1 Corinthians 14:7-13

§ 45. UTTERANCE USELESS WITHOUT CLEAR SENSE. P. has just asked what the Cor [2034] would think of him, if in their present need he came exhibiting his power as a speaker with Tongues, but without a word of prophetic inspiration or wise teaching to offer. Such speech would be a mockery to the hearers. This holds good of sound universally, when considered as a means of communication in the case, e.g., of lifeless instruments, the flute and lyre with their modulated notes, or the military trumpet with its varied signals (1 Corinthians 14:7 f.); so with articulate speech, in its numberless dialects. To the instructed ear every syllable carries a meaning; to the foreigner it is gibberish (1 Corinthians 14:10 f.). Just as useless are the Tongues in the Church without interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:9; 1 Corinthians 14:12 f.).

[2034] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.