1 Corinthians 14:28

But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. LET HIM - the speaker in unknown tongues. SPEAK TO HIMSELF, AND TO GOD (cf. ; ) - privately, not in hearing of others....

28._Let him speak to himself and to God _“Let him enjoy,” says he, “his gift in his own conscience, and let him give thanks to God.” For in this way I explain the expression to _speak to himself and to God, _as meaning — to recognize in his own mind with thanksgiving the favor conferred upon him, (860) and to enjoy it as his own, when there is not an opportunity for bringing it forward in a public manner. For he draws a contrast between this _secret _way of speaking, and speaking _publicly _in the Church — which he forbids. (861)...

26-33 Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one meeting, and this one after the other, not all at once. The man who is inspired by the Spirit of God will observe order and decency in delivering his revelations. God never teaches men to neglect their duties, or to act in any way unbecoming their age or station....

Verse 28. _BUT IF THERE BE NO INTERPRETER_] If there be none present who can give the proper sense of this Hebrew reading and speaking, then let him keep silence, and not occupy the time of the Church, by speaking in a language which only himself can understand....

BUT IF THERE BE NO INTERPRETER - If there be no one present who has the gift of interpretation. AND LET HIM SPEAK TO HIMSELF AND TO GOD - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:2, note at 1 Corinthians 14:4. Let him commune with himself, and with God; let him meditate on the truths which are revealed to him, and let him in secret express his desires to God....

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 THERE BE NO INTERPRETER,.... None that has the gift of interpretation of divers tongues, and he that speaks with them has not that, which was sometimes the case: LET HIM KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCH; let him not make use of his gift publicly before the whole congregation, since without an interpreter it will be entirely useless: AND LET HIM SPEAK TO HIMSELF, AND TO GOD; he may make use of his gift to his own edification, and to the glory of God, by speaking with a low voice, or in his heart, which he himself may be conscious of, and God the searcher of hearts, and that knows all languages, fully understands; and so may be edified himself, and God may be glorified by him; whereas, if he was to use it openly and publicly, it would not only be unprofitable, but an hinderance to others: or he might retire to his own house, and there exercise it by himself, and in the presence of God,...

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

Paul now lays down the rules. At present at their assemblies all are eager to speak in one way or another. But the edification of the Church is to be the governing principle. Two may speak in tongues, three at most and in succession; an interpretation must be given; if no one of them has this gift, the gift of tongues must be restricted to inward utterance, it must not be vocally exercised. Two or three prophets may speak, while the others practise the gift of discernment on his utterance. The communication of a revelation to another is a token that the speaker must close his address. There is no hardship in the restriction of numbers or the abrupt close of an address; there will be future opportunities. Nor is such silence impossible, for each prophet has his gift in his own control. This is clear from the very nature of God; He is a God of peace and order, and can be the source of no i...

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