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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 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 (1 Cor. 14:6): 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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:15-20

The apostle here sums up the argument hitherto, and, I. Directs them how they should sing and pray in public (1 Cor. 14:15): What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, etc. He does not forbid their praying or singing under a divine afflatus, or when they were inspired for this purpose, or had such a spiritual gift communicated to them; but he would have them perform both so as to be understood by others, that others... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:1-19

14:1-19 Pursue this love. Covet the spiritual things, especially the gift of forthtelling the truth to others. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one can understand. By the Spirit he speaks things which only the initiated can understand. But he who forthtells the truth to men speaks something which builds them up and encourages them and comforts them. He who speaks in a tongue builds up his own spiritual life, but he who forthtells the truth builds up the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:12

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts ,.... Gr. "of spirits"; that is, "of the gifts of the Spirit", as the Syriac version renders it; and we rightly, "spiritual gifts"; the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, for which the apostle does not blame them; these being what he had before exhorted them to covet earnestly, and zealously affect and desire: but then he further advises, seek that ye may excel, to the edifying of the church : above all, be desirous of such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:13

Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue ,.... The Hebrew, or any other, the gift of speaking with which is bestowed upon him: pray that he may interpret ; that he may have also the gift of interpretation of tongues; for as has been before hinted, these two gifts were distinct; and a man might have the one, and not the other; a man might speak in an unknown tongue, so as to understand himself, what he said, and be edified, and yet not be capable of translating it at once into... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:14

For if I pray in an unknown tongue ,.... In the Hebrew tongue, which the greatest part of the Jewish doctors insisted F1 Vid. Trigland. de Sect. Kar. c. 10. p. 172,173. upon should be only used in prayer; which notion might be borrowed from them, and now greatly prevailed in the church at Corinth; and the custom was used by such as had the gift of speaking that language, even though the body and bulk of the people understood it not: my spirit prayeth ; I pray with my breath... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:15

What is it then ?.... A Talmudic way of speaking, and answers to מהו , often used when a difficulty arises in any case, then the question is, "what is it then?" what is to be done? what is most prudent, advisable, and eligible? what is proper to be determined and resolved on in such a case? the same with τι ουν λεκτεον , "what then is to be said?" used by Philo the Jew F2 Leg. Alleg. l. 1. p. 48. : as here, shall I not pray with the Spirit at all, because my understanding, or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:12

For as much as ye are zealous - Seeing ye affect so much to have spiritual gifts, seek that ye may get those by which ye may excel in edifying the Church. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:13

Pray that he may interpret - Let him who speaks or reads the prophetic declarations in the Old Testament, in that tongue in which they were originally spoken and written, pray to God that he may so understand them himself, and receive the gift of interpretation, that he may be able to explain them in all their depth and latitude to others. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:14

For if I pray in an unknown tongue - If my prayers are composed of sentences and sayings taken out of the prophets, etc., and in their own language - 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. See the note on 1 Corinthians 14:19 . read more

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