Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 14:28

"but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." — 1 Corinthians 14:28 (ASV)

Verse 26 gives us a short outline of the elements of worship in Corinth: a hymn, instruction, revelation, a tongue, an interpretation. Some of this is reminiscent of Jewish worship (cf. Matthew 26:30). Paul again stresses here the unity and diversification of gifts in the church. One person has this ability, another that one; but all gifts must be used to build up the church (cf. vv.3–5). As for tongues, they must be regulated, with only two or three speaking, one at a time and with someone interpreting (v.27). The phrase “in turn” (v.31) suggests that the speaker in tongues is not the one doing the interpreting, though on some occasions it is conceivable that he may himself have done so (v.13). Without an interpreter, there was to be no public tongues-speaking in the church. Thus the one speaking in tongues had the responsibility of finding out first if an interpreter was present. If not, the speaker must be silent in the worship service and speak only to himself and God (v.28). Perhaps this means that if no interpreter was on hand, one should do tongues-speaking at home.