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| Chapter 14 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather so that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God, for no man understandeth him, however it may be that in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth, speaketh unto men for edification and exhortation and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself, but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied; for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, unless he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6 ¶ Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I shall speak to you either by revelation or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even things without life, making sounds, whether pipe or harp, unless 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 for the battle? 9 So likewise you, unless ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken, for ye shall be speaking 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, inasmuch as ye are zealous to possess spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Therefore 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. 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 that I speak with tongues more than ye all. 19 Yet in the church I would 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. Nonetheless, 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 they will not hear Me," saith the Lord. 22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who believe not; but prophesying serveth not those who believe not, but those who believe. 23 If therefore the whole church come together into one place and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who 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 is unlearned, he is convinced by all and is judged by 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 in 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 for edification. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two or at the most by three, and then in turn, 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 two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 If anything be revealed to another who 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 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 33 for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as it is 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? Did the Word of God come out from you? Or did it come 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 Therefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak in tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order. |
Misuse of the Gifts. The Corinthians were apparently losing control of themselves when they were using the gifts especially during public meetings. Paul now talks about what should control these meetings. v1-11 Prophecy verses Tongues. v1-5 After putting love as the main gift Paul talks about the Corinthians desire of other gifts. Prophesy should be the next important one, not tongues. Why? Because speaking in tongues may benefit the person but not the church, God is the only one who can understand unless someone translates for the church. The Corinthians wanted to build themselves up personally, not the church. This is opposite to the "One Body in Christ" teaching. Prophets of the New Testament were not foretelling the future, they were able to receive God’s message and teaching through the Holy Spirits action and then passed this onto the church. This edified (built up) the church. v4,5. In verse 27,28 Paul said that if there was no interpreter keep quite. We must remember that the printed New Testament was not yet available, God’s teaching came through the prophets and sometimes via tongues. v4 It is a pity that the original translators of the King James Bible inserted the word "unknown" as it was not in the original text, as shown by it being in ‘italics’ in some printed Bibles. If you look at Act 2:4-11, the first appearance of ‘tongues’, the disciples were speaking in languages which others could understand, the disciple may not have been able to understand what he spoke but others did. v6-11 Problems of Tongues. "What would be the use if I came to you speaking in tongues" says Paul, "you would not understand. It would be far better to use the other gifts listed in v6. v7-9 think of the problems if all instruments sounded the same, how could you tell which was a pipe or harp? What happens if a trumpet gives a sound of rubbish, when you are in battle, is it attack or retreat? So if you speak in tongues and no one understands, then you are really speaking into the air. In v10 Paul is talking about world languages not heavenly languages, each language is different but has its own meaning. So to a Corinthian Greek, a ‘barbarian’ would be the lowest person socially, probably a foreigner. v12-15 The use of Tongues. v12 Yes, the Corinthians were after these ‘excitement’ gifts, "they are not wrong" says Paul, "but it is better to edify the church." If he wants to speak in tongues then he should ask God to provide a translator v13. v14,15 If I pray or sing in tongues, my spirit may understand but my mind does not, I do not understand. It is better to understand your prayers and songs to God. v16,17 How can the church agree with you and say "Amen" (I agree) at the end if they do not understand. "I speak in many tongues" Paul says, "but I would rather just speak 5 words which all can understand." v20 Be mature in understanding but be innocent, like children, when sin is involved. v21-25 What are tongues for? The "tongues" did have a message to the Jews, they were a sign from God of His judgement. Paul quotes Is. 28:11-12, This passage refers to the Assyrian invasion. The invasion was evidence of God’s judgement on them, the Jews had not listened to Him when He had spoken in their own language through their prophets. Now the Jews were being invaded by the Assyrians whose language they could not understand,. The Jewish nation was always seeking signs Matt 12:38 so at Pentecost the apostles talking in other tongues was an interesting sign to unbelieving Jews, but it was not until Peter preached in their own language that they were converted. v22 Tongues is therefore a sign to the unbeliever. Paul now asks "What would happen if all the church meetings were in tongues, how could someone find salvation through Jesus if they cannot understand?" Preaching in their own language is the only way to save the unsaved. v26-40 Order in a church meeting. The Corinthian church meetings were a problem, they were using their spiritual gifts for themselves and not for growth of the church. Each brother thought his message was better than another, so was probably interrupting, plus the ‘liberated’ women were adding to the problem. In v26 we can see what may have been a picture of the meeting. Each was invited to take part as the Lord directed. If they ignored God’s leading then there could not be teaching and growth, just chaos. It appears that the tongue speakers were causing the most problems so Paul starts with them. v27-33 Speaking and the interpretation plus the meditation and edification must be done in order, Paul states a maximum number to be at a meeting and each message must be dealt with in order. If there was no one able to translate then they should not speak. Why was each message to be judged? It is possible that a person could think God was speaking when it was just in his mind or worse still Satan could be sending the message. 2 Cor 11:13-14. If God was in charge there should be order and self control, God does not cause chaos, only Satan. Today we have the completed Scripture so we use this Word of God to judge the message we are hearing, asking for help from the Holy Spirit to understand. 1 John 4:1-6; 2 Peter 2:1-22 warns us that there are false teachers, even true teachers can make mistakes. v34-35 Women were not to speak, but Paul had indicated in 1 Cor 11:5 that women could pray and prophesy so this means that the judging of the messages must be only in the hands of the men. 1 Tim 2:11,12 v36-40 Paul now gives warnings, "Did God’s Word come from you or God?" The Corinthians may have been thinking that God was only speaking to them, a dangerous position as the messages could be from the devil 1 Tim 4:1ff. "God’s Word did not originate in your church" Paul is saying, "know that it is from God, and what I write to you is by God’s commandment, " v37. v38 If a person ignores Paul’s teaching then he is rejecting God’s Word and will remain ignorant. v39-40 Paul now repeats his emphasis that Prophesy is more important, it makes a church grow but tongues are OK if used in the right manner. |
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Easy English Translation
| The 1st Letter to Corinthians |
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 |
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| Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 |
| Chapter 16 | Intro. Page |
