1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 EARNESTLY DESIRE. God gives spiritual gifts for the good of the church (see v. 1 Corinthians 14:12; 1 Corinthians 12:31). THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY. See note on 12:10. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:2 SPEAKS NOT TO MEN BUT TO GOD indicates that Paul views tongues as a form of prayer and praise in a language the speaker does not understand (contrast Acts 2:1). On tongues and prophecy, see note on 1 Cor. 12:10. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagNa... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:4 THE ONE WHO SPEAKS IN A TONGUE BUILDS UP HIMSELF because his spirit prays to God even though he does not understand what is said (see vv. 1 Corinthians 14:2, 1 Corinthians 14:14, 1 Corinthians 14:28). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:5 I WANT YOU ALL TO SPEAK IN TONGUES. Paul’s desire to set boundaries on speaking in tongues does not mean he thinks the Corinthians should abandon this gift. It builds up the individual who has it (v. 1 Corinthians 14:4) and, if interpreted, it builds up the... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:6 Paul uses several illustrations to show that speaking in tongues without interpretation does not strengthen the faith of anyone other than the speaker; such edification requires understanding. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:14 The comparison between MY SPIRIT and MY MIND shows that Paul is not speaking here of the Holy Spirit but of his own human spirit. “Spirit” in reference to human beings means an inner, invisible faculty that can be especially open to the things of God (see 1... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:16 WITH YOUR SPIRIT. That is, with your spirit only (in tongues) but not understanding with your mind (see note on v. 2). OUTSIDER. An interested inquirer into Christianity (see vv. 1 Corinthians 14:23). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getEle [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:18 TONGUES. See note on 12:10. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:20 Paul tells them not to speak in tongues in church without interpretation, for that would be acting like CHILDREN and not caring for the needs of others. Compare 1 Corinthians 3:1. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=im... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:21 Paul refers to Isaiah 28:11. There, God’s word of judgment against Israel is spoken in a foreign language. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:26 WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER. Worship in the early church included A HYMN, A LESSON, A REVELATION, A TONGUE, OR AN INTERPRETATION. The goal of BUILDING UP is like the building of the temple (see 1 Corinthians 3:16; compare Exodus 25:8). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:27 EACH IN TURN implies that those speaking in tongues could control themselves and take turns. AND LET SOMEONE INTERPRET could include either the person speaking in tongues (see v. 1 Corinthians 14:13) or someone else. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsB... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:28 AND SPEAK TO HIMSELF AND TO GOD means the speaker would use the gift of tongues privately in prayer. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:29 LET THE OTHERS WEIGH WHAT IS SAID. “The others” means the whole church, not just those with gifts of prophecy or discernment (see 1 Thessalonians 5:20; 1 John 4:1). Those who claimed to speak under the Spirit’s prompting could be mistaken. It was important f... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:32 THE SPIRITS OF PROPHETS. The Holy Spirit’s work through the prophets (see Revelation 3:1; Revelation 4:5 for similar usage). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:33 AS IN ALL THE CHURCHES OF THE SAINTS is connected to v. 1 Corinthians 14:34. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:34 THE WOMEN SHOULD KEEP SILENT IN THE CHURCHES. Since Paul seems to permit wives to pray and prophesy as long as they do not dishonor their husbands by the way they dress (1 Corinthians 11:5, 1 Corinthians 11:13), it is difficult to see this as an absolute pro... [ Continue Reading ]
1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 14:37 A COMMAND OF THE LORD. When he wrote to the churches, Paul’s words as an apostle had authority equal to the OT Scriptures (see also 1 Timothy 5:18; 2 Peter 3:15). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=image [ Continue Reading ]