1 Corinthians 14:18

18 I thank God I speak in a tongue more than all of you:

1 Corinthians 14:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:18

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all.
] This the apostle says, to observe to them that he did not despise speaking with tongues: nor did he endeavour to beat them off, and dissuade them from desiring them, or envied their having them, because he was destitute of them himself; for he had this gift in a very eminent manner, and oftentimes made use of it, and was frequently under a necessity of so doing; he could speak with more tongues than any of those that had them, and spoke them oftener than they did; having occasion for them through his travelling into different countries, and preaching the Gospel to people of divers languages; and this he mentions also not in a boasting manner, but in great humility, giving thanks to God, and acknowledging him to be the author of this gift.

1 Corinthians 14:18 In-Context

16 Since otherwise, if thou blessest with [the] spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the simple [Christian] say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, since he does not know what thou sayest?
17 For *thou* indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank God I speak in a tongue more than all of you:
19 but in [the] assembly I desire to speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, [rather] than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in [your] minds, but in malice be babes; but in [your] minds be grown [men].
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.