Paul now discusses the second half of the contrast between speaking in tongues and Christian prophecy, which has been a main feature of this chapter.

Two or three: Paul does not repeat the phrase at most from verse 27, since he will now speak more positively of Christian prophecy than of speaking in tongues. Nor does he repeat each in turn, though this idea is probably implied. The danger of several people’s talking at once would naturally be greater in the case of ecstatic speech than in inspired teaching using natural language.

The first sentence may be rendered as “Let two or three people to whom God has given a message speak.”

The others may mean “other prophets” or “other members of the Christian community.” The second, more general, meaning is preferable in translation.

Weigh (Good News Bible‘s “judge”) is the word used in 4.7 and in 11.29, 31 referring to a similar situation (see the comments); Revised English Bible “exercise their judgement upon what is said.” Bruce suggests “discuss” as a possible translation. The Christians probably did discuss the messages from God. Their aim would be to apply the prophets’ messages to the Corinthians’ situation, rather than to judge the validity of what the prophets said or of the prophets’ qualifications.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .