M. F. Sadler - The First and Second Epistle to the Corinthians (2014)
We now come to the exposition of the chapter, which presents no difficulty if the reader bears in mind that the gift of tongues was used by the Corinthians in a wrong way. It was given that the foreigners outside the pale of the Church might be witnesses of a miracle by which they might understand that the power of the Creator of the human mind was put forth on behalf of Christianity ; so that the proper place for its use was where men of all nations flocked together for commerce or any other purpose. Instead of this, it was used in the Church where all spake the same tongue,
and no one could verify it.
2. " He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him." This evidently implies that what he spoke was not unintelligible jargon, but perfectly intelligible if there were persons present who could
understand it. Whatever was spoken was, so far as the action of the Holy Spirit was concerned, intended to be understood. Edwards writes : " It was a conspicuous feature of the gift, that the tongues were unintelligible. Could the Apostle say of any man that speaks in a foreign language, that he speaks not to men but to God ? " Certainly, we answer, if any man prays to God in a language not
known to the people about him, he speaks only to God. He may do such a thing perfectly blamelessly, but it is of no use to the people present, and so the Apostle discourages it if there be no interpretation or interpreter.
Dr. Thomas Constable - Expository Notes on 1 Corinthians (2003)
Glossolalia (speaking in tongues) by itself is not edifying to other people, but prophecy is. This statement again raises a question about what speaking in tongues involved.
On the day of Pentecost people spoke in tongues and other people who knew the languages spoken received edification because they heard of God"s mighty deeds in their native languages ( Acts 2:1-11). Interpreters were unnecessary on that occasion (cf. Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6). Evidently what was taking place in the Corinthian church was different from what took place on the day of Pentecost. In Corinth, and perhaps in other early churches, people spoke in tongues among people who did not understand the languages. An interpreter was necessary for those present to understand and benefit from what the tongues-speaker was saying in a strange language ( 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 14:13). Paul used "tongues" and "languages" interchangeably in this passage (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:2; 1 Corinthians 14:10-11; 1 Corinthians 14:13, et al.). This is an important proof that tongues were languages.
Some Christians have suggested another distinction. They have claimed that the tongues in Acts were foreign languages but the tongues in Corinthians were ecstatic utterances, not languages but unintelligible speech. [Note: E.g, Robertson and Plummer, pp301 , 306.] There is no basis for this distinction in the Greek text, however. The terminology used is the same, and the passages make good sense if we take tongues as languages wherever they occur.
Riggs & Reed - Epistles to the Corinthians
He had spoken mysteries, i.e., Divine secrets, which the church could not understand and, for this reason, he makes no sweeping condemnation of this singular gift.
HENRY E. JACOBS - ANNOTATIONS ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO I. CORINTHIANS VIl.-XVl
Speaketh not unto men. The gift of tongues, at any rate in the form in which it was known at Corinth, was, therefore, a spiritual privilege, that edified only the speaker. All worship and preaching in a language not understood by the people, fall under the same criticism ; whether it be in a dead language, like the Roman Mass ; or in a language vernacular to a small portion of the congregation, but not intelligible to its younger members, as where the German or Swedish language is retained in congregations whose children have been in language Anglicized ; or where the preacher uses the language of the schools and of books, instead of adapting himself to the capacity of his hearers. The greatness of a preacher depends upon his ability to reach and move the greatest number of people with the message of the Gospel. So also with our prayers, hymns, and orders of service. No man understandeth, viz. unless there be one present endowed with the gift of the interpretation of tongues (ver. 5 ; ch. 12 : 10).
J J Lias - The First Epistle to the Corinthians (1892)
2. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue the word unknown is not in the original. The word translated tongue signifies a human language in ch. xiii. 1. Cf. Rev. xiii. 7, xiv. 6, xvii. 15.
J J Lias - Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges: 1 Corinthians (1905)
2. γλώσσῃ. The context shews the necessity of the ‘unknown’ of the A.V.
οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ. Because the language is not the language of those to whom he is speaking, and therefore what he says is hidden from them.
John Edgar McFadyen - The epistles to the Corinthians (1911)
For he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men-for nobody understands (lit. hears) him-but to God: if nobody understands him, then obviously he has no power directly to edify the congregation; but in spirit only, and without the participation of his understanding (cf. vv. 14, 15) he speaks mysteries, which may, indeed, subsequently be interpreted by himself (ver. 5) or by someone else (ver. 28) but which, till they are interpreted, are unintelligible, and therefore useless to the church.
James Macknight - Commentary on the Apostolic Epistles, Vol 2, 1 & 2 Corinthians (1835)
Ver. 2. He who speaketh in a foreign language. The word yA&xrc-*, tongue so often used in this chapter, plainly means foreign language, (see ver. 19.) in which sense it was used, by the Greek writers, as Eustathius on Iliad A. quoted by Hammond on 1 Cor. xiv. 28. affirms.
John Locke - Paraphrase and notes on the Epistles of St. Paul to the Galatians, I and II Corinthians, Romans and Ephesians (1824)
For he, that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks to God alone, but not to men: for nobody understands him; the things he utters, by the Spirit, in an unknown tongue, are mysteries, things not understood, by those who hear them.
Huldrych Zwingli - Annotations on 1 Corinthians 14
It happens that some people utter mysteries in foreign tongues that not even they themselves understand, or at least they pay little attention to what their words mean. Now since they do not provide fruit to themselves or to anyone else, are they not spewing forth only empty wind? But even if a prophet completely understands and pays attention to what he is saying, and yet those hearing do not understand anything he says, then how does this build up the church? Therefore to prophesy, that is, to reveal the meaning of Scripture to the people, is certainly a distinguished office and very useful, for it builds up. Therefore, unless the one who speaks in tongues at the same time prophesies, little benefit will result; but if the person who possesses the gift of tongues also has the gift of prophecy, then great good will result.
Wolfgang Musculus: Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:2.11
Note here that Paul does not say “not everyone understands him," but “no one understands him." It is possible when you speak German to a German audience that you are not understood by everyone because of various dialects, as would occur if you spoke in Low German to people who understood High German. In this case, even if everyone could not understand you, nevertheless most could, so that you would not be speaking entirely in vain. But if a person spoke a completely foreign and unknown tongue in church, since no one could understand it, he would not be speaking to people but to God. Such is the case in German churches when everything is spoken and sung in Latin, which is so foreign to the German language that nothing of it can be understood by a native German. ... This is what the Roman Church has ordained, whereby Satan has wished directly to contradict this apostolic teaching and prevent the building up of Christ's churches.
Tilemann Hesshus: Explication of 1 Corinthians 14
“The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies, edifies the church.” This is the same thing that Paul has said above. People who use a foreign language serve themselves, for since they understand the language, they are able to instruct themselves, confirm themselves in the faith, console themselves, and be encouraged. But the church is harvesting no fruit from it, for she cannot be instructed, nor aroused, nor encouraged to take hold of consolation by a language that is not understood.
Rhoderick D Ice - The Bible Study New Testament (1974)
In strange tongues. Because the gift of languages gave the most chance to show off, the Corinthians rated it the highest. Because they considered this gift the most honored, those who had it would show off in the public meetings by speaking long and loud in foreign languages (strange tongues). Others who were much better qualified to instruct the group were forced to remain silent. Sometimes many would speak in strange tongues at the same time, trying to shout down the others, creating confusion. Does not speak to men. No one could understand what they were saying.
We now come to the exposition of the chapter, which presents no difficulty if the reader bears in mind that the gift of tongues was used by the Corinthians in a wrong way. It was given that the foreigners outside the pale of the Church might be witnesses of a miracle by which they might understand that the power of the Creator of the human mind was put forth on behalf of Christianity ; so that the proper place for its use was where men of all nations flocked together for commerce or any other purpose. Instead of this, it was used in the Church where all spake the same tongue,
and no one could verify it.
2. " He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him." This evidently implies that what he spoke was not unintelligible jargon, but perfectly intelligible if there were persons present who could
understand it. Whatever was spoken was, so far as the action of the Holy Spirit was concerned, intended to be understood. Edwards writes : " It was a conspicuous feature of the gift, that the tongues were unintelligible. Could the Apostle say of any man that speaks in a foreign language, that he speaks not to men but to God ? " Certainly, we answer, if any man prays to God in a language not
known to the people about him, he speaks only to God. He may do such a thing perfectly blamelessly, but it is of no use to the people present, and so the Apostle discourages it if there be no interpretation or interpreter.
Dr. Thomas Constable - Expository Notes on 1 Corinthians (2003)
Glossolalia (speaking in tongues) by itself is not edifying to other people, but prophecy is. This statement again raises a question about what speaking in tongues involved.
On the day of Pentecost people spoke in tongues and other people who knew the languages spoken received edification because they heard of God"s mighty deeds in their native languages ( Acts 2:1-11). Interpreters were unnecessary on that occasion (cf. Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6). Evidently what was taking place in the Corinthian church was different from what took place on the day of Pentecost. In Corinth, and perhaps in other early churches, people spoke in tongues among people who did not understand the languages. An interpreter was necessary for those present to understand and benefit from what the tongues-speaker was saying in a strange language ( 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 14:13). Paul used "tongues" and "languages" interchangeably in this passage (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:2; 1 Corinthians 14:10-11; 1 Corinthians 14:13, et al.). This is an important proof that tongues were languages.
Some Christians have suggested another distinction. They have claimed that the tongues in Acts were foreign languages but the tongues in Corinthians were ecstatic utterances, not languages but unintelligible speech. [Note: E.g, Robertson and Plummer, pp301 , 306.] There is no basis for this distinction in the Greek text, however. The terminology used is the same, and the passages make good sense if we take tongues as languages wherever they occur.
Riggs & Reed - Epistles to the Corinthians
He had spoken mysteries, i.e., Divine secrets, which the church could not understand and, for this reason, he makes no sweeping condemnation of this singular gift.
HENRY E. JACOBS - ANNOTATIONS ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO I. CORINTHIANS VIl.-XVl
Speaketh not unto men. The gift of tongues, at any rate in the form in which it was known at Corinth, was, therefore, a spiritual privilege, that edified only the speaker. All worship and preaching in a language not understood by the people, fall under the same criticism ; whether it be in a dead language, like the Roman Mass ; or in a language vernacular to a small portion of the congregation, but not intelligible to its younger members, as where the German or Swedish language is retained in congregations whose children have been in language Anglicized ; or where the preacher uses the language of the schools and of books, instead of adapting himself to the capacity of his hearers. The greatness of a preacher depends upon his ability to reach and move the greatest number of people with the message of the Gospel. So also with our prayers, hymns, and orders of service. No man understandeth, viz. unless there be one present endowed with the gift of the interpretation of tongues (ver. 5 ; ch. 12 : 10).
J J Lias - The First Epistle to the Corinthians (1892)
2. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue the word unknown is not in the original. The word translated tongue signifies a human language in ch. xiii. 1. Cf. Rev. xiii. 7, xiv. 6, xvii. 15.
J J Lias - Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges: 1 Corinthians (1905)
2. γλώσσῃ. The context shews the necessity of the ‘unknown’ of the A.V.
οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ. Because the language is not the language of those to whom he is speaking, and therefore what he says is hidden from them.
John Edgar McFadyen - The epistles to the Corinthians (1911)
For he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men-for nobody understands (lit. hears) him-but to God: if nobody understands him, then obviously he has no power directly to edify the congregation; but in spirit only, and without the participation of his understanding (cf. vv. 14, 15) he speaks mysteries, which may, indeed, subsequently be interpreted by himself (ver. 5) or by someone else (ver. 28) but which, till they are interpreted, are unintelligible, and therefore useless to the church.
James Macknight - Commentary on the Apostolic Epistles, Vol 2, 1 & 2 Corinthians (1835)
Ver. 2. He who speaketh in a foreign language. The word yA&xrc-*, tongue so often used in this chapter, plainly means foreign language, (see ver. 19.) in which sense it was used, by the Greek writers, as Eustathius on Iliad A. quoted by Hammond on 1 Cor. xiv. 28. affirms.
John Locke - Paraphrase and notes on the Epistles of St. Paul to the Galatians, I and II Corinthians, Romans and Ephesians (1824)
For he, that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks to God alone, but not to men: for nobody understands him; the things he utters, by the Spirit, in an unknown tongue, are mysteries, things not understood, by those who hear them.
Huldrych Zwingli - Annotations on 1 Corinthians 14
It happens that some people utter mysteries in foreign tongues that not even they themselves understand, or at least they pay little attention to what their words mean. Now since they do not provide fruit to themselves or to anyone else, are they not spewing forth only empty wind? But even if a prophet completely understands and pays attention to what he is saying, and yet those hearing do not understand anything he says, then how does this build up the church? Therefore to prophesy, that is, to reveal the meaning of Scripture to the people, is certainly a distinguished office and very useful, for it builds up. Therefore, unless the one who speaks in tongues at the same time prophesies, little benefit will result; but if the person who possesses the gift of tongues also has the gift of prophecy, then great good will result.
Wolfgang Musculus: Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:2.11
Note here that Paul does not say “not everyone understands him," but “no one understands him." It is possible when you speak German to a German audience that you are not understood by everyone because of various dialects, as would occur if you spoke in Low German to people who understood High German. In this case, even if everyone could not understand you, nevertheless most could, so that you would not be speaking entirely in vain. But if a person spoke a completely foreign and unknown tongue in church, since no one could understand it, he would not be speaking to people but to God. Such is the case in German churches when everything is spoken and sung in Latin, which is so foreign to the German language that nothing of it can be understood by a native German. ... This is what the Roman Church has ordained, whereby Satan has wished directly to contradict this apostolic teaching and prevent the building up of Christ's churches.
Tilemann Hesshus: Explication of 1 Corinthians 14
“The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies, edifies the church.” This is the same thing that Paul has said above. People who use a foreign language serve themselves, for since they understand the language, they are able to instruct themselves, confirm themselves in the faith, console themselves, and be encouraged. But the church is harvesting no fruit from it, for she cannot be instructed, nor aroused, nor encouraged to take hold of consolation by a language that is not understood.
Rhoderick D Ice - The Bible Study New Testament (1974)
In strange tongues. Because the gift of languages gave the most chance to show off, the Corinthians rated it the highest. Because they considered this gift the most honored, those who had it would show off in the public meetings by speaking long and loud in foreign languages (strange tongues). Others who were much better qualified to instruct the group were forced to remain silent. Sometimes many would speak in strange tongues at the same time, trying to shout down the others, creating confusion. Does not speak to men. No one could understand what they were saying.
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