1.
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Verse 1
Follow after charity; earnestly seek the attainment of it.--Prophesy. Prophesying in the New Testament, means public preaching under the immediate influence of divine impulse and illumination.
2.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
Verse 2
No man understandeth him. It would appear, from the statements in this chapter, that those upon whom were conferred the miraculous power of speaking in languages not their own, were accustomed to pervert the trust by making a parade of it, where no useful end could result, as a means of self-glorification. Why such a miraculous power should be bestowed in cases where its exercise would not seem to be needed, and why so special a mark and token of divine inspiration should be granted and continued to men who were habitually guilty of a perversion of it, which one would suppose would bring all the evidences of divine authentication into discredit are mysteries which we cannot solve.
3.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Verse 4
Edifieth himself; edifieth no one but himself.
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.
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?
Verse 6
By revelation, or by knowledge, &c. The specific meaning of these expressions is not understood. The general idea is, that it would be of no avail for him to speak unless what he should say was made intelligible.
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?
Verse 7
Things without life; such as the instruments mentioned below.
8.
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
Verse 8
An uncertain sound; one confused and unmeaning. The various sounds of the trumpet have an established meaning understood in armies, so that the instrument serves the purpose of communicating orders,--its notes being of such a character that they rise above the uproar of voices and the din of 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.
Verse 10
Voices; languages.
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.
Verse 11
A barbarian; a foreigner.
12.
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Verse 12
That ye may excel to the edifying, &c.; that ye may excel in such gifts as shall promote the edifying, &c.
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.
Verse 14
Is unfruitful; in respect to any beneficial effect upon others.
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?
Verse 16
He that occupieth the room of, &c.; is in the condition of, &c.
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.
20.
Brethren, be not children 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.
Verse 21
In the law; in the Old Testament Scriptures. (Isaiah 28:11,Isaiah 28:12.) The meaning of the passage, in its place, is, that God would punish his disobedient and unbelieving people by bringing upon them the hostile incursions of barbarian tribes, whose language was unknown.
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.
Verse 22
For a sign, not to them that believe, &c. The meaning is, that foreign tongues are spoken of in the passage quoted above, as a token and symbol of God's displeasure against the disobedient and unbelieving, which the apostle adduces as a consideration calculated to diminish the undue interest which the Corinthian Christians had manifested in the exercise of this gift, and to lead them to regard prophesying as more appropriate religious exercise for a church of believers.
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:
Verse 24
Convinced of all--judged of all; that is, he is reached and influenced by what they say.
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, everyone of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
Verse 26
Every one of you hath, &c.; that is, you severally have various gifts and attainments. Use them in such a manner as will conduce to the edifying of the church.
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.
Verse 27
By two, &c.; that is, only by two or three at any one meeting.
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.
Verse 29
The other; the rest. --Judge; attend.
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.
Verse 32
The meaning of the verse is, that they who speak are not under an irresistible influence, but may speak or refrain from speaking, as they please.
1 Corinthians 14:34,1 Corinthians 14:35. In ch. 11, Paul seems to tolerate the practice of females' taking a part in the religious services of public assemblies, under certain restrictions, which he there prescribes. In this passage, however, the prohibition of such a practice seems to be absolute and unequivocal.
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 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.
36.
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
Verse 36
The meaning is, that the church of Corinth was not the original parent church, and therefore not authorized to introduce new and unapproved usages.
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.
Verse 38
Be ignorant; still refuses to acknowledge my authority.
39.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40.
Let all things be done decently and in order.