1 Corinthians 14:4-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 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, I. With an exhortation to charity (1 Cor. 14:1): Follow after charity, pursue it. The original, diokete, when spoken of a thing, signifies a singular concern to obtain it; and is commonly taken in a good and... 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 14:4

He that speaketh its an unknown tongue ,.... Be it the Hebrew language, or any other; some copies, and the Ethiopic version, read, "with tongues": edifieth himself ; his heart may be warmed, his affections raised, his devotion kept up, and he be in a very spiritual and comfortable frame, knowing and understanding what he himself says: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church : which is the great end of the Gospel ministry, which is for the edifying the body of the church:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:5

I would that ye all spake with tongues ,.... This the apostle says, to prevent being misunderstood; for his view was not to bring the gift of tongues into contempt, or to represent it as at all times, and on all occasions, useless and insignificant; nor would he be thought to envy them this gift, or beat them off of desiring it; for, for his own part, he could wish they all had it, was it the will of God; though he must needs say, that prophesying was most desirable by him, as being most... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:4

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue - In the Hebrew for instance, the knowledge of the depth and power of which he has got by a Divine revelation, edifieth himself by that knowledge. But he that prophesieth - Has the gift of preaching. Edifieth the Church - Speaketh unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort, 1 Corinthians 14:3 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:5

I would that ye all spake with tongues - The word θελω does not so much imply a wish or desire, as a command or permission. As if he had said: I do not restrain you to prophesying or teaching though I prefer that; but I give you full permission to speak in Hebrew whenever it is proper, and when one is present who can interpret for the edification of the Church, provided yourselves have not that gift, though you understand the language. The apostle said tongue, in the singular number, 1... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:4

Verse 4 4.He that speaketh in another tongue, edifieth himself. In place of what he had said before — that he speaketh unto God, he now says — he speaketh to himself But whatever is done in the Church, ought to be for the common benefit. Away, then, with that misdirected ambition, which gives occasion for the advantage of the people generally being hindered! Besides, Paul speaks by way of concession: for when ambition makes use of such empty vauntings, (811) there is inwardly no desire of doing... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:5

Verse 5 5.I would that ye all spake with tongues Again he declares that he does not give such a preference to prophecy, as not to leave some place for foreign tongues. This must be carefully observed. For God has conferred nothing upon his Church in vain, and languages were of some benefit. (812) Hence, although the Corinthians, by a misdirected eagerness for show, had rendered that gift partly useless and worthless, and partly even injurious, yet Paul, nevertheless, commends the use of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

Love controls zeal in behalf of spiritual gifts. In the opening verse we have three ideas, viz. love as a virtue to be diligently sought and practised, spiritual gifts as objects worthy of desire, and prophesying as a gift among gifts to be especially prized. "Rather that ye may prophesy" is the formative thought of this chapter, and it must be kept in view by the reader, since it is explicit or implicit in every associated idea. But this leading thought is closely connected with the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:1-19

Usefulness. I. THE DESIRE FOR SPIRITUAL GIFTS IS LEGITIMATE AND PRAISEWORTHY . 1. We must not rest content even with the possession of love. We must seek qualification for making that love effective. Inactive love is both suspicious and useless. If we have a true love for men, we shall seek to be helpful to them, especially in their spiritual life, and to this end we shall seek all possible means for conveying to them the knowledge of the love of God and. the... read more

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