1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:1-5

In this chapter the apostle, 1. Begins with advising them of all spiri-

tual gifts to prefer prophesying, ver. 1—6. 2. He goes on to show them how unprofitable the speaking foreign languages was, and useless to the church; whereas gifts should be used for the good of the church, ver. 6—15. 3. He advises that worship should be relebrated so as the most ignorant might understand and join in prayer and praise, and presies the advice by his own example, ver. 15—21. 4. He informs them, that tongues were a sign for unbelievers rather than those that believe; and represents the advantage of prophecy above speaking with tongues, from the different suggestions they would give to the mind of an unbelievers coming into their assemblies, ver. 21—26. 5. Blames them for the disorder and confusion they had brought into the assembly by their vanity and attestation of their gifts, and directs them in using their gifts both of tongues and prophesy, ver. 26—34. 6. Paradox women speaking in the church, and chies the subject by repairing them to perform every thing in the public worship with order and decency, ver. 34. to the end. 1. FOLLOW after charity, and * desire spiritual gifts, but * rather that ye may prophesy. 2. For unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3. But and exhortation, and comfort. 4. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself: but he that propheseth, edifieth the church. 5. * I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that propheseth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Having recommended charity in the first place, he proceeds to shew what spiritual gifts were most desirable. 1. Follow after charity (Jewish), pursue it with the greatest eagerness, and desire spiritual gifts for the glory of God and the good of the church; but rather, or chiefly, that ye may prophesy, so as by divine illumination to be enabled most probably to open and apply the Scriptures to the consciences of men for their comfort and edification. 2. He assigns this reason for his exhortation. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not to men, who cannot understand him, but unto God; for no man understandeth him, howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries, and advances the most glorious and important truths: but he that propheseth, explaining and opening the Scriptures to the understanding and capacity of the hearers, speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort, and his ministry and gifts are made useful to their souls. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself; but he that prophesseth, edifieth the church, and communicates an extensive benefit to others as well as to his own heart. I would that ye all spoke with tongues, and were furnished with this great gift; but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that propheseth than he that speaketh with tongues, he is a more useful and therefore a more excellent man, and to be more highly esteemed by the hearers; except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Note, Our discourse should be adapted to the capacity of our hearers: high flights of eloquence, or affliction of learning, are absurd where the audience is illiterate. Our ambition must be to floop; and we should ever be more solicitous to be understood than to be admired. 6. Now brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you * either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7. And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known Or not. what 1 Cr. April. 1 Chap. vii. 31. ver. 1.

what is piped or harped? 8. For if the tsumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9. So likewise you, except ye utter by the tongue I would only as he understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 10. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh, a barbarian; and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 12. Even so ye, forethmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret. 14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

1 Corinthians 14:6-14

The apostle goes on to shew the absurdity of making an oftentatious shew of gifts, and speaks in his own person to infirm the reproof which they deserved for their vanity in this regard. Now brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you, interpreting what is made known unto me in an intelligible manner, rather by revelations, if it be a new truth; or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? opening the Scriptures, and enforcing them on the conference. He illustrates this,

1. By a pipe or harp. Unless these instruments give a distinction of sounds to direct the dancer’s motion, or to excite the different passions which mules raise, they will be useless and inhumanious: and just so must speaking in an unknown tongue be absurd to one who is a stranger to the language.

2. By a trumpet, which if it give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? And as the soldier in such a case must be utterly at a loss, so must the congregation be where the discourse is in an unknown tongue, or above their capacities; and such preaching is to them no better than the whistling of the mind.

3. A person speaking in such an unknown tongue appears as a barbarian to the hearers. Various as the languages are in the world, such serves to convey the ideas of the mind to those who are acquainted with it, but to no others: therefore, if I know not the meaning of the language, it will appear mere gibberish; the speaker will appear a barbarian to me, and I to him.

Now this being evidently the case, the apostle exhorts them, since they so eagerly covered spiritual gifts, to desire those that were of the most useful tendency; and if they spoke with tongues, to pray that they might be able to interpret them for the edifying of the church. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, and my own soul may be engaged in devotion; but my understanding is unfruitful, and my prayers of no use to the hearers.

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. 16. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupiereth the room of the unlearned, say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17. For thou verily giveth thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18. I thank my God, ‘I speak with tongues more than you all: 19. Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20. Brethren, ‘be not children in understanding: howbeit, ‘in malice be ye children, but in understanding be y’ men.

1 Corinthians 14:15-20

The apostle sums up what he had been saying. What is it then that is proper to be done? I will pray with the spirit, under a divine affeatus, and with any of the tongues which he hath given on proper occasions; and I will, in the congregation, pray with my understanding also, in such manner as that others may be edified: I will sing with the spirit, when under a divine inspiration, in whatever language he is pleased to enable me to utter his praises; and I will, in public, sing with my understanding also, that the church may join in my allcriptions of praise to God. Else, when thou shalt bless with the spirit, though under his immediate inspiration, if it be in an unknown tongue, how shall he that occupiereth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest, and therefore cannot join in the service? For thou verily giveth thanks well; but the other, who knoweth not the meaning of the words, is not edified. I thank my God [and happy is it when we can call him mine], I speak with tongues more than you all; he did not depreciate this gift therefore because he published it not, but because they made so evil a use of it: yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue, from which none of the hearers could re-

ceive the least benefit. Therefore brethren, be not children in understanding, and foolishly boast yourselves on the thorny gift of tongues: bequest in malice be ye children, free from the malignant passions of envy, malice, and pride; but in understanding be men, and prove yourselves to be Christians grown to ripe years, by knowing how to value things according to their instincts worth, and to prefer godlike charity to the most astonishing gifts. Nies, (1.) That church must be erroneous, where ignorance is regarded as the mother of devotion, and the prayers are offered in an unknown tongue. (2.) The least good done to the meanest soul is an unpeakably greater acquisition than the highest applause gained to maniere. (3.) A malicious, envious spirit is directly contrary to true Christianity. Among the first lessons of that school, we must learn to become as little children.

21. In the law it is written, ‘With men of other tongues and other lips, will I speak unto this people: 11, 14. and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying foreth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, ‘will they not say that ye are mad? 24. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeeth not, or are unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that ‘God is in you of a truth.

1 Corinthians 14:21-25

The apostle further enforces what he had advanced by observing,

1. That it had been threatened to the Jews, as the punishment of their infidelity, that with men of other tongues, and other lips, will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord: which was primarily fulfilled when they were sent into captivity to Babylon, where they heard the strange language of their conquerors; and jossed-up when, on the day of Penitence, they heard the apostles speak with tongues, yet rejected the evidence which the Holy Ghost bore thereby to the doctrine which they preached; dear to the warnings of Providence and the calls of grace. The Corinthians should not therefore be so inordinately fond of what God had before used in a way of judgment upon Israel. Wherefore,

2. Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but for them that believe not, to carry the gospel into the lands of infidelity, and bear a testimony to the truth of it, which those who believe do not so much need; but prophesying foreth not for them that believe not merely, but is also for them that believe, that they may be built up on the true foundation. So that to speak with tongues in a Christian assembly was useless and absurd, because none could be profited thereby.

3. The credit of their protection should restrain them from an ostentation of their gift of tongues. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, it will appear a second Babel: and if there come in those that are unlearned, either private Christians or other common people, and unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad, and, instead of being converted, ridicule you as a parcel of frantic enthrallists? But if all prophesy, in their turn preaching, praying, or proling, in an intelligible manner, and there come in one that believeeth not, out of curiosity or by accident; or one unlearned, or ignorant; he is convinced of all, he is judged of all; his conscience is perished under the word, his fin is brought to his remembrance, and the just wrath of God due thereunto is set before him: and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest, as if the preacher had known his very soul, and described his case particularly; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God, convinced, by what he hears, that this is his work; and report that God is in you of a truth, since none could so discover the inmost soul, and speak with such power and energy, unless God’s Spirit instructed them and accompanied their ministrations. Nies, The word of truth, when rightly dispersed, is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart: and many, who have heard it, have felt by experience, that God’s mindless often describe their case as particularly as if they knew the secrets of their souls, and they wonder who hath told them.

4. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, ‘hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done to edifying. 27. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course, and let one interpret. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

5. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30. If any thing be revealed to another, that fiteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33. For God is not the matter of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the Saints.

1 Corinthians 14:26-33

The apostle reproves their ill behaviour, and gives them rules for their conduct.

1. He blames their irregularities in the church. How is it then, brethren, that you behave so unseemly in the house of God? See, when ye come together, every one of you hath a gloom, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation; and, whilst every one is forward to exercise his own gift, the whole is a scene of disorder and confusion. Let all things be done to edifying, and no such unseasonable and unprofitable exercise of those devinely communicated gifts be permitted.

2. He orders how they should proceed in the congregation. (1.) If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, no more than these should at one meeting speak, and that by course, in their proper turn; and let one interpret, that the audience may receive instruction: but, if there be no interpreter, let him that speak in an unknown tongue keep silence in the church, and not interrupt what is to the use of edifying; and let him speak to himself and to God in private prayer. (2.) Let the prophets speak two or three, at one assembly, and after each other, and let the other judge whether those who profess to be prophets really are so, and examine what they say by the word of truth. (3.) If any thing of peculiar importance be revealed to another prophet who fesseth by, let the first who was speaking hasten to conclude his discourse, and hold his peace: for ye may all prophesy one by one, at proper opportunities, that all may learn, and all may be comforted; this being the great end for which the gift of prophecy is bestowed. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; these who are truly inspired are not like those under diabolical possession, but have the due government of themselves, and will not be buried into any indecency or impropriety, as to the matter, time, or manner, of their speaking.

3. He endorses his discourse with this argument, For God is not the matter of confusion, but of peace; such disorderly proceedings as these have remarked cannot arise from him; but as in all the other churches of the Saints, so among you, it is his pleasure, and for his glory, that due order should be observed.

4. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

5. 34—35. We have here silence imposed on women in the church. For it is not permitted unto them to speak as public teachers; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law, and to shew it by such a modest silence. And if they will learn any thing, and desire that what they have heard may be farther explained, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church, and renounce that due subordination which God hath enjoined. Now, (1.) If it be the woman’s duty to learn in subjection, it is the husband’s duty equally to maintain his superiority by shewing himself able to inform her. (2.) Modesty is a woman’s greatest ornament; and in them all boldness is peculiarly shocking.

2 2 Cor. 1. 1 John 16.

36. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37. If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39. Wherefore, brethren, cover to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40. Let all things be done decently, and in order.

1 Corinthians 14:36-40

The apostle closes his discourse with warmth on this head. What mean you by your irregular behaviour? Came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? Are you the mother church? ought you to let up yourselves as oracles? and are you to pay no respect to the wages of other churches, as if your own was infallible? how unutterably assuming is such behaviour? If any man think himself a prophet, and spiritual, let him prove the truth of the inspiration which he challenges by subscribing to these truths, and acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord, since no man, truly under the influence of the Spirit, can possibly contradict what that Spirit, speaking in his apostles,

dissسته: but if any man be ignorant, and obstinately refuses to submit to these commands, let him be ignorant, treated with deserved contempt, and left to follow the wilful blindness and perversion of his own heart. Wherefore brethren, on the whole, covet to prophesy, as the most excellent gift; and forbid not to speak with tongues, which are useful when managed according to the manner above prescribed. And for a general rule in all things pertaining to the public worship, let all things be done decently, and in order, and let every indecency and irregularity be banished from the house of God. Now, (1.) They who continue wilfully ignorant of, or obstinately reject the commandments of the Lord, evidently shew by whose spirit they are led. (2.) When a man hears the light, he is justly abandoned to the darkness he hath chosen. (3.) In the public worship of God all the service should be rational, composed, orderly, edifying.