By economy of time, every one who has the prophetic gift may exercise it in turn; so the Church will enjoy, in variety of exhortation, the full benefit of the powers of the Spirit conferred on all its members: “For you can (in this way) all prophesy one by one (καθʼ ἕνα : singulatim, Cv [2163]), in order that all may learn and all may be encouraged”. Stress lies on the repeated πάντες (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12 f.): let every prophet get his turn, and every hearer will receive benefit (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:26 b); even if the Church members were all prophets, as Paul imagined in 1 Corinthians 14:24, and thinks desirable (1 Corinthians 14:1-5), by due arrangement, and self-suppression on the part of the eloquent, all might be heard.

[2163] Calvin's In Nov. Testamentum Commentarii.

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Old Testament