I Corinthians 14
Last time we studied I Corinthians 13
and concluded with these thoughts:
(1 Cor 13:13) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Love is great because we must love God and our fellow man.
(Mat 22:37-39 NKJV) Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' {38} "This is the first and great commandment. (Matt 22:39) "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' {40} "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
(1 Cor 13:13) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Let’s go back to the conclusion of chapter 12. Chapter 12 was about spiritual gifts:
(1 Cor 12:31 NKJV) "But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way."
Notice how Chapter 14 ties in directly with Chapters 12 and 13.
(1 Cor 14 NKJV) "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
"Pursue love:” Chapter 13
“Desire spiritual gifts:” They really did!
“but especially that you may prophesy.”
This was the area where they needed help.
Προφητεύω prophēteuō prof-ate-yoo'-o
to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office: - prophesy. (Note Verse 3 below)
(1 Cor 14:2) For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
“for no one understands him;” Verse 5 gives the exception: “unless indeed he interprets,”
“however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”
“in the spirit” This appears to be the man’s spirit? That means that his spirit, or his mind understands, but others do not. This seems to be further brought out by verse 4.
(1 Cor 14:3) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
The value or use of prophecies:
edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
{4} He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Again, this was part of the problem of the Corinthian Christians. They were concerned first and foremost about themselves, and too little for other people.
(1 Cor 14:5) I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Their fascination was with tongues. The same is true for many today. Paul is pointing out that to be able to prophecy is better so that the church may receive edification. Again, the Corinthians were thinking only of themselves, not of how they could help and encourage others.
Self interest is a huge problem in the church today! I think it helps account for many of the divisions that we have in the church today.
(1 Cor 14:6) But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? {7} Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
Again, Paul is underlining what is truly important: helping other people!
Speaking to someone in Italian when neither of you know Italian, may be impressive, but it is of no real value unless there is a message that can be understood.
(1 Cor 14:8) For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
Now the application:
(1 Cor 14:9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
“For you will be speaking into the air.”
You are only making sounds—worthless sounds! Impressive only to you! The one who hears may be impressed if he understands that you are actually speaking another language without having learned it, but who benefits?
(1Cor 14:10) There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. {11} Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
I think these two verses are very clear that Paul is speaking of spoken languages of his day: “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.”
He is not speaking of just sounds, or sounds that have the inflections of speech. He is speaking of actual languages! This was the marvel of Pentecost: “And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.” (Acts 2:6 NKJV)
(1 Cor 14:12) Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. {13} Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
(1 Cor 15:14) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
I find this a bit challenging to interpret:
Adam Clarke says: “my spirit prayeth, my heart is engaged in the work, and my prayers answer all the purpose of prayers to myself; but my understanding is unfruitful to all others, because they do not understand my prayers, and I either do not or cannot interpret them. Regardless of the exact explanation, I believe we can understand his conclusion:
(1 Cor 14:15) What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
The immediate application:
“I will pray with the spirit,” I will pray with my spirit involved. I will also pray with the understanding. I will use my mind. I will think about what I am saying. “I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
The Application for Today
Think about what you are singing,
Consider this about the songs we sing:
§ They are not inspired (unless quoting scripture)
§ The author may have had a different experience than you: “Years I spent in vanity and pride.”
§ The author may have a bad attitude: “Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder.”
§ Is he emphasizing the right thing? “I will cling to the old rugged cross” How? Where is it? Are we supposed to try, or are we to trust, and cling to Christ? Does it matter? I think it makes a lot of difference.
§ Is it scriptural? “God in three persons, blessed Trinity” Where is that found in scripture?
Think about what you are praying!
Consider verse 16
(1 Cor 14:16) Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
If you are praying in a tongue and there is no interpretation, how can someone intelligently say “amen”?
(1 Cor 14:17) For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. {18} I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; {19} yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. {20} Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
What a tremendous way of wrapping up this first half of the chapter:
Brethren, do not be children in understanding;
It should be clear, that they have a lot of “growing up to do!”
They remind me of the mentality of teenage boys trying to impress someone with their vehicle!
“however, in malice be babes,”
Ironically, it takes a mature person to be a “babe” in malice. To let insults and injury pass without making a big deal of it.
“But in understanding be mature.”
Paul was the example:
(1 Cor 14:18) I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; {19} yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
In teenage terms, he had the biggest engine.
He could outrun anything.
He could have made the most noise.
He could have “laid rubber” at 60 mph.
But he did none of that! No one knew how many “horsepower” he had, because he quietly used it for the glory of God, and the benefit of others:
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
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