However it's gender is masculine. So Being it governs the rest of the clause. So when we come to ἐπιγινωσκέτω G1921 which is 3rd person singular. Proper grammar would dictate it be translated "Let Him Recognize" Not "themselves" as found in the NIV. This fact also limits the translation ἀδελφοί to brothers.
While ἐπιγινωσκέτω is certainly third person singular, it is also a verb. No pronoun is used! So therefore, it must be both. The fact is, Paul has good Greek. If he wanted it to say “man” or “he” he would have written it this way.
He did. The masculine gender of subject predicate nominative τις governs it's corresponding verbs. ἐπιγινωσκέτω is τις corresponding verb in the clause.
1Cor 14:37 ει
τις δοκει προφητης ειναι η πνευματικος
επιγινωσκετω α γραφω υμιν οτι κυριου εισιν εντολαι
We have the same usage in the next text.
αγνοειτω is 3rd person singular also.
1Cor 14:38 ει δε
τις αγνοει
αγνοειτω
3rd person singular= he/she/it.
For a translator to render the word in question gender neutral;
τις would have to be neuter not masculine or feminine. This rule of thumb is why the following translators translated
επιγινωσκετω and αγνοειτω with masculine pronouns.
First J.P. Green's work:
If anyone thinks to be a prophet, or a spiritual one, let
him recognize the things I write to you, that they are a command of the Lord. But if any be ignorant, let
him be ignorant. So then, brothers, seek eagerly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in languages.
(1Co 14:37-39 LITV-TSP)
Charles Thompson:
If any one be, in reality, a prophet, or a spiritual man, let
him acknowledge that what I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any one doth not know this, let
him continue ignorant. So then, brethren, be ambitious of prophesying, and prohibit not the speaking with tongues.
(1Co 14:37-39 CT OC+NC)
Bullinger:
If any one think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let
him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any one be ignorant, let
him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, desire to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
(1Co 14:37-39 EWB-CB)
Julia Smith:
If any think to be a prophet, or spiritual, let
him observe what I write to you, that they are the commands of the Lord. And if any is ignorant, let
him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy, and hinder not to speak in tongues.
(1Co 14:37-39 Julia)
If any one thinks a prophet to be or spiritual, let
him acknowledge the things I write you, because of Lord they are commandments; if but any one is ignorant, let
him be ignorant. So that, brethren, be you zealous that to prophesy, and that to speak with tongues not hinder you;
(1Co 14:37-39 Diaglott-NT)
Concordant Literal Version:
If anyone is presuming to be a prophet or spiritual, let him be recognizing that what I am writing to you is a precept of the Lord." Now if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant!" So that, my brethren, be zealous to be prophesying, and the speaking in languages do not forbid."
(1Co 14:37-39 CLV)
Grammar Use Version:
If anyone is thinking to be a prophet or spiritual, let him keep recognizing the things which I am writing to you, »they are commands of the LORD; but if any is being ignorant, let him keep being ignorant. So that, brethren, keep being emulous to be prophesying, and stop forbidding to be speaking with tongues.
(1Cor 14:37-39 GUV)
Wallace held true to the grammar in verses 37 through 38
37) If anyone considers
himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's command. 38) If someone does not recognize this,
he is not recognized. 39)
So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues.
(1Co 14:37-39 NET)
But then ignored the Conjunction aspect of
ὥστε (hōste) in verse 39. This
word is used to connect clauses or sentences. Typically translated, so-that, so-then, that or along those lines.
Since it is at the beginning of the next clause it therefore grammatically connects what follows it to what was before.
So with that being understood ἀδελφοί (brothers) should be translated in the masculine sense because it is grammatically governed to the preceding predicate nominative's gender which is masculine.
