In the Old Testament we are use to a prophet prefacing his words with "Thus Says the Lord ...". In the New Testament this kind of speaking for God is replaced. Paul therefore tells us on occasion that he gives his opinion.
Now the reason for this is that the relationship between God and his prophets is different. Incarnation means that God in Christ lives within the person. Christ comes into someone and mingles His Spirit with them. God wroughts Himself into the fabric of the receiver's personality.
Instead of merely an outward power coming upon a person as a somewhat "borrowed" gift, the Spirit of God in the New Testament blends and mingles with the speaker's personality.
In this light the New Testament Apostle says on occasion that he gives his opinion or he speaks from his own view. This is indication of the principle of incarnation at work rather than the Old Testament Spirit falling upon the person.
At the section where Paul says that he gives his opinion and that it is not the Lord's command he says also -
"And I think that I have the Spirit of God."
His word is not a
"Thus Says the Lord" in the Old Testament prophetic sense. However it is recommended as reliable because he does have the Spirit of God.
This really raises a flag on the modern Pentacostal practice of the preacher speaking like an Old Testament prophet as if he or she is a tape recorder following dictation from heaven. This kind of speaking among Christians today '
"Thus says the Lord ... this and that " can be damaging and misleading. It is better that a person turn thier whole being over to the filling of the Spirit of Christ. Then when they even give their opinion it has some weight even though what they recommend may not be the commandment of God.
™ Version 4.2