Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 14:24,25

How diff [2136] (δέ) and how blessed the result, “if all should be prophesying and there should enter some unbeliever or stranger to Christianity (ἰδιώτης : see previous note), he is convicted by all, he is searched by all, the secret things of his heart become manifest; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, reporting that verily God is among you!” This brings out two further notes of eminence in the charism of Prophecy when compared with Tongues: (1) The former edifies the Church (1 Corinthians 14:3 ff.); (2) it employs a man's rational powers (1 Corinthians 14:14-19); (3) it can be exercised safely by the whole Church, and (4) to the conversion of sinners. That “all” should “prophesy” is a part of the Messianic ideal, the earnest of which was given in the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost: see Numbers 11:23-29; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:15 ff.; the speaking of Pentecost Peter identifies with prophesying, whereas P. emphatically distinguishes the Cor [2137] Glossolalia therefrom. Prophecy is an inspired utterance proceeding from a supernatural intuition, which penetrates “the things of the man,” “the secrets of his heart,” no less than “the things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10 ff.): the light of heart searching knowledge and speech, proceeding from every believer, is concentrated on the unconverted man as he enters the assembly. His conscience is probed on all sides; he is pierced and overwhelmed with the sense of his sin (cf. John 4:29, also John 1:48; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Acts 8:18 ff; Acts 25:25). This form of Prophecy abides in the Church, as the normal instrument for “convicting the world of sin” (John 16:8 ff.); it belongs potentially to “all” Christians, and is in fact the reaction of the Spirit of Christ in them upon the unregenerate (cf. John 20:22 f.); ἐλέγχεται is the precise word of John 16:8. Ἀνακρίνω (see 1 Corinthians 2:14 and parls.) denotes not to judge, but to put on trial, to sift judicially. God alone, through Christ, is the judge of “the heart's secrets” (1 Corinthians 4:5; Romans 2:16); but the God-taught word of man throws a searching light into these recesses. In 1 Corinthians 14:24 the ἄπιστος precedes the ἰδιώτης (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:23), since in his case the arresting effect of Prophecy is the more signal. προσκυνήσει and ὄντως ὁ Θεὸς κ. τ. λ. are a reminiscence of Isaiah 45:14, following the Heb. txt. rather than the LXX (cf. note on 1 Corinthians 14:21). ἀπ - αγγέλλων, “taking word away,” reporting, proclaiming abroad (cf. parls.), thus diffusing the impression he has received (cf. John 4:29). ὄντως (revera, Cv [2138]), really, in very deed contradicts denials of God's working in Christianity, such as the ἄπιστος himself formerly had made. πεσών (aor [2139] ptp [2140], of an act leading up to that of principal vb [2141] and forming part of the same movement) indicates the prostration of a soul suddenly overpowered by the Divine presence. To convince men that “God is in the midst of her” is the true success of the Church.

[2136] difference, different, differently.

[2137] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2138] Calvin's In Nov. Testamentum Commentarii.

[2139] aorist tense.

[2140] participle

[2141] verb

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 14:24,25

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