Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 14:36
Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian congregation to correct a localized claim about apostolic authority. He speaks immediately after regulating women's conduct in the assembly, establishing his writing as the Lord's command.
The words — λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ (logos tou theou) translates literally to "word of God," while ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen) means "has gone out." The verse explicitly states that divine instruction did not originate with the Corinthians, nor has it reached only them.
The thread — The movement of divine instruction outward from a central location runs through Isaiah 2:3, Micah 4:1, and Zechariah 14:8. These passages depict God's teaching and presence flowing from Zion to the nations, matching the verse's claim of universal reach.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that revelation and apostolic command are not the property of a single church. It requires readers to submit to the full scope of God's instruction rather than treating it as a localized possession.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
Cross-references
- Isaiah 2:3 And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
- Micah 4:1 In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it.
- Zechariah 14:8 And on that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the Eastern Sea and the other half toward the Western Sea, in summer and winter alike.
- Acts 13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
- Acts 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
- Acts 16:9 During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
- Acts 17:1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
- Acts 17:10 As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
- Acts 17:15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
- Acts 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.