1 Thessalonians 5:20 (DBY)

Passage

do not lightly esteem prophecies;

Nearby Context

1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks, for this is [the] will of God in Christ Jesus towards you;

1 Thessalonians 5:19 quench not the Spirit;

1 Thessalonians 5:20 do not lightly esteem prophecies;

1 Thessalonians 5:21 but prove all things, hold fast the right;

1 Thessalonians 5:22 hold aloof from every form of wickedness.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "light", "lightly", "esteem", and "prophecies". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "light" and "lightly", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "quench not the Spirit..." into verse 21's "but prove all things hold fast the...", so "light" and "lightly" belong inside that flow. In 1 Thessalonians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "light" and "lightly" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.