1 Corinthians 14:1-25. The superiority of the gift of prophecy to that of tongues 1. _desire_ Literally, BE ZEALOUS FOR, ENVIOUS OF. See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 12:31. The best gifts (see note there) were those that were within the reach of all. Still there was no reason why a Christian should no... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he that speaketh in an_unknown _tongue_ The word _unknown_is not in the original. The word translated _tongue_signifies a _human language_in ch. 1 Corinthians 13:1. Cf. Revelation 13:7; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 17:15. _speaketh not unto men, but unto God_ Because the language is not the lan... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that speaketh in an_unknown _tongue edifieth himself_ Not necessarily because he understands what he is saying, but because his spirit, stirred up by the Spirit of God, is led by the experience of the inward emotion to praise God. Estius. See 1 Corinthians 14:14. _but he that prophesieth edifiet... [ Continue Reading ]
_for greater is he_ Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 12:31. _except he interpret_ This passage clearly implies that a man might speak in another language without himself knowing what he was saying, see 1 Corinthians 14:14. Some, however, regard the speaking with tongues as ecstatic utterances in no human lang... [ Continue Reading ]
_by revelation_ That which comes directly to the spirit from on high. _by knowledge_ That which is gained by observation and study, see ch. 1 Corinthians 12:8. _by prophesying_ The outward expression of that which has come from above by revelation. _by doctrine_ Or rather, TEACHING, the outward e... [ Continue Reading ]
_except they give a distinction in the sounds_ The effect of a melody depends entirely upon the distinction of its musical intervals. The effect of speech in like manner is dependent upon its being the communication of definite ideas.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound_ An _indistinct_sound, that which conveys no clear impression to the mind. The muster, the charge, the rally, the retreat, are each indicated by a definite order of musical intervals upon the trumpet, or they would be useless for the purpose of calling sol... [ Continue Reading ]
_words easy to be understood_ Literally, a WELL MARKED DISCOURSE, language which has a clearly discernible meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
_without signification_ Literally, WITHOUT SOUND, DUMB. Cf. Acts 8:32, and ch. 1 Corinthians 12:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the meaning of the voice_ Literally, its FORCE. _a barbarian_ This word is here used in its original signification of _one whose speech is unintelligible_, _unto me_ Literally, IN ME, i.e. in my estimation.... [ Continue Reading ]
_spiritual gifts_ Literally, as margin, SPIRITS, a word obviously standing here for the _gifts_of the Spirit. _seek that ye may excel_ i.e. by prayer, see next verse. _Excel_should rather be translated ABOUND. _Be plenteous_, Wiclif. _Have plenty_, Tyndale.... [ Continue Reading ]
_pray that he may interpret_ Cf. 1 Corinthians 14:1_; 1 Corinthians 14:5_. This passage may mean (1) pray that he may receive the faculty of interpretation, or (2) pray in such a language as he has the power of interpreting.... [ Continue Reading ]
_my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful_ The _afflatus_of the Spirit suggests the words of prayer to the possessor of the gift. He is conscious that he is fervently addressing the Giver of all good in a spirit of supplication. But his consciousness goes no further. He does not know wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is it then?_ "What is the purport of what I have been saying? That it is desirable that the spirit and understanding should combine in all the public utterances of a teacher.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Else when thou shalt bless_ A further argument Even your prayers and thanksgivings are useless, for none can respond to them. Some commentators, e.g. Dean Stanley, have supposed the Eucharistic blessing to be meant (see ch. 1 Corinthians 10:16). This, though probable, is by no means certain. That i... [ Continue Reading ]
_thou verily givest thanks well Well_, either (1) as referring to the fact that thanks were given it is well to give thanks or, (2) to the manner and spirit in which that action was performed καλῶς, _nobly, honourably_. Some would translate _givest thanks_by _celebratest the Eucharist_. See ch. 1 Co... [ Continue Reading ]
_I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all_ St Paul, no doubt, had the gift of interpretation. Yet apparently he did not often exercise in public, whatever he may have done in private, the gift of speaking with tongues unknown to his hearers. See next verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_yet in the church_ "Whatever I may do in private, I should desire my public ministrations to be for the instruction and edification of the flock, and not for my own individual glorification." _teach_ The word in the original is that from which our word _catechize_is derived. The same word is used i... [ Continue Reading ]
_howbeit in malice be ye children_ This is subjoined lest the Apostle should be charged with contradicting his Master. There is a sense in which all Christians must be children. What it is the Apostle tells us. They were to be children in malice, or rather perhaps vice. Compare on the one hand St Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the law it is written_ The law here stands for the whole Old Testament, as we might naturally expect from St Paul's habit of regarding the whole of the Mosaic dispensation as a progressive order of things having its completion in Christ. See Romans 3:19; Galatians 3:23-24; Galatians 4:5; Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not_ The passage here quoted has been regarded as a prophecy either (1) of the Day of Pentecost, or (2) of the Babylonish captivity. The latter is more probable, and in that case it becomes not an argument, but an... [ Continue Reading ]
_If therefore the whole church be come together into one place_ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό. The usual word for the place of assembly, as in ch. 1 Corinthians 11:20; Acts 2:1. However well calculated the gift of tongues might be to arrest and compel attention when used properly, it is clear, says the Apostle, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_he is convinced of all_ Rather, he is convinced BY all, i.e. the prophets whose discourses he hears. The word signifies (1) to prove by argument, and comes therefore to be used (2) of the _conviction_produced by argument. Cf. St John 16:8, where the word however is rendered _reprove_. For an instan... [ Continue Reading ]
_and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest_ The nature of Christian _prophecy_is here plainly shewn. See note on 1 Corinthians 14:1. -And thus" is omitted by most modern editors. _that God is in you of a truth_ Literally, that God is REALLY in you (or AMONG you). This description of the ef... [ Continue Reading ]
Regulations to insure decency and order 26. _hath a psalm_ The Apostle here reproves another fault. Not only are the Corinthians ambitious rather of the gifts which attract attention, than of those which do good to others, but in their exercise of those gifts they are utterly neglectful of Church or... [ Continue Reading ]
_let it be by two, or at the most by three_ Because the long utterance in an unknown tongue would weary the Church without a sufficient corresponding benefit. _and that by course_ Literally, AND IN TURN. _and let one interpret_ Let there be one, and only one, interpreter of each speech; for if the... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the church_ These words imply that the utterance was to be reserved until the speaker found himself in private, since in the Church it could only serve for an opportunity of useless display.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let the prophets speak two or three_ The same rule was to hold good of preaching. Those who felt that they had something to communicate must notwithstanding be governed by the desire to edify their brethren. The Church was not to be wearied out by an endless succession of discourses, good indeed in... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any thing be revealed to another_ If it should appear that some special message from God had been sent to one of the prophets during the discourse of another, the first was to bring his discourse to an end as soon as might be, in an orderly manner, so as to give the other an opportunity of sayin... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ye may all prophesy one by one_ Not necessarily at _the same_meeting of the Church, which would be in contradiction to what has just been said (1 Corinthians 14:29), nor that the permission was extended to the whole Christian body. _All_were not prophets, the Apostle tells us (ch. 1 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets_ The possession of a special gift from on high has, from Montanus in the second century down to our own times, been supposed to confer on its possessor an immunity from all control, whether exercised by himself or others, and to entitle hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace_ Confusion; literally, UNSETTLEMENT. Cf. St James 3:16. Also St Luke 21:9, where the word is rendered _commotion_. As in the natural, so in the moral and spiritual world, God is a God of order. The forces of nature operate by laws which are impli... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let your women keep silence in the churches_ The position of women in Christian assemblies is now decided on the principles laid down in ch. 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians 11:7-9. _as also saith the law_ In Genesis 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_let them ask their husbands at home_ Rather, -their OWN husbands." The women were not only not permitted to teach (see 1 Timothy 2:11-14) but even to ask questions in Church, a privilege, says. Grotius, permitted to men, but denied to women, among the Jews. It seems to be assumed that the unmarried... [ Continue Reading ]
_What? came the word of God out from you?_ The self-assertion of the Corinthians was so great that they needed to be reminded that they had received the doctrine of Christ through the ministry of St Paul, and that it had not originated among themselves. _or came it unto you only?_ i.e. to you _alon... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any man think himself to be a prophet_ Since there were many appointed teachers (see ch. 1 Corinthians 12:28-29) who were not prophets, the test of the prophetic character was not ordination, but the possession of the prophetic gift. If any man fancied he possessed that gift, he was required to... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant_ Some editors read - _he is ignored_" instead of - _let him be ignorant_." If we take the reading in the text, which seems preferable, the sense is that St Paul will give himself no further trouble about one whose insubordination proves him to be no r... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore, brethren_ The Apostle, as is his wont, sums up the whole section in a few concluding words. Prophecy is a gift to be earnestly sought (see for _covet_, the note on ch. 1 Corinthians 12:31). Speaking with tongues is a gift not to be discouraged.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let all things be done decently and in order_ Rather, - ONLY LET," &c. For _decently_see Romans 13:13, where the same word is translated _honestly_. Also 1 Thessalonians 4:12, and ch. 1 Corinthians 12:23, where a word of similar derivation occurs, and is translated _comeliness_. In ch. 1 Corinthian... [ Continue Reading ]