FOLLOW AFTER LOVE (διωκετε την αγαπην). As if a veritable chase. Paul comes back to the idea in 1 Corinthians 12:31 (same use of ζηλουτε) and proves the superiority of prophecy to the other spiritual gifts not counting faith, hope, love of 1 Corinthians 13:13.BUT RATHER THAT YE MAY PROPHESY (μα... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NO MAN UNDERSTANDETH (ουδεις γαρ ακουε). Literally, hears, gets the sense, understands. Verb ακουω used either of hearing the sound only or getting the idea (cf. Acts 9:7; Acts 22:9).MYSTERIES (μυστηρια). Unexplained mysteries (1 Corinthians 2:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
EDIFICATION (οικοδομην). Building up.COMFORT (παρακλησιν). Encouragement, calling to one's side.CONSOLATION (παραμυθιαν). Old word (from παρα, μυθοσ, παραμυθεομα 1 Thessalonians 2:12 which see, a stimulating word), nowhere else in N.T., but παραμυθιον in Philippians 2:1 with παρακλησις as her... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHURCH (εκκλησιαν). No article, literally, "a church" (local use). Not η εκκλησια.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT HE INTERPRET (εκτος ε μη διερμηνευη). Pleonastic combination of εκτος (preposition except) and ε μη (if not, unless) as in 1 Corinthians 15:2; 1 Timothy 5:19. For use of ε with subjunctive rather than εαν see Philippians 3:12 (common enough in the _Koine_, Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 1017f.,... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I COME (εαν ελθω). Third class condition, supposable case (aorist subjunctive).WHAT SHALL I PROFIT YOU (τ υμας ωφελησω). Two accusatives with this verb (see 1 Corinthians 13:3).UNLESS I SPEAK (εαν μη λαλησω). Second condition (also third class) with the one conclusion (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
THINGS WITHOUT LIFE (αψυχα). Without a soul (α privative, ψυχη) or life. Old word only here in N.T.PIPE (αυλος). Old word (from αω, αυω, to blow), only here in N.T.HARP (κιθαρα). Old word. Stringed instrument as pipe, a wind instrument.IF THEY GIVE NOT A DISTINCTION IN THE SOUNDS (εαν διαστ... [ Continue Reading ]
AN UNCERTAIN VOICE (αδηλον φωνην). Old adjective (α privative, δηλος, manifest). In N.T. only here and Luke 11:44. Military trumpet (σαλπιγξ) is louder than pipe or harp.SHALL PREPARE HIMSELF (παρασκευασετα). Direct middle future indicative of παρασκευαζω, old verb, in N.T. only here, 2 Corinth... [ Continue Reading ]
UNLESS YE UTTER SPEECH EASY TO BE UNDERSTOOD (εαν μη ευσημον λογον δωτε). Condition of third class again (εαν and aorist subjunctive). Ευσημον (ευ, well, σημα, sign) is old word, here only in N.T., well-marked, distinct, clear. Good enunciation, a hint for speakers.YE WILL BE SPEAKING INTO THE AI... [ Continue Reading ]
IT MAY BE (ε τυχο). Condition of fourth class (ε and aorist optative of τυγχανω), if it should happen. Common enough idiom. Cf. τυχον in 1 Corinthians 16:6.WITHOUT SIGNIFICATION (αφωνον). Old adjective (α privative and φωνη). Without the faculty of speech (1 Corinthians 12:2; Acts 8:32; 2 Peter... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEANING OF THE VOICE (την δυναμιν της φωνης). The power (force) of the voice.A BARBARIAN (βαρβαρος). Jargon, βαρ-βαρ. The Egyptians called all βαρβαρους who did not speak their tongue. The Greeks followed suit for all ignorant of Greek language and culture. They divided mankind into Hellene... [ Continue Reading ]
ZEALOUS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS (ζηλωτα πνευματων). Zealots for spirits. So it looked.THAT YE MAY ABOUND (ινα περισσευητε). Purpose clause with the object by prolepsis stated beforehand "for the edification of the church.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET HIM PRAY THAT HE MAY INTERPRET (προσευχεσθω ινα διερμηνευη). Else he had better cease talking in a tongue.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS UNFRUITFUL (ο δε νους μου ακαρπος). My intellect (νους) gets no benefit (ακαρπος, without fruit) from rhapsodical praying that may even move my spirit (πνευμα).... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO (κα τω νο). Instrumental case of νους. Paul is distinctly in favour of the use of the intellect in prayer. Prayer is an intelligent exercise of the mind.AND I WILL SING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO (ψαλω δε κα τω νο). There was ecstatic singing like the rhapsody of so... [ Continue Reading ]
ELSE IF THOU BLESS WITH THE SPIRIT (επε εαν ευλογηις εν πνευματ). Third class condition. He means that, if one is praying and praising God (1 Corinthians 10:16) in an ecstatic prayer, the one who does not understand the ecstasy will be at a loss when to say "amen" at the close of the prayer. In t... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE THAN YOU ALL (παντων υμων μαλλον). Ablative case after μαλλον. Astonishing claim by Paul that doubtless had a fine effect.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT IN CHURCH (αλλα εν εκκλησια). Private ecstasy is one thing (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:1-9) but not in church worship.THAT I MAY INSTRUCT (ινα κατηχησω). Final clause with ινα. For the rare verb κατηχεω see on Luke 1:4; Acts 18:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT CHILDREN IN MIND (μη παιδια γινεσθε ταις φρεσιν). "Cease becoming children in your intellects," as some of them evidently were. Cf. Hebrews 5:11-14 for a like complaint of intellectual dulness for being old babies.IN MALICE BE YE BABES (τη κακια νηπιαζετε).BE MEN (τελειο γινεσθε). Keep... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LAW IT IS WRITTEN (εν τω νομω γεγραπτα). Isaiah 28:11. Freely quoted.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A SIGN (εις σημειον). Like the Hebrew and occasional _Koine_ idiom also.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL THEY NOT SAY THAT YE ARE MAD? (ουκ ερουσιν οτ μαινεσθε?). These unbelievers unacquainted (ιδιωτα) with Christianity will say that the Christians are raving mad (see on Acts 12:15; Acts 26:24). They will seem like a congregation of lunatics.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS REPROVED BY ALL (ελεγχετα υπο παντων). Old word for strong proof, is undergoing conviction.IS JUDGED (ανακρινετα). Is tested. Cf. 1 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 4:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT GOD IS AMONG YOU INDEED (οτ οντως εν υμιν εστιν). Recitative οτ and direct quotation from Isaiah 45:15 (Hebrew rather than the LXX). "Really (οντως Luke 24:34) God is in you.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN YE COME TOGETHER (οταν συνερχησθε). Present middle subjunctive, repetition, whenever ye come together, in contrast with special case (εαν συνελθη, second aorist subjunctive) in verse 1 Corinthians 14:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY TWO (κατα δυο). According to two, ratio.OR AT MOST (η το πλειστον). Adverbial accusative, "or at the most."THREE (τρεις). Κατα to be repeated.AND THAT IN TURN (κα ανα μερος). One at a time and not over three in all.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF THERE BE NO INTERPRETER (εαν δε μη η διερμηνευτης). Third class condition. Earliest known instance and possibly made by Paul from verb in verse 1 Corinthians 14:27. Reappears in Byzantine grammarians.KEEP SILENCE IN CHURCH (σιγατω εν εκκλησια). Linear action (present active imperative).... [ Continue Reading ]
BY TWO OR THREE (δυο η τρεις). No κατα here as in verse 1 Corinthians 14:27. Let two or three prophets speak.LET THE OTHERS DISCERN (ο αλλο διακρινετωσαν). Whether what is said is really of the Spirit. Cf. 1 Corinthians 12:10 διακρισεις πνευματων.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE FIRST KEEP SILENCE (ο πρωτος σιγατω). To give the next one a chance.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE BY ONE (καθ' ενα). Regular idiom.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROPHETS (πνευματα προφητων προφηταις υποτασσετα). A principle that some had forgotten.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT OF CONFUSION (ου--καταστασιας). God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. We need this reminder today.AS IN ALL THE CHURCHES OF THE SAINTS (ως εν πασαις ταις εκκλησιαις των αγιων). Orderly reverence is a mark of the churches. This is a proper conclusion of his argument as in 1 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES (εν ταις εκκλησιαις σιγατωσαν). The same verb used about the disorders caused by speakers in tongues (verse 1 Corinthians 14:28) and prophets (1 Corinthians 14:30). For some reason some of the women were creating disturbance in the public worship by their dress (1 Cor... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD (Κυριου εντολη). The prophet or the one with the gift of tongues or the disturbing woman would be quick to resent the sharp words of Paul. He claims inspiration for his position.... [ Continue Reading ]
DECENTLY AND IN ORDER (ευσχημονως κα κατα ταξιν). That is surely a good rule for all matters of church life and worship. It applies also to the function of women in church service.... [ Continue Reading ]