Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

1 Corinthians 14:22-25

1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 Corinthians 14:22 Thus tongues are a sign... for unbelievers. As in Isaiah 28:11, quoted in 1 Corinthians 14:21, uninterpreted tongues are a negative sign of God’s judgment on the unbelieving: unbelievers may conclude from hearing uninterpreted tongues that Christians are out of their minds and may therefore leave the church, never to return. prophecy is a sign... for believers. Prophecy primarily benefits believers. It also convicts the unbeliever. It exposes the secrets of his heart and causes him to worship God. This, in turn, shows the believers that God is at work among them.

⇐ ⇔ ⇒
Continues after advertising

See also 1 Corinthians 14:22-25 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 22. _WHEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN_] The miraculous gift of tongues was never designed for the benefit of those who have already _believed_, but for the instruction of _unbelievers_, that th...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHEREFORE - Thus, (Ὥστε Hōste), or wherefore. The apostle does not mean to say that what he was about to state was a direct conclusion from the passage of Scripture which he had quoted, but that it...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    4. PROPHECY AND SPEAKING WITH A TONGUE. CHAPTER 14 _ 1. Prophecy the better gift. (1 Corinthians 14:1 .)_ 2. Intelligibility demanded. (1 Corinthians 14:14 .) 3. Practical instructions for the publ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    Such over-valuing of tongues reveals an infantile intelligence (a sharp thrust for a church so rich in intellectuals); only in malice is it proper to be babes. Scripture announces that the Lord will s...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE FALSE AND THE TRUE WORSHIP (1 Corinthians 14:1-19)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Brothers, don't be childish in your judgment. True, you must be innocent babes as far as evil goes, but in your judgments you must be mature men. In the law it stands written, "With people of a foreig...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SIGN. App-176. BELIEVE. App-150. BELIEVE NOT. are unbelieving. Greek. _apistos._ See App-150. _ SERVETH_. _is_....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not_ The passage here quoted has been regarded as a prophecy either (1) of the Day of Pentecost, or (2) of the Bab...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1 Corinthians 14:1-25. THE SUPERIORITY OF THE GIFT OF PROPHECY OVER THAT OF TONGUES...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΕἸΣ ΣΗΜΕΙ͂ΟΝ. The passage here quoted has been regarded as a prophecy either (1) of the Day of Pentecost, or (2) of the Babylonish captivity. The latter is more probable, and in that case it becomes n...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _TONGUES MIGHT BRING REPROACH - 1 CORINTHIANS 14:20-25:_ Paul said the brethren at Corinth were acting like children when it came to the matter of spiritual gifts. They had shown malice toward each ot...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΏΣΤΕ (G5620) следовательно. Это вывод из предыдущего, ΕΙΣ (G1530) с гл. ΕΙΜΊ может иметь семитское значение: "служить в качестве" (BD, 80; но также _см._ Barrett), ΣΗΜΕΪ́ΌΝ (G897) _асс._ знамение....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    APPLEBURY'S COMMENTS _Rules For Using Spiritual Gifts_ (20-40) _Text_ 1 Corinthians 14:20-40. Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men. 21 In the law it is wr...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 2 Proving by Tongues (1 Corinthians 14:13-25) 13 Therefore, he who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays b...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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. Thus from Isaiah it appe...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    11 The time came when the apostle admonished and taught in order that he should present every man _ mature _ in Christ (Col_1:28). Epaphras struggled in prayers that they should stand mature and compl...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    TONGUES] were valuable to unbelievers as a sign of the Spirit's presence, but not for believers, who already were convinced of it, and who could appreciate prophecy....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    _(e) Spiritual Gifts (iii) The Gift of Tongues subordinate to Prophecy_ The Apostle in this chapter deals with the abuse of the gift of tongues which characterised the Corinthians, and declares that i...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    SERVANTS OF CHRIST 1 CORINTHIANS _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 14 *PROPHECY AND TONGUES 14:1-40 1. THE EFFECT OF *PROPHECY 14:1-5 V1 Follow the way of love. You should be eager to have the gifts of th...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN, NOT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE. — This is not an interpretation of the prophecy alluded to in the previous verse, but St. Paul now returns to the gift of “tongues” as exist...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IN THE LAW IT IS WRITTEN. — The preceding teaching is illustrated and enforced by an appeal to Jewish history. The Old Testament as a whole was not infrequently thus designated “the Law.” (See John 10...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 20 SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND PUBLIC WORSHIP Is the first twenty-five verses of this chapter Paul gives his estimate of the comparative value of the two chief spiritual gifts: speaking with tongues...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    § 47. THE STRANGE TONGUES AN OCCASION OF UNBELIEF. The Ap. has striven to wean the Cor [2122] from their childish admiration of the Tongues by showing how unedifying they are in comparison with Prophe...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The real point of the above citation from Isaiah comes out in ὥστε αἱ γλῶσσαι εἰς σημεῖόν κ. τ. λ., “And so the tongues are for a sign not to the believing, but to the unbelievers” _sc_. to “those who...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    UNDERSTANDING PROMOTES EDIFYING 1 Corinthians 14:13 The Apostle here gives two practical directions, in order to restore the rule of the understanding above the babble of incoherent sounds, which wa...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The apostle now submitted certain gifts to the test of love. Prophesying is desirable because it edifies others. Then as to Tongues. It was a gift that enabled men to speak to God, perhaps in prayer,...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Tongues, A Sign to Unbelievers Paul appealed to the members of Christ's family at Corinth to quit being like children desiring the prettiest gift. Instead, he wanted them to be like men using good ju...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (10) 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. (10) The conclusion...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers, according to what the law (under which he comprehends the prophet Isaias, xxviii. 11.) said: In other tongues, and other lips, I will spea...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “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.” At the first glance one m...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (16) 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? (17) For thou ver...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    As usual, the introductory words (1 Corinthians 1:1-3) of the epistle give us no little intimation of that which is to follow. The apostle speaks of himself as such "called [to be] an apostle of Jesus...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    22._Therefore tongues are for a sign _This passage may be explained in two ways, by considering the word _therefore _as referring merely to the preceding sentence, or as having a bearing generally on...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Two Verses in this Chapter 14 demand a little attention (1 Corinthians 14:1-2 the 3rd and the 6th (1 Corinthians 14:3; 1 Corinthians 14:6). Verse 3 ...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WHEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN,.... Of wrath and punishment inflicted on a rebellious and unbelieving people, and not of grace and kindness, as prophesying, or speaking to them by the prophets, was;...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 w...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Wherefore_ Since this was formerly threatened by God as a punishment, you should not so admire or magnify it, especially since _tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe_ Not to convince, edif...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Strange tongues may become dangerous:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Chapter 12 has shown the placing of every gift in its own place in the body by the Spirit of God. Chapter 13 insists on love as the pervading influence for unity and peace in the functioning of the bo...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    WHEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR. SIGN, NOT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE, BUT TO THE UNBELIEVING: BUT PROPHESYING IS FOR. SIGN, NOT TO THE UNBELIEVING, BUT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE. 'Wherefore' -based on the previous...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-25 There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    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 deliv...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe. [The Old Testament generally is oft...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Corinthians 14:22 Therefore G5620 tongues G1100 are G1526 (G5748) for G1519 sign G4592 not G3756 believe...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    'Wherefore (‘so that') tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving. But prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.' The ‘wherefore' (so t...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE GATHERINGS OF GOD'S PEOPLE (14:1-40). Having raised us up to heaven Paul now brings us abruptly back to earth as he continues to advise on the use of spiritual gifts....

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Corinthians 14:22. WHEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN, NOT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE, BUT TO THE UNBELIEVING who, on hearing their own language spoken by those who themselves understood it not, would be fi...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    FOR A SIGN (εις σημειον). Like the Hebrew and occasional _Koine_ idiom also....

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Prophecy and speaking in tongues. The order of the ministry of this gift in the church. CHARACTERS: God, Holy Spirit, Paul. CONCLUSION: That is the best and most eligible gift which best an...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    What is the subject of this chapter? Does it refer to the constant manner in which worship was conducted in the primitive churches; or does it refer to the manner in which men possessed of secondary g...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    IS PROOF FOR UNBELIEVERS. This is the real point of the quotation in 1 Corinthians 14:21. Those who will not be _taught_ by God through understandable language, will become fixed in their unbelief and...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER XIV SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He puts prophecy before the gift of tongues, because (_a_) it is of great use in edifying others, and tongues are not, unless some one interpret; (_b_) because...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _Wherefore tongues are for a sign... to them that believe not._ Viz., to the unbelieving Jews, both here and in Isaiah xxviii, rather than to the Gentiles. This sign must therefore not be used by the...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ 1 Corinthians 14:1. FOLLOW AFTER.—Taking up the thought of a “way,” 1 Corinthians 12:31; as this whole verse resumes the theme of 12, after the digression or episode of 13 “_Pursue_”...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 _The_ _gift of preaching superior to the gift_ _tongues_. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 FOLLOW AFTER CHARITY; literally, _chase; pursue. _The word is one of whi

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So Paul exhorts, Follow after love and desire spiritual (1 Corinthians 14:1), But rather, that you may prophecy. We were told to covet earnestly the best gifts. Now, again, he is saying the same thi...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 14:3; 1 Timothy 1:9; Acts 2:32; Acts 2:6; Mark 16:17...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    TALKING IN TONGUES 1 Corinthians 14:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The need for spiritual guidance in the matter of tongues. The church of today is beset by a group of people who very dogmatically assert t...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Tongues are intended for a sign to unbelievers — To engage their attention, and convince them the message is of God. Whereas prophecy is not so much for unbelievers, as for the confirmation of them th...

Continues after advertising