Chapter 14
It is plain that one general subject occupies the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth chapters; it is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church or Assembly of God, and His gifts, with their proper exercise. No other subject has so large a place in this Epistle, and we may with sorrow add that it would appear that few other portions of 1st Corinthians have been more slighted in the practice of the religious systems of our day.
Verse 1. The thirteenth chapter has shown the way of surpassing excellence (chapter 12:31), and the opening words of our chapter leave no room for doubt as to the preeminent place of love in the assembly: Follow after love, and desire (or earnestly desire) spiritual manifestations, but rather that ye may prophesy. Evidently the believers at Corinth were most impressed by those gifts of the Holy Spirit which gave opportunity for display; speaking in tongues was of that character. The apostle tells them that prophesying was what they should desire.
Verses 2, 3. He that speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands him, though in spirit he speaks mysteries. It is evident that such a one is not edifying-building up-the children of God. But he that prophesies, speaks to men to edification, and exhortation (or, more exactly, encouragement) and comfort. Thus souls are blessed and God is glorified.
It will be seen that prophesying is, in the Scriptures, not at all limited to foretelling events. Old Testament prophets did, it is true, on occasion foretell many things, but this was in every case only part of God's design to reach the consciences and hearts of His wayward people Israel. Acts 11:2828And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (Acts 11:28), and 21:10, 11 tell of things foretold by a New Testament prophet named Agabus; and in Acts 13:11Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (Acts 13:1), and 15:32 we read of prophets about whom nothing is said as to foretelling.
It has long been rightly said, that prophesying is not so much foretelling, as it is forth telling, and that, the mind of God. Since the completion of the Bible, prophesying may have somewhat changed in character, because the Word of God is now complete and in our hands, but in the language of another,
“A prophet is one who is so in communication with God, as to be able to communicate His mind.”
Prophecy “might contain an application of the thoughts of God, and address on the part of God to the soul, to the conscience, which would be more than knowledge, but which would not be a new revelation. God acts therein without revealing a new truth or a new fact.”
“When any one teaches, he who is spiritual profits by it; when one prophesies, even he who is not spiritual may feel it; he is reached and judged; and it is the same thing with the Christian's conscience.”
Teaching is explaining the Word of God, and very much needed; but of greater value is that sort of ministry which brings a message from God exactly suited to the needs of the consciences of the saints. May He be pleased to bestow much more of it!
Verse 4. He that speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he that prophesies, edifies the Assembly,-how much more important! Indeed it is that which is given prominence in this chapter.
Verse 5. The Corinthians seem to have coveted the gift of tongues in a special way; the large hearted apostle says, I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied, for greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the Assembly may receive edifying. The gift of tongues, with other gifts of the Holy Spirit, ceased long ago, with the spread of the gospel throughout the civilized world, the need for it having passed. Very useful it was on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4-114And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:4‑11)), we can see, and no doubt it was employed many times in the early history of the Church; but to be of value, the language spoken had of course to be understood by the hearers.
In the 6th verse the apostle begins to show by a series of examples how mistaken the Corinthians were in using the Spirit's gift of tongues as they did. First, a visit from himself is supposed: If he came to them speaking with tongues—and he possessed that gift more than all of the Corinthians (verse 18)—what should he profit them except he should speak to them either in revelation of truth, not theretofore made known, or in knowledge of truth already revealed? In the former case he would be prophesying; in the latter he would, we gather, be teaching, but in either he would be seeking their profit.
He turns to speak of lifeless things (musical instruments) giving a sound; if they give no distinction to the notes, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? And (verse 8) if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for war? Thus also (verse 9) those to whom the apostle writes, unless with their tongues they gave a distinct speech, how should it be known what is spoken? for they would be speaking to the air.
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of undistinguishable sound. If, therefore, says the apostle, I do not know the power of the sound, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks a barbarian to me. Even so ye, he continues, forasmuch as ye are desirous of spirits (see the marginal note in your Bible), seek that ye may abound for the edification of the Assembly (verses 10-12).
How profited the children of God are, where the character of ministry reflects this seeking to abound to the edifying of the Assembly! And why should it ever be otherwise? Would that every brother, young and old, should realize in his own soul the important place which this chapter gives to the building up of the saints; and seek, through knowledge of the Scriptures and prayerful dependence upon God, to serve Him and His people in this way!
Verse 13. One having the Spirit's gift of tongues, should, realizing that it was not intended for the Assembly (verse 22), pray that he may interpret; not human intellect, but a further gift of God is needed, that the saints may be edified.
Verses 14-20. The edification of the Assembly continues to be the theme, and praying in a tongue, though one's spirit be engaged in it, is out of place there, because one's understanding is unfruitful; those present and hearing do not know what is said. Praying and singing and giving of thanks are to be not only the action of my spirit within me—for man is a tripartite being, spirit, and soul and body (1 Thess. 5:2323And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23))-but the understanding must be engaged; it follows then of necessity that I shall pray, or sing or give thanks in the language known to all; then the others will understand. Endowed beyond all to whom he wrote, with the gift of tongues, the apostle desired to speak five words with his understanding, that he might instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. A needed word of admonition follows (verse 20):
“Brethren, be not children in your minds, but in malice be babes; but in your minds be grown men” (N. T.).
In the 21st verse the quotation is from Isa. 28:11, 1211For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. (Isaiah 28:11‑12), where God warned Israel who would not listen to His servants, that He would speak to them with the stammering lips of foreigners; that would be a sign of their distance from Him, and of His judgment that would fall upon them. Tongues therefore (verse 22) were not for believers, but for the unbelieving; but prophecy is not to the latter, but to those who believe.
Finally the apostle, by an example of what might occur in Corinth, if the whole Assembly came together in one place, pictures the deplorable effect upon simple persons or unbelievers entering in and finding all to be speaking with tongues; will they not say, he says, ye are mad? But if instead, all were prophesying, and some unbeliever or simple person came in, he would be convicted of all, judged of all; the secrets of his heart are manifested; and thus, falling on his face he would do homage to God, reporting that God was indeed among them.
The day when the whole Church or Assembly of God might come together in one place has long passed, yet the original ground of gathering (Matt. 1:8: 20; Eph. 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4), etc.), remains the refuge of all who in a time of ruin and failure cling to God's Word as sufficient for even the darkest day.
In verses 26-40 the apostle applies that which has been brought out in the three chapters (12, 13 and 14) to the regulation of the Assembly. There was much gift at Corinth (chapter 1:5), but little sense of responsibility to God, and every one came with a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation. All should be done to edification. If any should speak in a tongue, two, or at the most three should do so, and one must interpret; if there were no interpreter, silence was called for; such should speak to themselves and to God.
Two or three prophets might speak, and the others were to judge, or discern what was said, if it really came from God. But if there be a revelation to another sitting there, let the first be silent, says the inspired apostle. All might prophesy one by one. The spirits of the prophets were subject to the prophets; they were, as another has said, masters of themselves in the exercise of this marvelous power which wrought in them, unlike the frenzy which characterized those under the power of demons. For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as in all the Assemblies of the saints (verse 33, N. T.). Women are to be silent in the Assemblies; they are to be in subjection, as in the Old Testament.
The Corinthians had departed from the order of the Holy Spirit in the Assembly, and the apostle in closing the subject, dis cussed in these three chapters, inquires, Did the Word of God go out from you, or did it come to you only? And he lays down this rule,that if anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which he wrote to them are the Lord's commandments. If any were ignorant that he wrote by the Holy Spirit with God's authority, it was ignorance indeed; let such be given up to their ignorance.
In conclusion, the brethren were to desire to prophesy, and were not to forbid the speaking with tongues; but all things should be done decently and in order.