Follow after charity, and desire spiritual _gifts_, but rather that ye may prophesy. Ver. 1. _Follow after charity_] Διωκετε, follow it hot-foot, as they say; pursue and practise it. It is more than to desire or to be zealous of a thing, as it follows in the next words, Ζηλουτε, "Be zealous of spir... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that speaketh in an _unknown_ tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth _him_; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. Ver. 2. _In an unknown tongue_] So they that preach in a kind of a Roman English, and not in a low language to the people's capacity. _ But... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men _to_ edification, and exhortation, and comfort. Ver. 3. _To edification, to exhortation_] These three ends every preacher ought to propound to himself: 1. Edification in knowledge and holiness. 2. Exhortation, that is, reprehension and admonition. 3. Consol... [ Continue Reading ]
He that speaketh in an _unknown_ tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. Ver. 4. _Edifieth the Church_] Therefore prophecy is the more worthy, because profitable. _Prodesse melius quam praeesse._... [ Continue Reading ]
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater _is_ he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Ver. 5. _I would that ye all spake with tongues_] Gr. "I will." He here prefers prophesying (whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? Ver. 6. _If I come unto you, &c._] This you would not like in me. And is that _Venus in Caio_ Venus in Gaius, that... [ Continue Reading ]
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? Ver. 7. _Except they give a distinction_] _Unisono nihil auribus molestius._ Discords in music make the best harmony. Through all Turkey ther... [ Continue Reading ]
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? Ver. 8. _For if the trumpet_] Similes are excellent for illustration, and must be fetched from things familiar.... [ Continue Reading ]
So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. Ver. 9. _Ye shall speak into the air_] You shall lose your labour, and may as well keep your breath to cool your broth.... [ Continue Reading ]
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them _is_ without signification. Ver. 10. _So many kinds of voices_] Seventy-two material languages, they say.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh _shall be_ a barbarian unto me. Ver. 11. _A barbarian_] So the Grecians called all nations that spoke not their language. It is reported that nowhere in this day is spoken more barb... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual _gifts_, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Ver. 12. _To the edifying of the Church_] Clouds when full pour down, and the presses overflow, and the aromatic trees sweat out their precious and sovereign oils; and every learned s... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an _unknown_ tongue pray that he may interpret. Ver. 13. _Pray that he may interpret_] Pope Innocent III never prayed thus; for he said, that the Church decreed the service in an unknown tongue, _Ne sacrosaneta verba vilescerent, _ lest the holy words should be un... [ Continue Reading ]
For if I pray in an _unknown_ tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. Ver. 14. _Is unfruitful_] In regard of others' edification. It were a great grace, said Lambert the martyr, if we might have the word of God diligently and often spoken and sung unto us in such wise, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Ver. 15. _I will pray with understanding_] To an effectual prayer there must concur _intentio et affectus, _ the intention of the mind... [ Continue Reading ]
Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? Ver. 16. _Say Amen_] This the apostle reckons for a great loss. The poor misled and muzzled Papists are enjoined not to j... [ Continue Reading ]
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. Ver. 17. _But the other is not edified_] This we should all labour, viz. to edify others. Synesius speaks of some, who having a treasure of tongues and other abilities in them, would as soon part with their hearts as their meditation... [ Continue Reading ]
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Ver. 18. _I thank my God, &c._] Skill in tongues is, as now, a great blessing. Indeed at first when men began θεομαχειν, to fight against God, they were compelled λογομαχειν, to babble in divers languages, 72, as Epiphanius affirmeth. But God h... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that _by my voice_ I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an _unknown_ tongue. Ver. 19. _In an unknown tongue_] A Parisian doctor tells us that though the apostle would have God's service to be celebrated in a kno... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. Ver. 20. _Be not children_] _Mentibus scilicet, sed moribus, Matthew 18:3_. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 18:3 _"_ In malice be ye children] In innocence and ignoscence. _ In understanding be men_] I... [ Continue Reading ]
In the law it is written, With _men of_ other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Ver. 21. _With men of other tongnes_] God threatened the Jews, that since they would not hearken to their own prophets, they should hear fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying _serveth_ not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. Ver. 22. _But for them which believe_] To confirm and comfort believers; this is the chief end of preaching. Let this comfor... [ Continue Reading ]
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in _those that are_ unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? Ver. 23. _Will they not say ye are mad?_] And may they not say as much if we jangle and dissent in opinion, one... [ Continue Reading ]
But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or _one_ unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: Ver. 24. _He is convinced of all_] God smiteth the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips doth he slay the wicked, Isaiah 11:4. By his word he te... [ Continue Reading ]
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on _his_ face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. Ver. 25. _The secrets of his heart_] God's word is a curious critic, Hebrews 4:12; "a discerner of the thoughts," &c. It finds and ferrets out secret... [ Continue Reading ]
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. Ver. 26. _Let all things, &c._] There is edifying even in appointing of fit Psalms.... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man speak in an _unknown_ tongue, _let it be_ by two, or at the most _by_ three, and _that_ by course; and let one interpret. Ver. 27. _Or at the most by three_] Lest the hearers be tired out. Our infirmity will not suffer any long intention, either of body or mind. Long services can hardly... [ Continue Reading ]
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Ver. 28. _Let him keep silence_] Such as stuff their sermons with Greek and Latin are here silenced, further than they interpret the same. If thou canst help my hearers to Greek and Latin e... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. Ver. 29. _Let the other judge_] But is not this a disparagement to the prophets? may some say: no, but an honour. 1 Thessalonians 5:20,21, after "despise not prophesying," he subjoineth, "try all things.... [ Continue Reading ]
If _any thing_ be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. Ver. 30. _That sitteth by_] And is extraordinarily inspired and qualified; a little otherwise than our enthusiasts, that brag of their _lumen propheticum, _ light of prophecy.... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. Ver. 31. _That all may learn_] The most learned may learn something by the discourses of others less learned than themselves. Apollos, a learned teacher, may yet be taught by a tentmaker. The Jewish rabbins acknowledg... [ Continue Reading ]
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. Ver. 32. _Are subject to the prophets_] To be scanned and examined: which they should not be, unless they took their turns in course to prophesy. _Eloquere, _ said one, _ut quid sis videam:_ Speak, that I may see what is in thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
For God is not _the author_ of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Ver. 33. _Not the author of confusion_] _Nec author, nec fautor._ Unquiet spirits are of the devil, who keeps ado, and fills the Church with confusion by his turbulent agents and emissaries, sowing sedition an... [ Continue Reading ]
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but _they are commanded_ to be under obedience, as also saith the law. Ver. 34. _Let your women, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Rom 16:1 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. Ver. 35. _Ask their husbands_] Who therefore must dwell with them according to knowledge, 1 Peter 3:7, and be manly guides unto them in the way to heaven. The master's breast m... [ Continue Reading ]
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? Ver. 36. _What? came the word, &c._] As if he should say (and he saith it with some displeasure), Are ye the first, or the only Christians? are ye too good to be admonished? take heed lest your arrogance and high spiritedness lay yo... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. Ver. 37. _The commandment_] And therefore to be obeyed by the best of you. _Aut faciendum, aut patiendum: Aut poenitendum, aut pereundum._ Either do it... [ Continue Reading ]
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Ver. 38. _But if any man be ignorant, &c._] If stubbornly ignorant and uncounsellable; let him take his own course. I have cleared the truth in things now controverted, and there I rest me. Who so blind as he that will not see? such put not light und... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Ver. 39. _Wherefore, brethren_] This he adds as a corollary, to prevent mistakes, as if that he were an enemy either to prophecy or tongues, so soberly and orderly used. _Arbitror nonnullos in quibusdam locis librorum meo... [ Continue Reading ]
Let all things be done decently and in order. Ver. 40. _Let all things, &c._] A general rule of great moment. In things both real and ritual decency and order must be observed in Church meetings. For this the Colossians are much commended, Colossians 2:5. Our Saviour caused the people whom he had f... [ Continue Reading ]