1 Corinthians 14:2

γλώσσῃ. The context shews the necessity of the ‘unknown’ of the A.V.

οὐκ�. Because the language is not the language of those to whom he is speaking, and therefore what he says is hidden from them.

ἀκούει. Here in the sense of understanding, a sense which is by some suggested as the explanation of the apparent discrepancy between Acts 9:7; Acts 22:9.

πνεύματι δέ. It is a question here whether δέ is simply the introduction of an additional but distinct proposition or whether it is to be taken in the adversative sense. We have instances of δέ in the adversative sense after a negative in Acts 12:9; James 5:12; Romans 3:4, cited by Winer as another instance, is not quite certain, but there, as here, the adversative gives the best sense. It is also a question whether πνεύματι refers (1) to the Holy Spirit, or (2) to the spirit of the man himself. But as λαλεῖ refers to the man in the first part of the sentence, and as he is especially said to be speaking to God, (2) is preferable. For μυστήρια see ch. 1 Corinthians 4:1.