1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 14 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 Prophecy, for its greater tendency to edification, is preferred before speaking with tongues. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:6 Tongues not understood, like indistinct musical sounds, are of no service to the hearers. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:12 All gifts should be referred to e... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE THAT SPEAKETH IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE; by a _tongue_ (for _unkown_ is not in the Greek, but necessarily added by our translators, for he speaketh of such a language) he meaneth a language not known to all, or at least not to the most of them that hear him. It may be asked, what unknown language... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAKETH UNTO MEN; that is, to the understanding of men, and for the good and profit of men. TO EDIFICATION; for their increase in knowledge and all habits of grace. AND EXHORTATION; to quicken them in the exercise and practice of such duties as God hath, in his word, required of, them. AND COMFORT;... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SPEAKETH IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE EDIFIETH HIMSELF; knowledge or understanding of the things that any man speaketh, is necessary to the improvement of them, by their being a means to promote faith and love; for how shall what men say in the least promote, either my faith in God or Christ, or my... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD, in this place, signifies no more than either I could wish, or I could be content that you could all speak with tongues, if God pleased. It should seem by this speech of the apostle s, that this speaking in unknown tongues was that extraordinary gift, which, above all others, this church, or... [ Continue Reading ]
God hath given me an ability to speak with tongues; suppose I should come to you speaking in the Arabian, Scythian, or Parthian language, what good would it do you? How should it any way PROFIT YOU, EXCEPT I SHALL SPEAK TO YOU EITHER BY REVELATION, OR BY KNOWLEDGE, OR BY PROPHESYING, OR BY DOCTRINE?... [ Continue Reading ]
In the sounds which are artificially made by the use of wind music, or other music, nothing could be understood, if art had not also devised a distinction in the sounds; that one sound should signify one thing, another sound should signify another thing: so unless the voice of the teacher be signifi... [ Continue Reading ]
The trumpet is made use of in battles, and that variously; it is used to give soldiers notice to march on against the enemy, and also to sound a retreat: if there were not a distinction in the one sound, and in the other, how should the soldier know when to go forward, and when to come back, by the... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; By logon eushmon is meant words which signify well to those that hear them; for words may be significant enough in themselves, yet nothing at all significant to them that hear them, being unlearned; such sounds of words can contribute nothing to people's knowledge, but are so much lost labo... [ Continue Reading ]
_ The whole earth was_ originally _of one language, and of one speech,_ GENESIS 11:1; but upon the building of Babel, GENESIS 11:7, God confounded their languages, so as they did not understand one another. They being scattered abroad, had different languages; so as now there are in the world many l... [ Continue Reading ]
But if a man doth not understand the language, the words are not significant unto him, I shall neither understand him, nor will he understand me; for a barbarian cannot understand one of another nation, till he hath learned the language of that nation; nor can a man of another nation understand a ba... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; This proves that the members of the church of Corinth were very ambitious of SPIRITUAL GIFTS. The particle outw, which our translation here renders _so, _ plainly signifies therefore in this place. In the Greek it is, because, or FORASMUCH AS YE ARE ZEALOUS OF spirits; the efficient is put... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; To INTERPRET here signifieth no more, than to render that intelligible to people, which he first uttereth in an unknown tongue. But what need he _pray_ for that? Hath not every man that can speak a power to speak his native language, as well as a foreign language? Some say, therefore, that i... [ Continue Reading ]
From this and the former verse, the papists would justify the lawfulness of their Latin service, which none or few of the common people understand; and they seem to have a little advantage from the opinion of some of the ancients: That some of those who spake with tongues, did not themselves underst... [ Continue Reading ]
What is to be done then? I WILL (saith the apostle) PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT; that is, either use the extraordinary influences of the Spirit of God upon me; or with my own spirit, with the inward attention of my thoughts, and the utmost intension of my mind, and the greatest devotion and fervour of affe... [ Continue Reading ]
ELSE WHEN THOU SHALT BLESS WITH THE SPIRIT: blessing is expounded in the latter part of the verse, _giving of thanks_ to God, which is either in prayer, (for thanksgiving is a part of prayer), or in singing of psalms. Blessing _with the spirit_ either signifieth giving of thanks with the inward man,... [ Continue Reading ]
Otherwise, saith the apostle, it is possible that thou mayst give thanks well; but others get no good by it, nor can make any good and spiritual improvement of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour, in the parable of the good shepherd, gives us this as his character, that the sheep hear his voice, and follow him, 1 THESSALONIANS 10:4; and we shall observe this great apostle every where propounding himself for imitation to them. They are bad shepherds over God's flock, that must onl... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet he had so great a regard to the end of his ministry, teaching others, and communicating Divine knowledge to them, that he had rather speak a little tending to that end, than never so much in a language which those to whom he spake did not understand.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT CHILDREN IN UNDERSTANDING; in understanding the differences of gifts, and which are more excellent, or of the right use of gifts. HOWBEIT IN MALICE BE YE CHILDREN, BUT IN UNDERSTANDING BE MEN; you are commanded indeed in something to be like little children, MATTHEW 28:3, but it is not to be... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LAW IT IS WRITTEN: by _the law_ here is meant the Old Testament, (as in many other texts, 1 THESSALONIANS 10:34, 1 THESSALONIANS 15:25), so called (as some think) in opposition to the words of the scribes. The words following are quoted out of ISAIAH 28:11,12: _For with stammering lips and an... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN, &C.; that is, an eminent product of Divine providence for the confirmation of the truth of the doctrine of the gospel; signifying that the doctrine which was so delivered in every nation's language, must be from heaven, from whence the first ministers must have thei... [ Continue Reading ]
BE COME TOGETHER INTO ONE PLACE; the phrase signifieth to one place, or for one and the same work; the first seemeth to be meant here by what followeth. AND ALL SPEAK WITH TONGUES: some think that the apostle here, by all speaking with tongues, understands all, or many of them, confusedly talking to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF ALL PROPHESY: _all_ here certainly is not to be understood of every one in the assembly, for all were not prophets, 1 CORINTHIANS 12:29, nor could the speaking of a great number be judged orderly by the light of nature: it here must signify any, one or more, successively, interpret or apply t... [ Continue Reading ]
God either, by an extraordinary providence, discovering to him that prophesieth the secrets of such a sinner's heart, and causing him that prophesieth to make them manifest; or, by a more ordinary providence, (often experienced at this day), directing the preacher to such subjects and discourses, as... [ Continue Reading ]
By what followeth in the two next verses, one would think that some of them, in their church meetings, were so absurd, as, being endued with several gifts, they would be using them all together, one singing, another preaching, a third speaking with tongues, &c.; but this is so apparent a confusion,... [ Continue Reading ]
Concerning the use of their gift of tongues, he directeth three things: 1. That every one that had it should not be ambitious to show it at all times, but TWO OR THREE AT MOST at a time. 2. That they should do it BY COURSE, not together, confusedly. 3. Not without ONE to INTERPRET, that people mi... [ Continue Reading ]
If he hath a mind to use this gift, he may use it TO GOD, who understands all languages, by _himself; _ but LET HIM KEEP SILENCE in the assembly of Christians, where he is not understood.... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, two or three successively, the one beginning to speak when the others have done, and two or three at the same church assembly; and if there be more present, let them sit still and judge of the truth of what he saith.... [ Continue Reading ]
There were two modes or sorts of prophecies; the one ordinary, when the teacher came to those assemblies furnished with a revelation from some previous impression of God upon him, enabling him to give the sense of some scripture, or to open some Divine truth; not as we are, but by some influence of... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye may not all prophesy in the same day, or hour, or moment of time, but orderly and successively YE MAY ALL PROPHESY, the end of it being for the instruction and consolation of all; which may mind you so to govern yourselves in the exercise of that gift, as not to lose your end, BUT THAT ALL MAY LE... [ Continue Reading ]
By THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS the apostle either meaneth their spiritual gifts, as to the use and exercise of them, and the actions to be done by them; or, the actions themselves, or interpretations pretendedly done and given by the exercise of those gifts, their doctrines; or, that instinct, or im... [ Continue Reading ]
Here he showeth the principle upon which he said, that _the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets:_ what any prophets speak is not so certain, or at least not more certain, than this, that nothing which is CONFUSION can be from God. Now, for two or three to speak together in a public a... [ Continue Reading ]
This rule must be restrained to ordinary prophesyings; for certainly, if the Spirit of prophecy came upon a woman in the church, she might speak. Anna, who was a prophetess, in the temple _gave thanks to the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem,_ LUKE 2:38: and... [ Continue Reading ]
This must be understood of speaking to the congregation, for the instructing them, or speaking in the congregation to the minister, or any of the people, for her own instruction, for the woman might, doubtless, say Amen to the public prayers, and also sing with the congregation to the honour and glo... [ Continue Reading ]
These words look like a smart reflection upon divers members of this church of Corinth, who thought themselves wiser than all the world besides; and the apostle might foresee, that out of the high opinion they had of themselves they would much contemn and slight his directions. He therefore asks the... [ Continue Reading ]
If there be any amongst you who hath a conceit that he is inspired by God, and from that inspiration understandeth the mind and will of God, he must acknowledge, that I also am an apostle, and know the mind and will of God as well as he; and being so, that what I tell you ARE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
If any one will pretend ignorance in this, he is wilfully ignorant; for my own part, I will concern myself no further about him, but leave myself and him also to the judgment of God; LET HIM BE IGNORANT. In some copies it is, he shall not be known: in the day of judgment Christ shalt say unto him: D... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle concludeth his discourse, summarily repeating all that he before had said. He had, 1 CORINTHIANS 14:2, encouraged their desire of spiritual gifts; all along the chapter he hath been magnifying the gift of prophecy above the gift of tongues, as being of much more general use, and more for... [ Continue Reading ]
He forbade them not to speak with tongues, provided they did it decently and orderly, as all other things ought to be done in so grave an assembly as that of the church, and so grave an action as the worship of God. For women to prophesy in the public assemblies, was an indecent thing; he had said,... [ Continue Reading ]