Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 14:18,19

Again (cf. 6, 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 4:9) the Ap. uses himself for an instance in point. Even at Cor [2105], where this charism was abundant, no one “speaks with tongues” (mark the pl [2106] γλώσσαις) so largely as P. does on occasion; far from thinking lightly of the gift, he “thanks God” that he excels in it. 2 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 show that P. was rich in ecstatic experiences; cf. Galatians 2:2; Acts 9:12; Acts 16:9; Acts 22:17; Acts 27:23 f., etc. The omission of ὅτι after εὐχαριστῶ is exceptional, but scarcely irregular; it belongs to conversational liveliness, and occurs occasionally after a number of the verba declarandi in cl [2107] Gr [2108] : cf. note on δοκῶ κ. τ. λ., 1 Corinthians 4:9; and see Wr [2109], p. 683. The Vg [2110], omitting μᾶλλον, reads omnium vestrum lingua loquor, making P. thank God that he could speak in every tongue used at Cor [2111]; Jerome, in his Notes, refers the μᾶλλον to the other App., as though P. exulted in being a better linguist than any of the Twelve! ἀλλὰ ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ κ. τ. λ.: “but in church-assembly (cf. note on 1 Corinthians 14:4) I would (rather) utter five words with my understanding, that I might indeed instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue!” ἀλλὰ contradicts the seeming implication of 1 Corinthians 14:18 “but for all that”: one might have supposed that P. would make much of a power in which he excels; on the contrary, he puts it aside and prefers to use every-day speech, as being the more serviceable; cf. for the sentiment, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 2Co 4:5; 2 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 2Co 11:7; 2 Corinthians 13:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:6 ff. With his Tongue P. might speak in solitude, “to himself and to God” (1Co 14:2; 1 Corinthians 14:28; 2 Corinthians 5:13); amongst his brethren, his one thought is, how best to help and benefit them. For νοῦς in contrast with πνεῦμα, see note on 1 Corinthians 14:14; for its declension, cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10. κατηχέω (see parls.) differs from διδάσκω as it connotes, usually at least, oral impartation (“ut alios voce instituam,” Bz [2112]), including here prophecy or doctrine (1 Corinthians 14:6). On θέλω … ἤ, dispensing with μᾶλλον, see parls.; malim … quam, Bz [2113] For the rhetorical μυρίους, cf. 1 Corinthians 4:15.

[2105] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2106] plural.

[2107] classical.

[2108] Greek, or Grotius' Annotationes in N.T.

[2109] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

[2110] Latin Vulgate Translation.

[2111] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2112] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[2113] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 14:18,19

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