This command comes right in the middle of an extensive treatise on tongue-speaking; and to blow this up to a universal law that no woman might open her mouth in a church service is simply contrary to all reason. One humble teacher of the word of God does more good than a thousand tongue-speakers, even if their alleged "gift" should be accepted as genuine. 1 Corinthians 14 - Speaking in unknown Tongues by Albert Barnes Commentary. Yes, but only to the extent that it had been perverted by dragging it into the public worship. or came it from you alone? So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? Their vigorous advocacy of it had cast them in a role of immodesty and rebellion even against their husbands, hence Paul's rule as stated here. Anna spoke openly in the temple to everybody; and all Israel went "up to Deborah" for judgment. Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men. Even the utility of the gift of prophecy was here said to perform the same services usually associated with ordinary teaching. ). Until it is affirmed that she should, it is a sin to make this rule universal. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24. Again from McGarvey: Of course, the gift of prophecy is no longer found in the church; but again to quote McGarvey: McGarvey's comment written during the previous century cannot be set aside as a mere catering to current trends. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. The questions have been lightly edited for brevity, clarity and confidentiality. The first announcement of it came in a situation where it was drastically needed; and, despite the fact that over-formalization may occur from an over-zealous enforcement of it, it is the failure to enforce it at all which distinguishes many so-called "free" religious groups today. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one meeting, and this one after the other, not all at once. Paul, of course, made the comparison with instruments known in his day. references to encouragement and consolation (1 Cor 14:3, 31) and the scene describing the ideal exercise of prophecy (1 Cor 14:24–25). Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. Well, there it is! The unprofitableness of speaking in unknown languages. They are a sign of judgment, as the unknown tongues of the Assyrians were in Isaiah’s day. What then was the force of the rule under the old covenant? Paul's method of doing so was a marvel. [14] Henry Bettenson, Documents of the Christian Church (New York and London: Oxford University Press, 1947), p. 6. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. These are: 2. Paul's appeal here to the Old Testament proves this. Certainly, he didn't do it in church assemblies. There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. This refers to the true gift of tongues as manifested in Corinth and has the information that it was PRIVATELY utilized. Any use of a tongue in such prayers contravened the purpose of congregational participation in the public prayers; and it is an error, therefore, to suppose that the Holy Spirit was guiding those tongue-speakers to do anything of that kind. So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church. By the above title is meant the counterfeit, faked and pretended gift of tongues. Phoebe (Romans 16:1) was not a deacon in any official sense. 1 Corinthians 16 – A Collection and a Conclusion A. In this the third chapter of Paul's writings specifically related to tongue speaking and other spiritual gifts, the full thrust of his purpose is revealed. Since we today are dealing with a far different situation, it is proper to speak much more plainly of those bastard tongues at Corinth. Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As McGarvey said it: In this connection, see also 1 Corinthians 13:8-11, above. In a word, these four verses lay down practically the same rules for the prophets as those applying to those having the tongues (of either kind). James Rosscup writes that "This was the great work in the life of the versatile Dean of Canterbury. Neither the KJV nor the English Revised Version (1885) is correct here. Many commentators believe that the LEGITIMATE gift of tongues at Corinth was no different from what it was on Pentecost; and there is a considerable weight of evidence to support this. In a sense, these next few verses counterbalance what he said in 1 Corinthians 1:18 to 1 Corinthians 2:5. The teacher did more good and was therefore greater than the tongue-speaker. speaking in an unknown tongue to you of another foreign country. Perhaps Paul is saying that tongues are indeed a sign to unbelievers, but not a positive sign. Whatever the genuine gift was (at Corinth), there is simply no glimpse whatever of it in this chapter. Bible > Commentaries > 1 Corinthians 16:14 ... 1 Corinthians 14:1. But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the great truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person might become a convert to Christianity. In praying and giving thanks, 1 Corinthians 14:14-17. [2] Billy Graham, as quoted in Christianity Today (Washington, D.C.: Today's Publications, Inc., 1976), Vol. He begins the chapter, I. It does just the opposite of converting unbelievers, with the result that they turn aside in disgust, as Paul stated in the very next verse. This applied even if an interpreter was present. This drew attention, more than the plain interpretation of Scripture; it gratified pride more, but promoted the purposes of Christian charity less; it would not equally do good to the souls of men. But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching. (15-25) Disorders from vain display of gifts; (26-33) and from women speaking in the church. The fact of Paul's calling it a "sign" for believers instead of saying that it was merely for the benefit of believers indicates that the miraculous endowment of certain teachers in the primitive church is in view. The notable violations of this during our own times have in no sense cast any reflections upon the wisdom of this rule, but rather have confirmed it as divine. George W. DeHoff, a current church leader and a scholar of great discernment, vigorously supported McGarvey's position on this question, saying: Some things, however, are forbidden to women in the Christian religion. 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 but in the assemblies of the church prophecy is more useful. Here are a few of the questions I have received over the years and the answers I attempted to provide. Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? To make this a universal rule for all women is to ignore the limitations evident in the passage. Rules like these carry the strong implication that some at Corinth had claimed otherwise. Clearly, the prophetesses of the Old Testament exercised their gift publicly, even the priests and the king being subject to what they said. Follow after charity--as your first and chief aim, seeing that it is "the greatest" ( 1 Corinthians 13:13 ). Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. In view here is the almost total uselessness of this gift in the area of instructing the church, even the true gift. [15] J. W. McGarvey, Commentary on First Corinthians (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1916), p. 143. Speaking in Tongues. Under no circumstances let the women do it (1 Corinthians 14:34), interpreter or no interpreter. Before dealing with this as it may be applied in all generations, it should first be observed that the primary meaning has to be, "Do not let the women speak in tongues under any circumstances." We have already noted that Paul never used the gift in the presence of others, or in church assemblies. [13] Henry H. Halley, Bible Handbook (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1927), p. 549. [6] David Lipscomb, Commentary on First Corinthians (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1935), p. 208. Tongue speakers may not set aside the rules designed to control and eliminate tongues; but it is equally true that churches may not set aside the limitations imposed upon women in the realm of authority, in evangelism, and in holding offices of authority in the church. As Glenn Wallace once paraphrased this: "As for tongue-speaking, don't let the gals do it at all!" 508-510. It is the failure to see the essential sin of that whole tongue-speaking outburst (of both kinds) which has blinded people to the teaching of this chapter. This was Paul's refusal to speak in tongues in the Christian assembly at Corinth; and it is safe to assume that he never did so anywhere else. 1 Corinthians 2:14 “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” Explanation and Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:14. For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. Fall down on his face and worship God ... "Power to make unbelieving visitors fall down on their faces and worship God, O for such today, instead of dead formalism on one hand and irreverent monkey business on the other!"[13]. But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant. God of course could hear. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets ... means that any true prophet could control his speaking; there was not any such thing as an irresistible compulsion for any TRUE prophet to speak. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. This might very well have been Paul's way of putting the terminator on tongues without discouraging any who might really have had the genuine gift. This probably means that, even if another heard it, he would not be able to understand it; and it appears that the speaker also could not understand it, unless he had the gift of interpretation. By way of revelation ... refers to what was revealed in Scripture. It is not permitted unto them to speak ... That is, it was not permitted for them to speak in tongues, that having been the subject Paul was discussing. He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. Paul and Luke were friends; and the use of the same word to describe God's gift is used here which is used in Acts 2; and, since Acts was written by Luke at a time after Paul wrote the Corinthians, "It would seem logical that Luke would have noted the distinction between the two phenomena, if any existed."[1]. An analysis of the above apostolic rules on tongue-speaking will emphasize the importance of the inspired interpreter, the gift of interpretation itself being one of the miraculous gifts; and Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 14:28 that, "If there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church," still leaves the possibility that there were not any in Corinth who had that gift. It is simply incredible that the people affecting to speak in tongues could really imagine that they are doing any good. Five intelligible words are to be preferred to ten thousand in an uninterpreted tongue. 1 Corinthians 15. 1. From this, it is to be inferred that rule (1) is still operative in the sense in which it is applied in the Old Testament. The only way that even an apostle could benefit his hearers was by preaching to them. In a word, all the post-apostolic tongue-speakings for nineteen centuries have not contributed one authentic sentence to the revealed will of God, like that in the New Testament. We know there are no authenticated holders of this gift today; and the strong suggestion persists in this whole chapter that there were none of that class in Corinth. The office of the evangelist is one of authority in the name of God; and as DeHoff expressed it: What is said of women being elders, deacons or evangelists is also true of their being "preachers" in any sense whatever; because it is the duty of all preachers to be evangelists, even if their preaching sometimes gives little evidence of respecting their commission. Women may not be appointed to the eldership of a church, because, like most men, they are unqualified. [18] George W. DeHoff, Sermons on First Corinthians (Murfreesboro, Tennessee: The Christian Press, 1947), p. 99. 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 Rules for the orderly exercise of spiritual gifts in the church. From this, it seems mandatory to view the genuine gift at Corinth as different from that of Pentecost, and also of far less importance, even that genuine gift (at Corinth) being by Paul ranked last among spiritual gifts. It is not the subjective understanding of the participant that is meant, but the objective purpose of conveying understanding to others. The true gift of tongues benefited not others but the tongue-speaker himself. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. Barclay also observed this and suggested how it comes about: The phenomenon called tongue-speaking can be faked; this writer has seen it faked; and the simple truth is that anybody can fake it. 6. The collection for the Jerusalem church. Prophecy preferred to the gift of tongues. All religious services should be so performed in Christian assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them. This mingling of the true (even though perverted as to purpose and use) tongues with the false is evidently the reason for Paul's tenderness in dealing with this sin. The pride, vainglory, envy, strife, factionalism, etc., which marked the original outbreak of counterfeit tongues was of Satan; and it may not be doubted that the evil one is still active in such things as the recurring appearance of tongue-speaking throughout Christian history. Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understood by his hearers. What is it then? This indeed posed a delicate problem. Log In/Sign Up New International Version (NIV) ... 1 Corinthians 14:37 in all English translations. This stresses the private nature of the true gift; and the apostolic order for it not to be used in church (without an interpreter) removed the only possible reason why the counterfeiters were faking it, making it impossible for them to accumulate any flattery or "glory" from the display of their "abilities" publicly. Furthermore, Paul allowed that when an interpreter was present, along with other prescribed conditions, the gift at Corinth might properly be used (1 Corinthians 14:27). 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Even prior to that, Eve was designated as a "help" suitable for man (Genesis 2:18). Read 1 Corinthians 14 commentary using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. In this context, it is not amiss to point out that the appearances of prophetesses in both Old Testament and New Testament seem to have been simultaneous with periods of decadence and spiritual lethargy. 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