Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:4

ἑαυτὸν οἰκοδομεῖ. Not necessarily because he understands what he is saying, but because his spirit, stirred up by the Spirit of God, is led by the experience of the inward emotion to praise God. Estius. See 1 Corinthians 14:14.

ὁ δὲ προφητεύων. The profit of the brethren is ever St Paul’s object. Cf. 1 Corinthians 14:6; 1 Corinthians 14:12; ch. 1 Corinthians 6:12, &c. Prophecy is to be preferred to the gift of tongues because it is more directly useful. See note, ch. 1 Corinthians 12:28.

ἐκκλησίαν. The article is omitted here, just as we say ‘in Parliament,’ ‘at meeting,’ ‘in synod,’ and the like. These, however, are more parallel to ἐκκλησία with a preposition (see 1 Corinthians 14:19; 1 Corinthians 14:35). Our expression ‘dissolve Parliament,’ however, is an instance in point.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:4

Old Testament

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