1 Corinthians 14:38

1 Corinthians 14:38

(KJV)   But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

(1611 KJV)  But if any man bee ignorant, let him be ignorant.

(1587 Geneva Bible) And if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

(1568 Bishops Bible) But yf any man be ignoraunt, let hym be ignoraunt.

(1539 Great Bible) But and yf eny man be ignoraunt, let him be ignoraunt.

(1535 Coverdale Bible) But yf eny man be ignoraunt, let him be ignoraunt.

(1526 Tyndale Bible) But and yf eny man be ignorat let him be ignorant.

 

Counterfeit Versions

(AMP)  If anyone does not recognize this [that it is a command of the Lord], he is not recognized [by God].

(CEB) If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized.

(CEV) So don’t pay attention to anyone who ignores what I am writing.

(CSB) If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

(Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition) But if any man know not, he shall not be known.

(ERV) If you do not accept this, you will not be accepted.

(ESV) If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

(GNB) But if he does not pay attention to this, pay no attention to him.

(HCSB) But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

(ISV) But if anyone ignores this, he should be ignored.

(PHILLIPS) If any of your number thinks himself a true preacher and a spiritually-minded man, let him recognise that what I have written is by divine command! As for those who don’t know it, well, we may just leave them in ignorance.

(LEB) But if anyone ignores this, he is ignored.

(LB) But if anyone still disagrees—well, we will leave him in his ignorance.

(THE MESSAGE) If any one of you thinks God has something for you to say or has inspired you to do something, pay close attention to what I have written. This is the way the Master wants it. If you won’t play by these rules, God can’t use you. Sorry.

(NABRE) If anyone does not acknowledge this, he is not acknowledged.

(NASV) But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

(NCV) Those who ignore this will be ignored by God.

(NET) If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

(NIRV) But anyone who does not recognize this will not be recognized.

(NIV) But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.

(NLV) If any man does not listen to this, have nothing to do with him.

(NLT) But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.

(NRSV) Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized.

(RSV) If any one does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

(TLV) But if someone does not recognize it, he is not recognized.

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) But if anyone disregards this, he will be disregarded.

 

Textus Receptus – Traditional Text

ει δε τις αγνοει αγνοειτω

 

Hort-Westcott – Critical Text

ει δε τις αγνοει αγνοειται

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit (original)
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century (original)

D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century (original)

048 - Fifth century

 

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this Verse

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

Stephanus (1550 A.D.)

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit (corrected)
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century (corrected)

B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century

D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century (corrected)

K 018 - Ninth century

L 020 - Ninth century

P 46 - circa 200 AD

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Reads “he is ignored” instead of “let him be ignorant”

Lachmann, Karl - 1842

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Westcott and Hort – 1881 (in brackets or margin)

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

Nestle-Aland - 2012 - Twenty Eighth Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

Von Soden, Freiherr – 1902

 

Affected Teaching

Here Paul is beginning his summation that if someone is ignorant, not understanding the word of the Lord, then let him remain that way. The church must never change the rules for those who do not wish to grow in the faith. The word “ignorant” means “not understanding.” If a person wants to understand and grow, then the elders should teach them, but if they choose to remain ignorant, as many do today, then let them remain that way to their own shame.  The modern versions use words like “recognize” which means “seeing something a second time.”  It is a different meaning than ignorant.  The phrase “let him be ignorant” is in the Present Tense Active Voice Imperative Mood.  The present tense means the ignorance is always present in a person.  The active voice means they are doing something to fight against knowledge or understanding.  The Imperative Mood in this case is not a command because Paul would never command someone to remain ignorant because his whole ministry was bringing understanding of the mystery of the Gospel.  In this case it is basically a request or entreaty as if Paul is entreating a superior.  He is stating that if a person wants to remain ignorant, then let them and others should progress in the Christian walk.

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