1st Corinthians Chapter 14

From The Open Bible Project

14:1 Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

• (1) He infers now of what he spoke before: therefore seeing charity is the chiefest of all, before all things set it before you as chief and principal. And so esteem those things as most excellent which profit the greater part of men (such as prophecy, that is to say, the gift of teaching and applying the doctrine: which was condemned in respect of other gifts, although it is the chiefest and most necessary for the Church) and not those who for a show seem to be marvellous, as the gifts of tongues. This was when a man was suddenly endowed with the knowledge of many tongues, which made men greatly amazed and yet of itself was not greatly of any use, unless there was an interpreter.
• (a) What prophecy is he shows in the third verse.

14:2 For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

• (2) He reprehends their perverse judgment concerning the gift of tongues. For why was it given? The answer: so that the mysteries of God might be the better known to a greater number. By this it is evident that prophecy, which the gift of tongues ought to serve, is better than this: and therefore the Corinthians judged incorrectly, in that they made more account of the gift of tongues than of prophesying: because no doubt the gift of tongues was a thing more to be bragged of. And hereupon followed another abuse of the gift of tongues, in that the Corinthians used tongues in the congregation without an interpreter. And although this thing might be done to some profit of him that spoke them, yet he corrupted the right use of that gift because there came by it no profit to the hearers. And common assemblies were instituted and appointed not for any private man’s commodity, but for the profit of the whole company.
• (b) A strange language, which no man can understand without an interpreter.
• (c) By that inspiration which he has received of the Spirit, which nonetheless he abuses, when he speaks mysteries which none of the company can understand.

14:3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

• (d) Which may further men in the study of godliness.

14:4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.

• (e) The company.

14:5 Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

14:6 But now, [14] brothers, [See 1st Corinthians Footnotes 14] if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

14:7 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn't give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?

• (3) He sets forth that which he said by a similitude, which he borrows and takes from instruments of music, which although they speak not perfectly, yet they are distinguished by their sounds, that they may be the better used.

14:8 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?

14:9 So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.

• (f) That fitly utter the matter itself.

14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.

• (4) He proves that interpretation is necessarily to be joined with the gift of tongues, by the manifold variety of languages, insomuch that if one speak to another without an interpreter, it is as if he did not speak.

14:11 If then I don't know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.

• (g) As the papists in all their sermons, and they that ambitiously pour out some Hebrew or Greek words in the pulpit before the unlearned people, by this to get themselves a name of vain learning.

14:12 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

• (5) The conclusion: if they will excel in those spiritual gifts, as it is proper, they must seek the profit of the church. And therefore they must not use the gift of tongues, unless there is an interpreter to expound the strange and unknown tongue, whether it is himself that speaks, or another interpreter.

14:13 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.

• (h) Pray for the gift of interpretation.

14:14 For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

• (6) A reason: because it is not sufficient for us to speak so in the congregation that we ourselves worship God in spirit (that is according to the gift which we have received), but we must also be understood of the company, lest that is unprofitable to others which we have spoken.
• (i) If I pray, when the church is assembled together, in a strange tongue.
• (k) The gift and inspiration which the spirit gives me does its part, but only to myself.
• (l) No fruit comes to the church by my prayers.

14:15 What is it then? 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.

• (m) So that I may be understood by others, and may instruct others.

14:16 Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn't know what you say?

• (7) Another reason: seeing that the whole congregation must agree with him that speaks, and also witness this agreement, how will they give their assent or agreement who know not what is spoken?
• (n) Alone, without any consideration of the hearers.
• (o) He that sits as a private man.
• (p) So then one uttered the prayers, and all the company answered "amen".

14:17 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

14:18 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.

• (8) He sets himself as an example, both that they may be ashamed of their foolish ambition, and also that he may avoid all suspicion of envy.

14:19 However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

• (q) A very few words.

14:20 Brothers, don't be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

• (9) Now he reproves those freely for their childish folly, who do not see how this gift of tongues which was given to the profit of the Church, is turned by their ambition into an instrument of cursing, seeing that this same cursing is also contained among the punishments with which God punished the stubbornness of his people, that he dispersed them amongst strangers whose language they did not understand.

14:21 In the law it is written, "By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord."[15]

• (r) By the "law" he understands the entire scripture.

14:22 Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.

• (10) The conclusion: therefore the gift of tongues serves to punish the unfaithful and unbelievers, unless it is referred to prophecy (that is to say, to the interpretation of scripture) and that what is spoken is by the means of prophecy is understood by the hearers.

14:23 If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you are crazy?

• (11) Another argument: the gift of tongues without prophecy is not only unprofitable to the faithful, but also hurts very much, both the faithful as well as the unfaithful, who should be won in the public assemblies. For by this means it comes to pass that the faithful seem to others to be mad, much less can the unfaithful be instructed by it.
• (s) See (Acts 4:13).

14:24 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.

14:25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

14:26 What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

• (12) The conclusion: the edifying of the congregation is a rule and measure of the right use of all spiritual gifts.

14:27 If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

• (13) The manner how to use the gift of tongues. It may be lawful for one or two, or at the most for three, to use the gift of tongues, one after another in an assembly, so that there is someone to expound their utterances. But if there are none to expound, let him that has the gift speak to himself alone.

14:28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.

14:29 Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.

• (14) The manner of prophesying: let two or three propound, and let the others judge of that which is propounded, whether it is agreeable to the word of God or not. If in this examination the Lord indicates that nothing was wrong, let them give him leave to speak. Let every man be admitted to prophesy, severally and in his order, so far forth as it is required for the edifying of the church. Let them be content to be subject to each other’s judgment.

14:30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.

14:31 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.

14:32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

• (t) The doctrine which the prophets bring, who are inspired with God’s Spirit.

14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints,

14:34 let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says.

• (15) Women are commanded to be silent in public assemblies, and they are commanded to ask of their husbands at home.

14:35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly.

14:36 What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?

• (16) A general conclusion of the treatise of the right use of spiritual gifts in assemblies. And this is with a sharp reprehension, lest the Corinthians might seem to themselves to be the only ones who are wise.

14:37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

• (u) Skilful in knowing and judging spiritual things.

14:38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

• (17) The church ought not to care for those who are stubbornly ignorant, and will not abide to be taught, but to go forward nonetheless in those things which are right.

14:39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages.

• (18) Prophecy ought certainly to be retained and kept in congregations, and the gift of tongues is not to be forbidden, but all things must be done orderly.

14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.