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For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
Verse Takeaways
1
For God's Ears or the Church's?
Commentators agree that Paul's main point is about usefulness in corporate worship. Speaking in a tongue is described as speaking "unto God" because no one else in the assembly can understand. While it may be a valid form of personal communion, it doesn't edify the church. Paul prioritizes gifts like prophecy (clear teaching) that build up the entire community, not just the individual.
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Book Overview
1 Corinthians
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8
18th Century
Presbyterian
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue. This verse is designed to show that the faculty of speaking intelligibly, and to the edificatio…
For no man understandeth (ουδεις γαρ ακουε). Literally, hears, gets the sense, understands. Verb ακουω used either of hearing the …
19th Century
Anglican
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue.—Better, For he that speaketh in a tongue. The word "unknown" is not i…
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Paul now begins to show why tongues are not to be preferred. In speaking in tongues, the speaker is talking only to God (cf. Romans 8:26…
16th Century
Protestant
As he had previously exhorted them to follow after the more excellent gifts, (1 Corinthians 12:31), so he exhorts them now to …
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For he that speaks in an unknown tongue Or with tongues, as some copies and the Ethiopic version read: Dr. Lightfoot…
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Prophesying, that is, explaining Scripture, is compared with speaking with tongues. This drew more attention than the plain interpretation of Scrip…
13th Century
Catholic
Having stated that love surpasses the other gifts, the Apostle then compares the other gifts to each other, showing the excellence of prophecy over…
