![]() |
|
Part VII. (Continued.)
Prophecy Is The Greatest Of These Gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:1-22; KJB
1 * (1) Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather ( 1a ) that ye may prophesy. ![]()
2 For he that speaketh in (i) an unknown ( 2a ) tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth (3ghs) speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue ( 2a ) edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. (5ghs)
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 what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be 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, forasmuch 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 ( 2a ) unknown tongue (5ghs) pray that he may interpret. (tpf6)
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue ( 2a ), my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
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 occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye 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. ( 2a )
20 Brethren, be not (c) children ( 3a ) in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, 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.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
The Order Of The Ministry
Of Gifts In The Local Church.
1 Corinthians 14:23-40; KJB
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 believeth not, or one 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.
26 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 unto 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.
29 * Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth 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 author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under (m)obedience ( 4a ) 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.
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, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Scofield Notes
SRB = Introduction JFB = Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary JFB = Introduction AC = Adam Clarke Comentary AC = Chronology by Adam Clarke • Key
SRB = Introduction JFB = Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary JFB = Introduction AC = Adam Clarke Comentary AC = Chronology by Adam Clarke
Copyright Statement |
|
- Jamieson, Fausset, Brown -• Key
SRB = Introduction JFB = Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary JFB = Introduction AC = Adam Clarke Comentary AC = Chronology by Adam Clarke • JFB Top AC Verse 1. Follow after charity--as your first and chief aim, seeing that it is "the greatest" (1Co 13:13).• JFB Top AC Verse 2. speaketh . . . unto God--who alone understands all languages.• JFB Top AC Verse 3. But--on the other hand.• JFB Top AC Verse 4. edifieth himself--as he understands the meaning of what the particular "tongue" expresses; but "the church," that is, the congregation, does not.• JFB Top AC Verse 5. Translate, "Now I wish you all to speak with tongues (so far am I from thus speaking through having any objection to tongues), but rather IN ORDER THAT (as my ulterior and higher wish for you) ye should prophesy." Tongues must therefore mean languages, not ecstatic, unintelligible rhapsodie (as NEANDER fancied): for Paul could never "wish" for the latter in their behalf.• JFB Top AC Verse 6. Translate, "But now"; seeing there is no edification without interpretation.• JFB Top AC Verse 7. Translate, "And things without life-giving sound, whether pipe or harp, YET (notwithstanding their giving sound) if they give not a distinction in the tones (that is, notes) how?" &c.• JFB Top AC Verse 8. Translate, "For if also," an additional step in the argument.• JFB Top AC Verse 9. So . . . ye--who have life; as opposed to "things without life" (1Co 14:7).• JFB Top AC Verse 10. it may be--that is, perhaps, speaking by conjecture. "It may chance" (1Co 15:37).• JFB Top AC Verse 11. Therefore--seeing that none is without meaning.• JFB Top AC Verse 12. zealous--emulously desirous.• JFB Top AC Verse 13. Explain, "Let him who speaketh with a tongue [unknown] in his prayer (or, when praying) strive that he may interpret" [ALFORD]. This explanation of "pray" is needed by its logical connection with "prayer in an unknown tongue" (1Co 14:14). Though his words be unintelligible to his hearers, let him in them pray that he may obtain the gift of interpreting, which will make them "edifying" to "the church" (1Co 14:12).• JFB Top AC Verse 14. spirit--my higher being, the passive object of the Holy Spirit's operations, and the instrument of prayer in the unknown tongue, distinguished from the "understanding," the active instrument of thought and reasoning; which in this case must be "unfruitful" in edifying others, since the vehicle of expression is unintelligible to them. On the distinction of soul or mind and spirit, see Eph 4:23; Heb 4:12.• JFB Top AC Verse 15. What is it then?--What is my determination thereupon?• JFB Top AC Verse 16. Else . . . thou--He changes from the first person, as he had just expressed his own resolution, "I will pray with the understanding," whatever "thou" doest.• JFB Top AC Verse 17. givest thanks--The prayers of the synagogue were called "eulogies," because to each prayer was joined a thanksgiving. Hence the prayers of the Christian Church also were called blessings and giving of thanks. This illustrates Col 4:2; 1Th 5:17, 18. So the Kaddisch and Keduscha, the synagogue formulæ of "hallowing" the divine "name" and of prayer for the "coming of God's kingdom," answer to the Church's Lord's Prayer, repeated often and made the foundation on which the other prayers are built [TERTULLIAN, Prayer].• JFB Top AC Verse 18. tongues--The oldest manuscripts have the singular, "in a tongue [foreign]."• JFB Top AC Verse 19. I had rather--The Greek verb more literally expresses this meaning, "I WISH to speak five words with my understanding (rather) than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue"; even the two thousandth part of ten thousand. The Greek for "I would rather," would be a different verb. Paul would NOT wish at all to speak "ten thousand words in an unknown tongue."• JFB Top AC Verse 20. Brethren--an appellation calculated to conciliate their favorable reception of his exhortation.• JFB Top AC Verse 21. In the law--as the whole Old Testament is called, being all of it the law of God. Compare the citation of the Psalms as the "law," Joh 10:34. Here the quotation is from Isa 28:11, 12, where God virtually says of Israel, This people hear Me not, though I speak to. them in the language with which they are familiar; I will therefore speak to them in other tongues, namely, those of the foes whom I will send against them; but even then they will not hearken to Me; which Paul thus applies, Ye see that it is a penalty to be associated with men of a strange tongue, yet ye impose this on the Church [GROTIUS]; they who speak in foreign tongues are like "children" just "weaned from the milk" (Isa 28:9), "with stammering lips" speaking unintelligibly to the hearers, appearing ridiculous (Isa 28:14), or as babbling drunkards (Ac 2:13), or madmen (1Co 14:23).• JFB Top AC Verse 22. Thus from Isaiah it appears, reasons Paul, that "tongues" (unknown and uninterpreted) are not a sign mainly intended for believers (though at the conversion of Cornelius and the Gentiles with him, tongues were vouchsafed to him and them to confirm their faith), but mainly to be a condemnation to those, the majority, who, like Israel in Isaiah's day, reject the sign and the accompanying message. Compare "yet . . . will they not hear Me" (1Co 14:21). "Sign" is often used for a condemnatory sign (Eze 4:3, 4; Mt 12:39-42). Since they will not understand, they shall not understand.• JFB Top AC Verse 23. whole . . . all . . . tongues--The more there are assembled, and the more that speak in unknown tongues, the more will the impression be conveyed to strangers "coming in" from curiosity ("unbelievers"), or even from a better motive ("unlearned"), that the whole body of worshippers is a mob of fanatical "madmen"; and that "the Church is like the company of builders of Babel after the confusion of tongues, or like the cause tried between two deaf men before a deaf judge, celebrated in the Greek epigram" [GROTIUS].• JFB Top AC Verse 24. all--one by one (1Co 14:31).• JFB Top AC Verse 25. And thus--omitted in the oldest manuscripts and versions.• JFB Top AC Verse 26. How is it then?--rather, "What then is the true rule to be observed as to the use of gifts?" Compare 1Co 14:15, where the same Greek occurs.• JFB Top AC Verse 27. let it be by two--at each time, in one assembly; not more than two or three might speak with tongues at each meeting.• JFB Top AC Verse 28. let him--the speaker in unknown tongues.• JFB Top AC Verse 29. two or three--at one meeting (he does not add "at the most," as in 1Co 14:27, lest he should seem to "quench prophesyings," the most edifying of gifts), and these "one by one," in turn (1Co 14:27, "by course," and 1Co 14:31). Paul gives here similar rules to the prophets, as previously to those speaking in unknown tongues.• JFB Top AC Verse 30. If any thing--Translate, "But if any thing."• JFB Top AC Verse 31. For ye may--rather, "For ye can [if ye will] all prophesy one by one," giving way to one another. The "for" justifies the precept (1Co 14:30), "let the first hold his peace."• JFB Top AC Verse 32. And--following up the assertion in 1Co 14:31, "Ye can (if ye will) prophesy one by one," that is, restrain yourselves from speaking all together; "and the spirits of the prophets," that is, their own spirits, acted on by the Holy Spirit, are not so hurried away by His influence, as to cease to be under their own control; they can if they will hear others, and not demand that they alone should be heard uttering communications from God.• JFB Top AC Verse 33. In all the churches of the saints God is a God of peace; let Him not among you be supposed to be a God of confusion [ALFORD]. Compare the same argument in 1Co 11:16. LACHMANN and others put a full stop at "peace," and connect the following words thus: "As in all churches of the saints, let your women keep silence in your churches."• JFB Top AC Verse 34. (1Ti 2:11, 12). For women to speak in public would be an act of independence, as if they were not subject to their husbands (compare 1Co 11:3; Eph 5:22; Tit 2:5; 1Pe 3:1). For "under obedience," translate, "in subjection" or "submission," as the Greek is translated (Eph 5:21, 22, 24).• JFB Top AC Verse 35. Anticipation of an objection. Women may say, "But if we do not understand something, may we not 'ask' a question publicly so as to 'learn'? Nay, replies Paul, if you want information, 'ask' not in public, but 'at home'; ask not other men, but 'your own particular (so the Greek) husbands.'"• JFB Top AC Verse 36. What!--Greek, "Or." Are you about to obey me? Or, if you set up your judgment above that of other churches. I wish to know, do you pretend that your church is the first church FROM which the gospel word came, that you should give the law to all others? Or are you the only persons In, fro whom it has come?• JFB Top AC Verse 37. prophet--the species.• JFB Top AC Verse 38. if any man be ignorant--wilfully; not wishing to recognize these ordinances and my apostolic authority in enjoining them.• JFB Top AC Verse 39. covet--earnestly desire. Stronger than "forbid not"; marking how much higher he esteemed "prophecy" than "tongues."• JFB Top AC Verse 40. Let, &c.--The oldest manuscripts read, "But let," &c. This verse is connected with 1Co 14:39, "But (while desiring prophecy, and not forbidding tongues) let all things be done decently." "Church government is the best security for Christian liberty" [J. NEWTON]. (Compare 1Co 14:23, 26-33).
These files are a derivative of an electronic edition prepared from text scanned by Woodside Bible Fellowship. This expanded edition of the Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary is in the public domain and may be freely used and distributed. Bibliography
Information
|
|
1 Corinthians 14- CLARKE'S COMMENTARY -
• Key
SRB = Introduction JFB = Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary JFB = Introduction AC = Adam Clarke Comentary AC = Chronology by Adam Clarke • AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 1. Follow after charity• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 2. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 3. But he that prophesieth• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 4. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 5. I would that ye all spake with tongues• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 6. Speaking with tongues• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 7. And even things without life• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 8. If the trumpet give an uncertain sound• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 9. Likewise ye• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 10. There are, it may be• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 11. If I know not the meaning of the voice• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 12. For as much as ye are zealous• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 13. Pray that he may interpret.• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 16. He that occupieth the room of the unlearned• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 17. Thou verily givest thanks well• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 18. I speak with tongues more than ye all• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 19. Yet in the church• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 20. Be not children in understanding• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 21. In the law it is written• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 23. Will they not say that ye are mad?• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 24. But if all prophecy• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 26. How is it-every one of you hath a psalm, Lightfoot understands this in the following manner: When the congregation came together, some were for spending the time in psalmody; others in explaining particular doctrines; others in reading, praying, or speaking in the Hebrew tongue; others were curious to hear of farther revelations; and others wished to spend the time in the interpretation of what had already been spoken. This may be specious, but to me it is not satisfactory. It seems more likely that, when the whole Church came together, among whom there were many persons with extraordinary gifts, each of them wished to put himself forward, and occupy the time and attention of the congregation: hence confusion must necessarily take place, and perhaps not a little contention. This was contrary to that edifying which was the intention of these gifts.• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 27. Speak in an unknown tongue• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 28. But if there be no interpreter• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 29. Let the prophets• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 30. Be revealed to another that sitteth by• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 31. For ye may all prophesy one by one• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 32. And the spirits of the prophets, interrupt another; and let all be ready to prefer others before themselves; and let each feel a spirit of subjection to his brethren. God grants no ungovernable gifts.• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 33. For God is not the author of confusion• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 34. Let your women keep silence in the churches• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 35. For it is a shame for women to speak in the church.• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 36. Came the word of God out from you?• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 37. If any man think himself to be a prophet, who is really a spiritual man, under the influence of the Spirit of God, and capable of teaching the Divine will, he will acknowledge that what I now say is from the same Spirit; and that the things which I now write are the commandments of God, and must be obeyed on pain of his displeasure.• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 38. But if any man be ignorant• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 39. Covet to prophesy• AC Top â € ¢ JFB Verse 40. Let all things be done decently• AC Top
Copyright Statement |
|
Craig Pages |
|
[Site Index]
[Sermons]
[Blessings]
[Sermon Starters]
[Short & Long]
[News]
[Family]
[Contacts]
[Our Links]
|
|
