1.
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
charity = love, as in 1 Corinthians 13:1 .
desire = covet earnestly, as in 1 Corinthians 12:31 .
spiritual . Greek. pneumatikos. See 1 Corinthians 12:1 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
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.
speaketh . Greek. laleo . App-121 .
in . No preposition. Dative case.
an unknown = a.
unto = to.
men . Greek. anthropos. App-123 .
God . App-98 .
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
understandeth . Greek. akouo. Occurs over 420 times. Translated hear, except in this and six or seven other passages. See Acts 9:7 .
howbeit = but.
spirit . App-101 . There is no article.
mysteries . App-193 .
3.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
to . Supply the ellipsis by "for".
edification . Literally building. Greek. oikodome. See 1 Corinthians 3:9 . Here used metaphorrically.
exhortation . Greek. paraklesis. See Acts 4:36 with Acts 13:15 . Compare App-134 .
comfort . Greek. paramuthia. Only here. Compare Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:1 , and the verb in John 11:19 .
4.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
edifieth . Greek. oikodomeo. See Acts 9:31 .
church . App-186 .
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.
would = wish. App-102 .
except . A strong expression. Greek. ektos ei ml. Literally without if not.
interpret . Greek. diermeneuo. See Acts 9:36 .
edifying . Same as "edification", 1 Corinthians 14:3 .
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?
if . App-118 .
unto . App-104 .
except = unless. Greek. ean ( App-118 ) me ( App-105 ).
by = in. Greek. e n . App-104 .
revelation . App-106 .
knowledge . App-132 .
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?
And even = Nevertheless. Greek. homos. Only here, John 12:42 .Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:15 .
without life . Greek. apsuchos. Only here.
sound . Greek. phone, voice.
whether, or . Greek. eite .
pipe . Greek. aulos. Only here.
harp . Greek. kithara . Only here and Revelation 5:8 ; Revelation 14:2 ; Revelation 15:2 .
distinction . Greek. diastole. See Romans 3:22 .
sounds . Greek. phthongos. Only here and Romans 10:18 . Not the same word as in the first part of the verse.
known . App-132 .
piped . Greek. auleo. Only here, Matthew 11:17 . Luke 7:32 .
harped . Greek. kitharizo. Only here and Revelation 14:2 .
8.
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
uncertain . Greek. adelos. Only here and Luke 11:44 (appear not).
to the battle = for (Greek. eis . App-104 .) war.
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.
So likewise ye = So ye also.
utter = give.
words . App-121 .
easy to be understood = intelligible. Greek. eusemos. Only here.
into . App-104 .
10.
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
it may be = if ( App-118 . b) it may be.
voices . Greek. phone. See 1 Corinthians 14:7 .
in . App-104 .
world . App-129 .
none . Greek. oudeis .
without, &c . = dumb. Greek. aphonos . See Acts 8:32 .
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.
know. App-132 .
meaning = force. App-172 .
barbarian . See Acts 28:2 .
unto . Greek. en . App-104 . in my regard.
12.
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Even so ye = So ye also.
zealous . Greek. zelotes . See Acts 21:20 .
spiritual gifts . Literally spirits. Here put for the operations of the Holy Spirit, as in 1 Corinthians 14:2 . App-101 .
excel = abound.
13.
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
Wherefore . See 1 Corinthians 8:13 .
pray . App-134 .
14.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
spirit . App-101 .
understanding . Greek. nous. Translated seven times "understanding", seventeen times "mind".
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.
sing . Greek. psallo , as Ephesians 5:15 (making melody).
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?
when = if. App-118 .
occupieth = fills up. Greek. anapleroo . Here, 1 Corinthians 16:17 . Matthew 13:14 .Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:2 .Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:30 . 1 Thessalonians 2:16 .
unlearned . See Acts 4:13 . Literally "private" as opposed to "official".
Amen = the amen. See p. 1511.
at . App-104 .
giving of thanks . Greek. eucharistia. See Acts 24:3 .
seeing = since.
understandeth = knoweth. App-132 .
17.
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
givest thanks . Greek. eucharisteo. See Acts 27:35 .
other . Greek. heteros. App-124 .
18.
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
thank . Same as "give thanks", 1 Corinthians 14:17 .
I speak = speaking (as I do).
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.
had rather = desire to. App-102 .
with . Greek. dia , but the texts read "by" (Dat.)
might teach . Greek. katecheo. See Acts 18:25 .
others . App-124 .
20.
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
be = become.
children . App-108 .
understanding . Greek. phren. Only here.
malice . App-128 .
be ye children = act as babes. Greek. nepiazo . Compare App-108 .
men , i.e. of mature age and thought. Greek. teleioa. See App-123 ., and 1Co 125:1 .
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.
the law . The Scriptures of the O.T. are called "the law", "the law and the Prophets", "the law, the Prophets, and the Psalms". Here the law includes Isaiah, just as in John 10:34 ; John 15:25 , it includes the Psalms.
With = In. App-104 .
other tongues . Greek. heteroglossos = other-tongued. Only here.
and other lips = and with lips of others.
people . Greek. laos. See Acts 2:47 .
yet for all that, &c . = not even (Greek. oude) so will they.
hear = hearken to. Greek. eisakouo. Elsewhere, Matthew 6:7 . Luke 1:13 .Acts 10:31 .Hebrews 5:7 ; all of answered prayer. A stronger word than akouo which occ, over 400 times.
Lord . App-98 . The quotation is from Isaiah 28:11 , Isaiah 28:12 . App-107 .
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.
sign . App-176 .
believe . App-150 .
believe not = are unbelieving. Greek. apistos. See App-150 .
serveth = is .
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?
into one place . See Acts 2:1 .
unbelievers . Greek. apistos, as in verses: 1 Corinthians 14:22 , 1 Corinthians 14:24 .
mad . Greek. mainomai. See Acts 12:15 .
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:
one = any one. App-123 .
convinced . Greek. elencho. See John 8:9 . Occurs seventeen times; translated four times "convince", once "convict", five times "rebuke", six times "reprove", and once "tell a fault" (Matthew 18:15 ).
of = by. App-104 .
judged = discerned. App-122 .
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.
are . . . made = become.
manifest . App-106 .
worship . App-137 .
and report = announcing, or declaring. Greek. apangello.
in = among. Greek. en . App-104 .
of a truth = indeed. Greek. ontos. Compare John 8:36 .
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.
How . Greek. ti. Same as "What", 1 Corinthians 14:15 .
every = each.
of you . Omit.
interpretation . See 1 Corinthians 12:10 .
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.
any man = any one, as in 1 Corinthians 14:24 .
by = according to. App-104 .
by course = in turn. Greek. ana ( App-104 .) meros.
28.
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
interpreter . Greek. di erme n eutes. Only here.
29.
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
prophets . App-189 .
the other = the others.
judge = discern, or discriminate. App-122 .
30.
If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
revealed . App-106 .
hold his pence . Same as "keep silence" in verses: 1 Corinthians 14:28 , 1 Corinthians 14:34 .
31.
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
may = can.
one by one . Greek. kath ' ( App-104 .) hena.
32.
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
spirits = spiritual gifts, as in 1 Corinthians 14:12 .
subject to . i.e. under the control of their possessors. So there was no warrant for the scenes of excitement sometimes exhibited in ancient, as well as in modern, days.
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.
under obedience = subject, as in 1 Corinthians 14:32 .
as also, &c . = as the law also saith. Reference is to Genesis 3:16 . Compare 1 Timothy 2:11-13 .
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.
if . App-118 .
will = wish to. App-102 .
their = their own.
husbands . App-123 .
at home = in (Greek. en) the home.
36.
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
came = went.
word . App-121 .
came . Greek. katantao. See Acts 16:1 .
unto . App-104 .
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.
acknowledge . App-132 .
the . All the texts omit.
Lord . App-98 .
38.
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
be ignorant . Greek. agnoeu. See 1 Corinthians 10:1 .
39.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
covet. Same as desire, 1 Corinthians 14:1 .
40.
Let all things be done decently and in order.
decently . Greek. euschemonos. Elsewhere (Romans 13:13 . 1 Thessalonians 4:12 ) translated honestly. Compare 1 Corinthians 7:35 ; 1 Corinthians 12:24 .
in = according to. Greek. kata. App-104 .
order . Greek. ta xis. Elsewhere, Luke 1:8 . Colossians 2:5 .Hebrews 5:6 , Hebrews 5:10 ; Hebrews 6:20 ; Hebrews 7:11 , Hebrews 7:17 , Hebrews 7:21 .