Chapter 14:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Romans 2 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 14
Concise Complete
Prophecy preferred to the gift of tongues. (1-5)
The unprofitableness of speaking in unknown languages. (6-14) Exhortations to
worship that can be understood. (15-25) Disorders from vain display of gifts;
(26-33) and from women speaking in the church. (34-40)
Verses 1-5
Prophesying, that is, explaining Scripture, is compared with speaking with
tongues. This drew attention, more than the plain interpretation of Scripture;
it gratified pride more, but promoted the purposes of Christian charity less; it
would not equally do good to the souls of men. What cannot be understood, never
can edify. No advantage can be reaped from the most excellent discourses, if
delivered in language such as the hearers cannot speak or understand. Every
ability or possession is valuable in proportion to its usefulness. Even fervent,
spiritual affection must be governed by the exercise of the understanding, else
men will disgrace the truths they profess to promote.
Verses
6-14 Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understood
by his hearers. To speak words that have no meaning to those who hear them, is
but speaking into the air. That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no
meaning; in this case, speaker and hearers are barbarians to each other. All
religious services should be so performed in Christian assemblies, that all may
join in, and profit by them. Language plain and easy to be understood, is the
most proper for public worship, and other religious exercises. Every true
follower of Christ will rather desire to do good to others, than to get a name
for learning or fine speaking.
Verses
15-25 There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly
Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than
to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of
Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them.
Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should
not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of
mischief. It is a proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up
to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can
never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did who delivered
their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity
ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language
which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly
interpret Scripture, or preach the great truths and rules of the gospel, a
heathen or unlearned person might become a convert to Christianity. His
conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him,
and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present
in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderful power
to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.
Verses
26-33 Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let
all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another
were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at
once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed
at the same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one
meeting, and this one after the other, not all at once. The man who is inspired
by the Spirit of God will observe order and decency in delivering his
revelations. God never teaches men to neglect their duties, or to act in any way
unbecoming their age or station.
Verses
34-40 When the apostle exhorts Christian women to seek information on
religious subjects from their husbands at home, it shows that believing families
ought to assemble for promoting spiritual knowledge. The Spirit of Christ can
never contradict itself; and if their revelations are against those of the
apostle, they do not come from the same Spirit. The way to keep peace, truth,
and order in the church, is to seek that which is good for it, to bear with that
which is not hurtful to its welfare, and to keep up good behaviour, order, and
decency.
Chapter 14:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Romans 2 Corinthians
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
