Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 14:38

"But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant." — 1 Corinthians 14:38 (ASV)

Paul now steps delicately. He had given strict commands but wants to soften their impact. He asks for those who have the gift of prophecy and are spiritually gifted to authenticate the fact that his commands are from the Lord (v.37). But immediately Paul returns to his strict injunction (v.38). The tone is abrupt, the meaning is clear: anyone who ignores it will be ignored by Paul and the churches, or possibly even the Lord, and so be considered an unbeliever (1:18).