_PROPHESY IS COMMENDED, AND PREFERRED BEFORE SPEAKING WITH TONGUES, BY A COMPARISON DRAWN FROM MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. BOTH MUST BE REFERRED TO EDIFICATION, AS TO THEIR TRUE AND PROPER END. THE TRUE USE OF EACH IS TAUGHT, AND THE ABUSE CENSURED. WOMEN ARE FORBIDDEN TO SPEAK IN THE CHURCH._ _Anno Domi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOW AFTER CHARITY, AND DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, &C.— Or, _pursue,_ &c. St. Paul,in this chapter, concludes his answer to the Corinthians concerning spiritual men and their gifts; and having told them that those were most to be preferred which tended most to edification, and particularly shewn that... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE THAT SPEAKETH, &C.— "He that speaks in a tongue unknown in the auditory which he addresses, speaks in effect not to men, but to God; and as God alone knows the truth and importance of what he says, it is all lost on the audience, though he speaks in the Spirit the most sublime mysteries." Dr.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT PROPHESIETH, &C.— That is, "Whereas he that prophesieth, in the sense in which I now use the word, i.e. discourses of divine things in a known language, _speaketh to men,_ and affords them edification, and exhortation and comfort, according to the particular tenor and contents of what he... [ Continue Reading ]
IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE.— By γλωσση, _tongue,_ Dr. Lightfoot, in this chapter, understands the _Hebrew_ tongue; which, he observes, was used in the synagogue in reading the scripture, in praying, and in preaching. "If that be the meaning of_tongue_ here, says Mr. Locke, it suits well with the Apostle's... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD THAT YE ALL SPAKE WITH TONGUES.— How happily does the Apostle teach us to estimate the value of gifts and talents, not by their brilliancy, but usefulness. _Speaking with tongues_ was, indeed, very serviceable for spreading the gospel abroad; but for those who staid at home, it was much more... [ Continue Reading ]
BY REVELATION, OR BY KNOWLEDGE, &C.— It is not to be doubted that the four distinct terms here used bythe Apostle had each its distinct signification in his mind and intention. Whether what may be collected from these epistles will sufficiently warrant us to understand them in the following signific... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE ARE, IT MAY BE, &C.— _There are, for example, many different languages in the world, and all are significant,_ 1 Corinthians 14:11. _But if I do not understand the language, I shall be, with regard to him that uses it, as a foreigner, and he will be so to me,_ 1 Corinthians 14:12. _Since then... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE LET HIM THAT SPEAKETH, &C.— If therefore any of you be fond of speaking languages, by a miraculous power, which he himself was before a stranger to, and which those who have not learnt it can make nothing of; let him beg of God, that, when he comes among such people, he may also be enabled... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS UNFRUITFUL.— "My meaning is unprofitable to others, who understand not my words." See 1 Corinthians 14:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL PRAY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO.— That is, according to Mr. Locke, "When moved to it by the Spirit, I will pray in an unknown tongue; but so that my meaning may be understood by others;" that is to say, "I will not do it but when there is some one by to interpret." I will not pretend, says M... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT OCCUPIETH, &C.— Or, _he that is one of the unlearned._ Dr. Heylin reads, _How shall a hearer, who knows only his own tongue, say,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK WITH TONGUES MORE, &C.— The occasion shews, that the Apostle considered this acquirement as a spiritual gift; and his using the present time shews that he spoke of it as then in his possession. But why did he _speak with more tongues than all of them?_—For a good reason: he was the peculiar... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT CHILDREN IN UNDERSTANDING:— This is an admirable stroke of true oratory, adapted to humble their spirits, by representing those things in which they were most ready to pride themselves, as comparatively little. The word u957?ηπιαζετε refers to _infants,_ and is not sufficiently expressed by t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LAW IT IS WRITTEN,— In the law, here, means the Old Testament, Isaiah 28:11 where God has been complaining of the unteachable disposition of the Jews. Instead of, _with men of other lips,_ some read, _surely in foreign language, and with foreign lips,_ &c. Most critics refer the words, as the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THUS ARE THE SECRETS, &C.— "In a manner to him very surprising and unaccountable; insomuch that sometimes a person who comes into your assembly out of mere curiosity, or possibly with some ill design, is not able to command himself under the impression which the word ofGod thus spoken makes upon... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY ONE OF YOU HATH A PSALM,— _Is ready with a psalm, with a doctrine,_ &c. Locke. It seems probable, that some of these Christians were so full of themselves, and so desirous of exercising their respective gifts, that, without waiting for the permission and direction of him who presided in the as... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN SPEAK, &C.— St. Paul has said in this chapter as much as conveniently could be said, to restrain their speaking in an unknown tongue in their assemblies; which seems to be that particular wherein the vanity and ostentation of the Corinthians was most forward to shew themselves. "It is not... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT, IF THERE BE NO INTERPRETER,— The miracle which conferred the gift of tongues, seems to have been the instantaneous impressing on the mind the familiar and perfect knowledge of a language, with which the person was before unacquainted; yet so that from that time the person receiving it should be... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE FIRST HOLD HIS PEACE.— Some think that the word σαγατω here should be rendered, _have done speaking;_ for if the direction had been, "Let him that was speaking immediately hold his peace, as soon as another intimates that he has a revelation," it would have introduced a confusion which this... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT ALL MAY LEARN,— _Yet so as all may learn._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT, &C.— Those who were actuated by the Holy Spirit, in the very moment of inspiration, still retained the free use of themselves,andcontinuedmastersoftheirrationalandpersuasivefaculties.Butitwas just the contrary with the heathen oracles. The Delphic prophetess... [ Continue Reading ]
LET YOUR WOMEN KEEP SILENCE— "As to your women, let them keep silence in your assemblies: for it is not permitted them to discourse there, or pretend to teach: that no way suits the state of subjection appointed them in the law. See Genesis 3:16. But if they have a mind to have any thing explained t... [ Continue Reading ]
OR SPIRITUAL,— The _spiritual man,_ in St. Paul's sense, in this place, is one who founds his knowledge in what is revealed by the Spirit of God, and not in the bare discoveries of his natural reason and parts. See ch. 1 Corinthians 2:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN BE IGNORANT,— By the _any man,_ mentioned in this and the foregoing verse, St. Paul seems particularly to intimate the false apostle, who pretended to give laws among them, and may well be supposed to be the author of these disorders; whom therefore St. Paul censures, and presses in these... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, BRETHREN, COVET TO PROPHESY, &C.— "Therefore, to conclude all that I have been saying on these points, my advice to you, brethren, is, that you be earnestly desirous of obtaining and exercising the gift of prophesy, as the most excellent in itself, and most profitable to the church, of al... [ Continue Reading ]
LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY— "Especially remember this great comprehensive rule, to be applied to a thousand varieties which may arise, _Let all things be done decently, and according to order;_ let _all_ be conducted in a regular manner, to prevent such disturbances, disputes, and scandals for... [ Continue Reading ]