1 Corinthians 14:24

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: ALL - one by one (). PROPHESY - speak by the Spirit intelligibly; not in unintelligible tongues. ONE - singular, implying that conviction by all would be produced on anyone who might happen, to enter. In the plural, "unlearned" or "unbelievers," implying that however many there be, not one will profit by the tongues; yea, their being many would confirm them in rejecting the sign, as many unbelievers together strengthen one another in unbelief: individuals are more easily won. HE - the "one that believeth not." CONVINCED - convicted in consci...

24._But if all prophesy _As he had previously showed them, how much more advantageous prophecy is to _those that are of the household of faith _(Galatians 6:10) than the gift of tongues, so he now shows that it would be useful also to _those that are without. _(1 Corinthians 5:13.) This is a most powerful consideration for showing the Corinthians their error. For what a base part it is to depreciate a gift that is most useful both within and without, and to be wholly taken up with another gift which is useless to those that are _within _the house; and, in addition to this, gives occasion of offense to those that are _without. _He sets before them this advantage of prophecy, that it summons the _consciences _of the wicked to the tribunal of God, and strikes them with a lively apprehension of divine ju

15-25 There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is a proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did who delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? B...

Verse 24. _BUT IF ALL PROPHECY_] If all those who teach do it in the tongue which all understand; if an unbeliever, or one who knows nothing of the sacred language, come in and hear things just suited to his own state, he is convicted by all, and he is judged by all....

BUT IF ALL PROPHESY - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. If all, in proper order and time, shall utter the truths of religion in a language intelligible to all. OR ONE UNLEARNED - One unacquainted with the nature of Christianity, or the truths of the gospel. HE IS CONVINCED OF ALL - He will be convinced by all that speak. He will understand what is said; he will see its truth and force, and be will be satisfied of the truth of Christianity. The word here rendered “convinced” (ἐλέγχετἀι elengchetai) is rendered “reprove” in John 16:8, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,” etc. Its proper meaning is to “convict,”

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 _The_ _gift of preaching superior to the gift_ _tongues_. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 FOLLOW AFTER CHARITY; literally, _chase; pursue. _The word is one of which St. Paul is fond (Romans 9:30, Romans 9:31; Romans 13:13; Romans 14:19;...

BUT IF ALL PROPHECY,.... That is, all that speak publicly in the church, not together, but in their order, one after another, as is hereafter directed: AND THERE COME IN ONE THAT BELIEVETH NOT, OR ONE UNLEARNED; an unbeliever that has only the knowledge of his mother tongue, in which prophesying or preaching is used: HE IS CONVINCED OF ALL, HE IS JUDGED OF ALL; of all the prophets or preachers; they all reprove him, and detect his secret, as the Arabic version renders the words; and to the same purport the Ethiopic. This must be understood of such persons whom the Spirit of God, under, and by the ministry of the word, powerfully works upon; whose hearts he opens to receive the word, and to whom he effectually applies it; whom he convinces of sin, righteousness, and judgment, shows the evil of their hearts and ways, reproves their errors, convicts them of their mistakes, and informs the...

4. PROPHECY AND SPEAKING WITH A TONGUE. CHAPTER 14 _ 1. Prophecy the better gift. (1 Corinthians 14:1 .)_ 2. Intelligibility demanded. (1 Corinthians 14:14 .) 3. Practical instructions for the public use of these gifts. (1 Corinthians 14:26 .) It is evident from the contents of this chapter that the Corinthians had unduly magnified the gift of speaking in a strange tongue. It had a spectacular aspect which they enjoyed. He therefore shows them that the gift of prophecy is more to be coveted than speaking in an unknown tongue. The speaking in an unknown tongue is intelligible to God, but he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, e

Such over-valuing of tongues reveals an infantile intelligence (a sharp thrust for a church so rich in intellectuals); only in malice is it proper to be babes. Scripture announces that the Lord will speak by men of strange tongues to this people and yet they will not hear. Tongues then are a sign to unbelievers, not to believers; prophecy is for believers, not unbelievers. So if the church is assembled and all speak with tongues, and non-members or unbelievers come in, they will think the whole assembly has gone mad. But if a man belonging to one of these classes comes in and all prophesy, he is convicted and judged by all, the things he supposes to be known only to himself are dragged into the light, and thus he is brought to worship God and recognise His presence. The point of 1 Corinthians 14:22_ a_ is not that tongues are a sign conducing to the salvation of unbelievers, and

THE FALSE AND THE TRUE WORSHIP (1 Corinthians 14:1-19)...