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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:19

Yet in the church - In the Christian assembly. The word “church” does not refer to the “edifice” where Christians worshipped, but to the organized body of Christians.I had rather ... - It is probable that in the Christian assembly, usually, there were few who understood foreign languages. Paul, therefore, would not speak in a foreign language when its only use would be mere display.With my understanding - So as to be intelligible to others; so that I might understand it, and so that at the same... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 14:18-19

1 Corinthians 14:18-19. I thank my God, &c. As if he had said, I do not speak thus of foreign languages because I myself am deficient in them, for I must say, to the glory of that Being from whom all my gifts and talents are derived, I speak with tongues more than you all More than the whole society taken together. “The apostle had this great variety of languages given him by inspiration, that he might be able immediately to preach the gospel to all nations, without spending time in... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

The gift of tongues (14:1-25)In the light of his teaching on the variety of spiritual gifts and the importance of love, Paul now considers the problem that had arisen in the Corinthian church concerning tongues. The gift is allowable, but prophecy is preferable. This is because those who speak in tongues speak to God, not to their fellow worshippers, and therefore are of spiritual help only to themselves (unless someone interprets for them). Prophets, however, speak to all and so build up the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 14:19

had rather = desire to. App-102 . with . Greek. dia , but the texts read "by" (Dat.) might teach . Greek. katecheo. See Acts 18:25 . others . App-124 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:19

Howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.Well, there it is! Anyone in possession of God's Spirit would have exactly the same attitude; but no, the tongue-speakers would rather speak ten thousand words in tongues than five words that anybody could understand!In the church ... "This of course refers to the Christian assembly."[10] All of Paul's tongue-speaking was apparently done in private... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:19

19. I had rather—The Greek verb more literally expresses this meaning, "I WISH to speak five words with my understanding (rather) than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue"; even the two thousandth part of ten thousand. The Greek for "I would rather," would be a different verb. Paul would NOT wish at all to speak "ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

4. The need for intelligibility 14:1-25"Paul had discussed the gift of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and the graces of the Spirit; and now he concluded this section by explaining the government of the Spirit in the public worship services of the church. Apparently there was a tendency for some of the Corinthians to lose control of themselves as they exercised their gifts, and Paul had to remind them of the fundamental principles that ought to govern the public meetings of the church.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

Application in view of believers 14:13-19Paul continued his argument by clarifying the effect that unintelligible speech has on believers gathered for worship. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 14:18-19

Corinthian tongues-enthusiasts could not reject Paul’s instruction because he did not have the gift himself and so failed to appreciate its value. He believed in the validity of the gift but did not value it highly. [Note: See Chadwick, p. 269.] He almost deprecated it. Edifying instruction was 10,000 times more important than personal private exultation for the building up of the church gathered for worship. This is another use of hyperbole, which was common in antiquity. [Note: Keener, p.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

(e) Spiritual Gifts(iii) The Gift of Tongues subordinate to ProphecyThe Apostle in this chapter deals with the abuse of the gift of tongues which characterised the Corinthians, and declares that it is inferior to the gift of prophecy, though valuable enough in itself if kept in proper control. Speaking with tongues is a phenomenon we meet with in the NT. only here and in the Acts of the Apostles. The gift as recorded in Acts 2 seems to have been the power to speak in foreign languages. We are... read more

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