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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.
Verse Takeaways
1
Spirit AND Understanding
Paul establishes a crucial principle for worship: it should engage both the spirit and the mind. Commentators explain that Paul is not choosing between emotional fervor and intellectual clarity but insisting on both. Christian prayer and singing should be heartfelt and passionate ("with the spirit") but also clear and intelligible ("with the understanding") so that it is a complete act of worship.
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1 Corinthians
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8
18th Century
Presbyterian
What is it then? What should I do? What is the proper course for me to pursue? What is my practice and my desire? See the same form of exp…
With the understanding also (κα τω νο). Instrumental case of νους. Paul is distinctly in favour of the use of the intellect in pra…
19th Century
Anglican
What is it then?—The Apostle, in answering this question—namely, What, then, is the practical conclusion of the whole matter?—stil…
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Praying and singing in the spirit and mind (v.15) are involved in praising and giving thanks to God (v.16), all of which are to be a coherent part …
16th Century
Protestant
I will pray with the spirit. So that no one should ask, by way of objection, “Will the spirit then be useless in prayer?” he teac…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
What is it then ? &c.] A Talmudic way of speaking, and answers to (whm) , often used whe…
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There can be no agreement with prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to people's sou…
13th Century
Catholic
Having shown that the gift of prophecy excels the gift of tongues for reasons related to exhortation, the Apostle now demonstrates the same point f…
