1 Prophecy is commended,
2 and preferred before speaking with tongues,
6 by a comparison drawn from musical instruments.
12 Both must be referred to edification,
22 as to their true and proper end.
26 The true use of each is taught,
27 and the abuse taxed.
34 Women are forbidden to speak in church.

Follow. Pr 15:9 21:21 Isa 51:1 Ro 9:30 14:19 1Ti 5:10 6:11 Heb 12:14 1Pe 3:11-13 3Jo 1:11

charity. 13:1-8,13 2Ti 2:22 2Pe 1:7

desire. 12:1,31 Eph 1:3

prophesy. 3-5,24,25,37,39 13:2,9 Nu 11:25-29 Ro 12:6 1Th 5:20 1Ti 4:14

2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

he that. 9-11,16,21,22 Ge 11:7 42:23 De 28:49 2Ki 18:26 Ac 2:4-11 10:46 Ac 19:6

understandeth. Gr. heareth. Ac 22:9

howbeit. 2:7,10 13:2 15:51 Ps 49:3,4 78:2 Mt 13:11 Mr 4:11 Ro 16:25 Eph 3:3-9 6:19 Col 1:26,27 2:2 1Ti 3:9,16 Re 10:7

3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

edification. 4,12,26 8:1 10:23 Ac 9:31 Ro 14:19 15:2 Eph 4:12-16,29 1Th 5:11 1Ti 1:4 Jude 1:20

exhortation. Lu 3:18 Ac 13:15 14:22 15:32 Ro 12:8 1Th 2:3 4:1 5:11,14 2Th 3:12 1Ti 4:13 6:2 2Ti 4:2 Tit 1:9 2:6,9,15 Heb 3:13 10:25 Heb 13:22 1Pe 5:12

comfort. 31 2Co 1:4 2:7 Eph 6:22 Col 4:8 1Th 2:11 3:2 4:18 5:11-14

4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

edifieth himself. 14

edifieth the. 3,18,19

5 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 church may receive edifying.

would. 12:28-30 13:4 Nu 11:28,29

for. 1,3

except. 12,13,26-28 12:10,30

6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

what shall I. 10:33 12:7 13:3 1Sa 12:21 Jer 16:19 23:32 Mt 16:26 2Ti 2:14 Tit 3:8 Heb 13:9

revelation. 26-30 Mt 11:25 16:17 2Co 12:1,7 Eph 1:17 Php 3:15

knowledge. 12:8 13:2,8,9 Ro 15:14 2Co 11:6 Eph 3:4 2Pe 1:5 3:18

prophesying. See on ver. 1 13:2

doctrine. 26 Ro 16:17 2Ti 3:10,16 4:2 2Jo 1:9

7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

things. 13:1

except. 8 Nu 10:2-10 Mt 11:17 Lu 7:32

sounds. or, tunes.

8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

Nu 10:9 Jos 6:4-20 Jud 7:16-18 Ne 4:18-21 Job 39:24,25 Isa 27:13 Am 3:6 Eph 6:11-18

9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

easy. Gr. significant. 19

for. 9:26

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

I shall. 21 Ac 28:2,4 Ro 1:14 Col 3:11

12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

forasmuch. 1 12:7,31 Tit 2:14

spiritual gifts. Gr. spirits. See on. 32

seek. 3,4,26

13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

pray. 27,28 12:10,30 Mr 11:24 Joh 14:13,14 Ac 1:14 4:29-31 8:15

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

my spirit. 2,15,16,19

but. That is, 'not productive of any benefit to others.'

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

What. 10:19 Ro 3:5 8:31 Php 1:18

I will pray with the spirit. 19 Joh 4:23,24 Ro 1:9 Eph 5:17-20 6:18 Col 3:16 Jude 1:20

and I will sing. Ps 47:7 Ro 12:1,2

16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

bless. 2,14

unlearned. 23,24 Isa 29:11,12 Joh 7:15 Ac 4:13

Amen. 11:24 16:24 Nu 5:22 De 27:15 *etc: 1Ki 1:36 1Ch 16:36 Ps 41:13 72:19 89:52 106:48 Jer 28:6 Mt 6:13 28:20 Mr 16:20 Joh 21:25 Re 5:14 22:20

at. 1:4-8

17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

but. 4,6

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

1:4-6 4:7

19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

in the. 4,21,22

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

not. 3:1,2 13:11 Ps 119:99 Isa 11:3 Ro 16:19 Eph 4:14,15 Php 1:9 Heb 5:12,13 6:1-3 2Pe 3:18

malice. Ps 131:1,2 Mt 11:25 18:3 19:4 Mr 10:15 1Pe 2:2

but. Ps 119:99

men. Gr. perfect, or, of a ripe age. 2:6 Php 3:15

21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

the law. The passage quoted is taken from the prophet Isaiah; but the term torah, Law, was used by the Jews to express the whole Scriptures, law, prophets, and hagiographia; and they used it to distinguish these Sacred Writings from the words of the scribes. It is not taken from the LXX., from which it varies as much as any words can differ from others where the general meaning is similar. It accords much more with the Hebrew; and may be considered as a translation from it; 'only what is said of God in the third person, in the Hebrew, is here expressed in the first person, with the addition of [lego kurios,'] saith the Lord.--Dr. Randolph.

Joh 10:34 Ro 3:19

With. De 28:49 Isa 28:11,12 Jer 5:15

22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

for a. Mr 16:17 Ac 2:6-12,32-36

not to. 1Ti 1:9

but for. 3

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

the whole. 11:18

will. Ho 9:7 Joh 10:20 Ac 2:13 26:24

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

he is convinced. 2:15 Joh 1:47-49 4:29 Ac 2:37 Heb 4:12,13

25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

falling. Ge 44:14 De 9:18 Ps 72:11 Isa 60:14 Lu 5:8 8:28 Re 5:8 19:4

God is. Isa 45:14 Zec 8:23

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

every. See on ver. 6 12:8-10

Let. 4,5,12,40 12:7 Ro 14:19 2Co 12:19 13:10 Eph 4:12,16,29 1Th 5:11

27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

the prophets. 39 12:10 1Th 5:19-21 1Jo 4:1-3

the other. Rather, the others, [loi alloi.]

30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

revealed. 6,26

let. Job 32:11,15-20 33:31-33 1Th 5:19,20

31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

all may learn. 3,19,35 Pr 1:5 9:9 Eph 4:11,12

all may be. Ro 1:12 2Co 1:4 7:6,7 Eph 6:22 1Th 4:18 5:11,14

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

29,30 1Sa 10:10-13 19:19-24 2Ki 2:3,5 Job 32:8-11 Jer 20:9 Ac 4:19,20 1Jo 4:1

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

confusion. Gr. tumult, or unquietness. but. 7:15 Lu 2:14 Ro 15:33 Ga 5:22 2Th 3:16 Heb 13:20 Jas 3:17,18

in. 4:17 7:17 11:16

34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

women. 11:5 1Ti 2:11,12

they are. 35 11:3,7-10 Eph 5:22-24,33 Col 3:18 Tit 2:5 1Pe 3:1-6

as. 21 Ge 3:16 Nu 30:3-13 Es 1:17-20

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

let. Eph 5:25-27 1Pe 3:7

a shame. 34 11:6,14 Eph 5:12

36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

came. Isa 2:3 Mic 4:1,2 Zec 14:8 Ac 13:1-3 15:35,36 16:9,10 Ac 17:1,10,11,15 18:1 *etc: 2Co 10:13-16 1Th 1:8

or. 4:7

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

any. 8:2 13:1-3 Nu 24:3,4,16 Ro 12:3 2Co 10:7,12 11:4,12-15 Ga 6:8

let. 7:25,40 Lu 10:16 1Th 4:1-8 2Pe 3:2 1Jo 4:6 Jude 1:17

38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Ho 4:17 Mt 7:6 15:14 1Ti 6:3-5 2Ti 4:3,4 Re 22:11,12

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

covet. 1,3,5,24,25 12:31 1Th 5:20

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

26-33 11:34 Ro 13:13 *marg: Col 2:5 Tit 1:5