the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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1 Corinthians 14:19
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayEncyclopedias:
- InternationalContextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
in the: 1 Corinthians 14:4, 1 Corinthians 14:21, 1 Corinthians 14:22
Reciprocal: Esther 1:22 - according Habakkuk 2:2 - make Acts 8:30 - Understandest 1 Corinthians 12:7 - General 1 Corinthians 14:9 - easy 1 Corinthians 14:14 - my spirit 1 Corinthians 14:15 - I will pray with the spirit 1 Corinthians 14:31 - all may learn 2 Corinthians 3:12 - we use Ephesians 4:29 - that which Colossians 4:5 - Walk Hebrews 5:12 - teachers
Cross-References
and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness.
and the Horites in their mountain, Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
They also defeated the Horites in the mountains of Edom to El Paran (near the desert).
and the Horites in their hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is near the desert.
And the Horites in their mount Seir, to El-paran, which [is] by the wilderness.
and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
and the Horites in their mountainous country of Seir, as far as El-paran, which is on the border of the wilderness.
and Choreis in the hillis of Seir, til to the feldi placis of Faran, which is in wildirnesse.
and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-Paran, which [is] by the wilderness;
and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words,.... Referring not to the five books of Moses, as Jerom suggests, and much less, as the Papists say, to the five words, "for this is my body"; by the muttering of which they suppose the bread in the Lord's supper to be transubtantiated into the body of Christ; but meaning a very few words, which he chose to speak in the church before the congregation, when and where saints were met together for public worship, for their edification and comfort, and the glory of God; for though at other times, and to other people, he might think fit to make use of his gift in speaking with divers tongues, yet at such a time and place he thought it much more eligible to say ever so few words
with understanding: so as to be understood by others, as well as himself:
that by my voice I might teach others also; the doctrines of the Gospel, the mysteries of grace, the duty of men towards God and men, and one another:
than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue; than to deliver ever so long an oration in a language not understood by them, which could be of no use unto them; for though they might hear his voice, the sound of his words, yet thereby he could not teach and instruct them to their profit, unless they understood the language which he spoke; and therefore five words understood were more likely to be of use than ten thousand spoken in a strange language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Yet in the church - In the Christian assembly. The word “church” does not refer to the “edifice” where Christians worshipped, but to the organized body of Christians.
I had rather ... - It is probable that in the Christian assembly, usually, there were few who understood foreign languages. Paul, therefore, would not speak in a foreign language when its only use would be mere display.
With my understanding - So as to be intelligible to others; so that I might understand it, and so that at the same time others might be benefitted.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. Yet in the church — As the grand object of public worship is the edification of those who attend, five words spoken so as to convey edification, were of much more consequence than ten thousand which, not being understood, could convey none. By the word γλωσση, tongue, to which we add unknown, I suppose the apostle always means the Hebrew, for the reasons offered in Clarke's note on "1 Corinthians 14:1".
One of the greatest difficulties, says Bishop Pearce, in this epistle is contained in the words πνευμα and νους, spirit and understanding, which are frequently used in this chapter; and fixing the true meaning of these words will solve the difficulty. In this verse the apostle explains λαλειν τῳ νοΐ, to speak with the understanding, by ινα αλλους κατηχησω, that I might teach others; so that the sense of νους, understanding, seems to be, that understanding which the hearer has of what is said; and this sense will agree well with, I will sing with the spirit, and with the understanding, 1 Corinthians 14:15.
He observes also that πνευμα spirit, and νους, understanding, have a sense opposite to each other; so that if νους is rightly rendered, the understanding which another has of what is said; then πνευμα will signify a man's own mind, i.e. his own understanding of what he himself speaks; and this sense agrees well with 1 Corinthians 14:2: In the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
