1 Corinthians 14:14-20

§ 46. THE ΝΟΥΣ THE NEEDED ALLY OF THE ΠΝΕΥΜΑ. In § 44 the Ap. has insisted on edification as the end and mark of God's gifts to His Church, and in § 45 on intelligibility as a condition necessary thereto. Now the faculty of intelligence is the νοῦς; and we are thus brought to see that for a profitable conduct of worship, and for a sane and sound Church life (1 Corinthians 14:14; 1 Corinthians 14:17 ff., 1 Corinthians 14:23), the understanding must be in exercise: it is a vehicle indispensable (1 Corinthians 14:14 f.) to the energies of the spirit. On this point P. is at one with the men of Gnosis at Cor [2078]; he discountenances all assumptions made in the name of “the Spirit” that offend against sober judgment (1 Corinthians 14:20). This passage, in a sense, counterbalances 1 Corinthians 1:18 to 1 Corinthians 2:5; it shows how far the Ap. is from approving a blind fanaticism or irrational mysticism, when he exalts the Gospel at the expense of “the wisdom of the world”.

[2078] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.