28; 1Co 14:34.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Co 14:30. ) while he sits, listening.- , the first) who formerly spoke.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 14:30
1Co 14:30
But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.-If while one is speaking an important truth is revealed to another, let him make it known, and let him that was speaking conclude his discourse, so that there be no confusion arising from two persons speaking at the same time.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
revealed: 1Co 14:6, 1Co 14:26
let: Job 32:11, Job 32:15-20, Job 33:31-33, 1Th 5:19, 1Th 5:20
Reciprocal: Act 15:13 – after 1Co 2:10 – God 1Co 14:32 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Co 14:30. Verse 26 shows that certain ones might come into an assembly with a communication to be offered to the church. After coming together, however, the Lord might see fit to make a special revelation to another. In that case the first one was to give way to the one receiving the later revelation.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Co 14:30. But if a revelation is made to another sitting byin the attitude of a hearer, while another prophet is speaking.
let the first keep silenceprobably on some hint to that effect being given to the speaker.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
30. And if something may be revealed to some one sitting by, let the first one be silent. The New Testament throughout positively ignores human authority and leadership, save in the mere instrumentality of the Holy Ghost, who is the only legitimate conductor of a gospel meeting. Hence if the Holy Ghost reveal something to an auditor sitting by, the order is for the leader to keep silent till the party delivers the message revealed. Oh, what a confusion the verification of this order would bring into the deadbeat routine of a modern church service! It would knock the preacher utterly out of kilter. This is the secret of all the heresies and apostasies in all ages.
Men, inadvertently blinded by the devil, take the service out of the hands of the Holy Ghost, fix up a human ritual, devise a creed, and run the church to suit themselves. Since all that is a downright insult to the Holy Ghost, no wonder He retreats away, leaving them to paddle their own canoe.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Here we seem to have an example of two of the different kinds of prophesying that took place in the early church conflicting with each other. What Paul seems to have envisioned was one person-both men and women could prophesy in this sense (1Co 11:4-5)-sharing a word from the Lord. This type of prophesying was open to almost anyone in the church. While this person was speaking, another prophet received a revelation from the Lord. This appears to be a more direct revelation than just the desire to address the congregation that had moved the first speaker to minister. In such a case the first speaker was to give preference to the person making the new revelation. Presumable the first speaker could finish what he was saying later if he or she desired to do so. An example of this happening is in Act 11:28; Act 21:10-11, when the prophet Agabus made revelations to the Christians in Antioch and Caesarea respectively.
"There was obviously a flexibility about the order of service in the early Church which is now totally lacking. . . . Everything was informal enough to allow any man who felt that he had a message to give to give it." [Note: Barclay, The Letters . . ., p. 150.]