Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. [From the discussion of spiritual gifts Paul turned aside in the last chapter to show that love is superior to all gifts. Having finished his digression, he now resumes the subject of gifts, and proceeds to sho... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. [The apostle here lays the groundwork of his argument. Prophecy is superior to the gift of exercising his spiritual gift (Revelation 1:10), might indeed speak the divine truths or mysteries of God; but, speak... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater [because more profitable]_ is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying._... [ Continue Reading ]
But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? [The gift of tongues had a subordinate use in the church of God, as an evidence of the presence of the Spirit o... [ Continue Reading ]
Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?... [ Continue Reading ]
For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?... [ Continue Reading ]
So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.... [ Continue Reading ]
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification.... [ Continue Reading ]
If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian [a foreigner- - Acts 28:2], _and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me_.... [ Continue Reading ]
So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church. [If there be any place where sound without sense is apparently valuable, or profitable, argues Paul, it will be found in the use of musical instruments. But even here there are laws of caden... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.... [ Continue Reading ]
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.... [ Continue Reading ]
What is it then? [What is the conclusion of the argument?] _I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?... [ Continue Reading ]
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. [The one who was so under the influence of the Spirit of God as to speak with tongues, produced words and sentences with little or no intellectual effort. His spirit, being in accord with the Spirit of God, uttered the exhortation or... [ Continue Reading ]
I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:... [ Continue Reading ]
howbeit in the church [congregation] I had rather _speak five words with my understanding_ [so as to be understood], _that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue_. [Paul was thankful for the gift of tongues because of its utility, but especially lest any should think that... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men. [The apostle here reiterates the thought at 1 Corinthians 13:11. To desire showy and comparatively worthless gifts was to be like children, pleased with toys. But as Paul exhorted them to be wise as men, the words of t... [ Continue Reading ]
In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 often called the Law by New Testament writers (John 10:34; John 12:34; Romans 3:20). Therefore the refe... [ Continue Reading ]
If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned [not having the gift to interpret tongues, and not being educated in foreign languages]_ or unbelieving_ [and hence having no faith in the works of the Spirit], _will they not say_ [becaus... [ Continue Reading ]
But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged [literally, cross-examined] _by all;_... [ Continue Reading ]
the secrets of his heart are made manifest [being exposed by the cleaving sword of the Spirit-- Hebrews 4:12; James 1:23-24; comp. John 4:19; John 4:29];_ and so he will fall down on his face_ [The Oriental mode of showing deep emotion (Isaiah 45:14; 1 Samuel 19:24). Here it indicates feelings of su... [ Continue Reading ]
What is it then, brethren? [See comment on 1 Corinthians 14:15] _When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying_.... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret:... [ Continue Reading ]
but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern.... [ Continue Reading ]
But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;... [ Continue Reading ]
and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;... [ Continue Reading ]
for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. [Since those who spoke with tongues were not understood, they could all speak at once without any loss. Thus confusion was fostered and encouraged, and those who came with other contributions to the service, such, as psalms, teachings, revelations, et... [ Continue Reading ]
let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. [Genesis 3:16; Numbers 30:3-12]... [ Continue Reading ]
And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church. [This is usually regarded as a very difficult passage, but the difficulties are more seeming than real, if we regard it as a general rule. Paul gives two reasons why the... [ Continue Reading ]
What? [An exclamation of indignation] _was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?_ [Becoming puffed up by the fullness of their spiritual gifts, the Corinthians were acting as if they were the parent church and only church. They were assuming the right to set precede... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant. [Since Paul's words were dictated by the Spirit of God, any one filled with that Spirit would be guided to recognize his words as of divine authority, for the Spirit would not say one thing to one man and another to another. But if any man was so inco... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.... [ Continue Reading ]
But let all things be done decently and in order. [Paul concludes with a recapitulation. The higher gift is to be sought and the lower gift is not to be prohibited. But as a caution against the abuse of the lower gift, he lays down that rule of order and decorum which the church has too often forgot... [ Continue Reading ]