1 Thessalonians 5:20 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Despise not prophesyings.— By prophesying, here, we are not to understand barely a foretelling of future events, but a preaching by immediate inspiration; that is, speaking what tended to instruct or establish, convert or confirm, reprove or comfort mankind, in matters relating either to faith or practice. See 1 Corinthians 14:3-4. If we had only this one of all St. Paul's epistles, we should not perhaps have been able to understand the reason and design of this short direction; though the Thessalonians might easily understand it, from their thorough knowledge of the state of their own church: but in writing to other churches, which probably were more guilty of the same fault, he has opened his mind more fully. He evidently refers to the contentions about the exercise of spiritual gifts, Romans 12:3-8 and yet more evidently, 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 13 Corinthians 13; 1 Corinthians 14 Corinthians 14 where he treats of this subject at large; shewing them that prophesying was the most valuable of all the spiritual gifts that were among them, as conducing most to edification. See the notes there.