4 He that speaketh G2980 in an unknown tongue G1100 edifieth G3618 himself; G1438 but G1161 he that prophesieth G4395 edifieth G3618 the church. G1577
5 G1161 I would G2309 that ye G5209 all G3956 spake G2980 with tongues, G1100 but G1161 rather G3123 that G2443 ye prophesied: G4395 for G1063 greater G3187 is he that prophesieth G4395 than G2228 he that speaketh G2980 with tongues, G1100 except G1622 G1508 he interpret, G1329 that G2443 the church G1577 may receive G2983 edifying. G3619
6 G1161 Now, G3570 brethren, G80 if G1437 I come G2064 unto G4314 you G5209 speaking G2980 with tongues, G1100 what G5101 shall I profit G5623 you, G5209 except G3362 I shall speak G2980 to you G5213 either G2228 by G1722 revelation, G602 or G2228 by G1722 knowledge, G1108 or G2228 by G1722 prophesying, G4394 or G2228 by G1722 doctrine? G1322
7 And even G3676 things without life G895 giving G1325 sound, G5456 whether G1535 pipe G836 or G1535 harp, G2788 except G3362 they give G1325 a distinction G1293 in the sounds, G5353 how G4459 shall it be known G1097 what is piped G832 or G2228 harped? G2789
8 For G1063 G2532 if G1437 the trumpet G4536 give G1325 an uncertain G82 sound, G5456 who G5101 shall prepare himself G3903 to G1519 the battle? G4171
9 So G3779 likewise G2532 ye, G5210 except G3362 ye utter G1325 by G1223 the tongue G1100 words G3056 easy to be understood, G2154 how G4459 shall it be known G1097 what is spoken? G2980 for G1063 ye shall G2071 speak G2980 into G1519 the air. G109
10 G1487 There are, G2076 it may be, G5177 so many G5118 kinds G1085 of voices G5456 in G1722 the world, G2889 and G2532 none of them G3762 is without signification. G880 G846
11 Therefore G3767 if G3362 I know G1492 not G3362 the meaning G1411 of the voice, G5456 I shall be G2071 unto him that speaketh G2980 a barbarian, G915 and G2532 he that speaketh G2980 shall be a barbarian G915 unto G1722 me. G1698
12 Even G2532 so G3779 ye, G5210 forasmuch as G1893 ye are G2075 zealous G2207 of spiritual G4151 gifts, seek G2212 that G2443 ye may excel G4052 to G4314 the edifying G3619 of the church. G1577
13 Wherefore G1355 let him that speaketh G2980 in an unknown tongue G1100 pray G4336 that G2443 he may interpret. G1329
14 For G1063 if G1437 I pray G4336 in an unknown tongue, G1100 my G3450 spirit G4151 prayeth, G4336 but G1161 my G3450 understanding G3563 is G2076 unfruitful. G175
15 What G5101 is it G2076 then? G3767 I will pray G4336 with the spirit, G4151 and G1161 I will pray G4336 with the understanding G3563 also: G2532 I will sing G5567 with the spirit, G4151 and G1161 I will sing G5567 with the understanding G3563 also. G2532
16 Else G1893 when G1437 thou shalt bless G2127 with the spirit, G4151 how G4459 shall he that occupieth G378 the room G5117 of the unlearned G2399 say G2046 Amen G281 at G1909 thy G4674 giving of thanks, G2169 seeing G1894 he understandeth G1492 not G3756 what G5101 thou sayest? G3004
17 For G1063 thou G4771 verily G3303 givest thanks G2168 well, G2573 but G235 the other G2087 is G3618 not G3756 edified. G3618
18 I thank G2168 my G3450 God, G2316 I speak G2980 with tongues G1100 more than G3123 ye G5216 all: G3956
19 Yet G235 in G1722 the church G1577 I had rather G2309 speak G2980 five G4002 words G3056 with G1223 my G3450 understanding, G3563 that G2443 by my voice I might teach G2727 others G243 also, G2532 than G2228 ten thousand G3463 words G3056 in G1722 an unknown tongue. G1100
20 Brethren, G80 be G1096 not G3361 children G3813 in understanding: G5424 howbeit G235 in malice G2549 be ye children, G3515 but G1161 in understanding G5424 be G1096 men. G5046
21 In G1722 the law G3551 it is written, G1125 G3754 With G1722 men of other tongues G2084 and G2532 other G1722 G2087 lips G5491 will I speak G2980 unto this G5129 people; G2992 and G2532 yet for all G3779 that will they G1522 not G3761 hear G1522 me, G3450 saith G3004 the Lord. G2962
22 Wherefore G5620 tongues G1100 are G1526 for G1519 a sign, G4592 not G3756 to them that believe, G4100 but G235 to them that believe not: G571 but G1161 prophesying G4394 serveth not G3756 for them that believe not, G571 but G235 for them which believe. G4100
23 If G1437 therefore G3767 the whole G3650 church G1577 be come together G4905 into G1909 one place, G846 and G2532 all G3956 speak G2980 with tongues, G1100 and G1161 there come in G1525 those that are unlearned, G2399 or G2228 unbelievers, G571 will they G2046 not G3756 say G2046 that G3754 ye are mad? G3105
24 But G1161 if G1437 all G3956 prophesy, G4395 and G1161 there come in G1525 one G5100 that believeth not, G571 or G2228 one unlearned, G2399 he is convinced G1651 of G5259 all, G3956 he is judged G350 of G5259 all: G3956
25 And G2532 thus G3779 are G1096 the secrets G2927 of his G846 heart G2588 made G1096 manifest; G5318 and G2532 so G3779 falling down G4098 on G1909 his face G4383 he will worship G4352 God, G2316 and report G518 that G3754 God G2316 is G2076 in G1722 you G5213 of a truth. G3689
26 How G5101 is it G2076 then, G3767 brethren? G80 when G3752 ye come together, G4905 every one G1538 of you G5216 hath G2192 a psalm, G5568 hath G2192 a doctrine, G1322 hath G2192 a tongue, G1100 hath G2192 a revelation, G602 hath G2192 an interpretation. G2058 Let G1096 all things G3956 be done G1096 unto G4314 edifying. G3619
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 14
In this chapter the apostle directs them about the use of their spiritual gifts, preferring those that are best and fitted to do the greatest good.
1Cr 14:1-5
The apostle, in the foregoing chapter, had himself preferred, and advised the Corinthians to prefer, Christian charity to all spiritual gifts. Here he teaches them, among spiritual gifts, which they should prefer, and by what rules they should make comparison. He begins the chapter,
1Cr 14:6-14
In this paragraph he goes on to show how vain a thing the ostentation of speaking unknown and unintelligible language must be. It was altogether unedifying and unprofitable (v. 6): If I come to you speaking with tongues, what will it profit you, unless I speak to you by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? It would signify nothing to utter any of these in an unknown tongue. An apostle, with all his furniture, could not edify, unless he spoke to the capacity of his hearers. New revelations, the most clear explications of old ones, the most instructive discourses in themselves, would be unprofitable in a language not understood. Nay, interpretations of scripture made in an unknown tongue would need to be interpreted over again, before they could be of any use.
1Cr 14:15-20
The apostle here sums up the argument hitherto, and,
1Cr 14:21-25
In this passage the apostle pursues the argument, and reasons from other topics; as,
1Cr 14:26-33
In this passage the apostle reproves them for their disorder, and endeavours to correct and regulate their conduct for the future.
1Cr 14:34-35
Here the apostle,
1Cr 14:36-40
In these verses the apostle closes his argument,