1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:1-25 . SUPERIORITY OF PROPHECY OVER TONGUES.

1. Follow after charity--as your first and chief aim, seeing that it is "the greatest" ( 1 Corinthians 13:13 ).
and desire--Translate, "Yet (as a secondary aim) desire zealously
but rather--"but chiefly that ye may prophesy" (speak and exhort under inspiration) ( Proverbs 29:18 , Acts 13:1 , 1 Thessalonians 5:20 ), whether as to future events, that is, strict prophecy, or explaining obscure parts of Scripture, especially the prophetical Scriptures or illustrating and setting forth questions of Christian doctrine and practice. Our modern preaching is the successor of prophecy, but without the inspiration. Desire zealously this (prophecy) more than any other spiritual gift; or in preference to "tongues" ( 1 Corinthians 14:2 , &c.) [BENGEL].

2. speaketh . . . unto God--who alone understands all languages.
no man understandeth--generally speaking; the few who have the gift of interpreting tongues are the exception.
in the spirit--as opposed to "the understanding" ( 1 Corinthians 14:14 ).
mysteries--unintelligible to the hearers, exciting their wonder, rather than instructing them. Corinth, being a mart resorted to by merchants from Asia, Africa, and Europe, would give scope amidst its mixed population for the exercise of the gift of tongues; but its legitimate use was in an audience understanding the tongue of the speaker, not, as the Corinthians abused it, in mere display.

3. But--on the other hand.
edification--of which the two principal species given are "exhortation" to remove sluggishness, "comfort" or consolation to remove sadness [BENGEL]. Omit "to."

4. edifieth himself--as he understands the meaning of what the particular "tongue" expresses; but "the church," that is, the congregation, does not.

5. Translate, "Now I wish you all to speak with tongues (so far am I from thus speaking through having any objection to tongues), but rather IN ORDER THAT (as my ulterior and higher wish for you) ye should prophesy." Tongues must therefore mean languages, not ecstatic, unintelligible rhapsodie (as NEANDER fancied): for Paul could never "wish" for the latter in their behalf.
greater--because more useful.
except he interpret--the unknown tongue which he speaks, "that the Church may receive edifying (building up)."

6. Translate, "But now"; seeing there is no edification without interpretation.
revelation . . . prophesying--corresponding one to the other; "revelation" being the supernatural unveiling of divine truths to man, "prophesying" the enunciation to men of such revelations. So "knowledge" corresponds to "doctrine," which is the gift of teaching to others our knowledge. As the former pair refers to specially revealed mysteries, so the latter pair refers to the general obvious truths of salvation, brought from the common storehouse of believers.

7. Translate, "And things without life-giving sound, whether pipe or harp, YET (notwithstanding their giving sound) if they give not a distinction in the tones (that is, notes) how?" &c.
what is piped or harped--that is, what tune is played on the pipe or harp.

8. Translate, "For if also," an additional step in the argument.
uncertain sound--having no definite meaning: whereas it ought to be so. marked that one succession of notes on the trumpet should summon the soldiers to attack; another, to retreat; another, to some other evolution.

9. So . . . ye--who have life; as opposed to "things without life" ( 1 Corinthians 14:7 ).
by the tongue--the language which ye speak in.
ye shall speak--Ye will be speaking into the air, that is, in vain ( 1 Corinthians 9:26 ).

10. it may be--that is, perhaps, speaking by conjecture. "It may chance" ( 1 Corinthians 15:37 ).
so many--as may be enumerated by investigators of such matters. Compare "so much," used generally for a definite number left undefined ( Acts 5:8 ; also 2 Samuel 12:8 ).
kinds of voices--kinds of articulate speech.
without signification--without articulate voice (that is, distinct meaning). None is without its own voice, or mode of speech, distinct from the rest.