1 Corinthians 14

 3 February 2015

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 1 Corinthians 14:20

In the previous verse, Paul told the Corinthians that he would rather speak five intelligible words for edification than ten thousand in a tongue. Based on this, he tells those at Corinth (and thus us!)  to “not be children in understanding.” In other words, their use of tongues was self-centered, attention-seeking, and childish. There was no edification of others; there was only an immature display of “look at me.” Instead of hoping for growth in others, there was only hope for fame and applause. Thus, their actions are to be considered childish.

The word translated as “understanding” is different than the word found in 1 Corinthians 14:15. Here it is the Greek word phrḗn. It is used twice in this verse and nowhere else in the New Testament. It indicates the inner parts of a person, specifically the midriff. It is where our English word for “diaphragm” comes from. As the diaphragm regulates breathing, it is an exceptional choice of wording for this particular issue of tongues. As the diaphragm regulates breath, and it is the breath which then goes on to produce sounds, Paul must have decided on phren as a sort of play on words, tying “understanding” in with “tongues.” It denotes “reasoning power on the reflective side” rather than on the intellectual side.

In contrast to thinking like children concerning tongues when they should be thinking like adults, he says that they actually should have such an attitude in the area of malice. In malice, they should be as “babes.” Because he is using malice in contradistinction to their attitude concerning tongues, it indicates that he viewed their reasoning behind the use of tongues as malicious. If edification wasn’t the intent of the tongues, then there was something darker behind their use; division and one-upmanship. Paul viewed this as malicious and he is asking them to consider their ways.

In order to do this, he finishes this thought with, “but in understanding be mature.” There are three categories in this verse: babes (infants), children, and the fully grown. In malice (because of their inappropriate use of tongues), Paul desires them to be as mere infants; and concerning tongues as a gift, he desires them to grow up from infancy into mature adults by seeking higher gifts. In so doing, they will be grown-up in their understanding (their phren). In using their diaphragms for edification rather than ostentation, they will become adult believers who are useful to the body.

Life application: Even the inner parts of our bodies should be used in a mature manner, bringing edification to others and glory to God.

Lord, you have given me Today to live. I will never have another Today, even if I have a ten thousand more days. Because Today is unique, help me to use it wisely. I know the paths I cross may never be crossed again, and some of the people I meet may be only Today and not on any other day that I live. Help me to use this precious period of 24 hours wisely, redeeming the time for Your glory. I pray that You will be satisfied with my conduct at the end of Today. Amen.

Monday, 2 February 2015

…yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:19

Oh that people would simply read the Bible! How does the church wander into such strange and unbiblical doctrines? If we would but open the word of God and, without presuppositions, read and apply it to our lives, we wouldn’t prohibit certain foods, we wouldn’t mandate certain days for “Sabbath observance,” and we wouldn’t act childish as we applied our tongues to the wind in an incoherent manner! Paul’s words in this verse are so obvious that they appear to need no commentary at all, and yet they have been so utterly ignored that commentary is needed.

He begins with “yet.” This is the Greek word alla which indicates a contrast – “but.” The contrast is in relation to what he just said – ” I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet…” Paul spoke many languages, but at Corinth it would be pointless for him to speak some of them. Most Corinthians probably didn’t speak Aramaic. His home dialect of Tarsus would be unknown to them as well. Other than any learned Jews present, none would know Hebrew.

Despite knowing such languages, it would make no sense for him to come in and start speaking in any of them. Their “voice” would have no meaning to the people in Corinth. Without meaning, he would simply be wasting his time by speaking them. And so he tells them that “in the church,” meaning whatever location the group gathered to meet – not a building, but a gathering – he says that he “would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

The words “five” and “ten thousand” are used in a superlative sense. It would be like the modern phrase “one in a million.” In other words, he is telling them of the utter absurdity of speaking in a language that no one else understood; it is a completely pointless waste of breath. If there is no edification; the words would only be a distraction. This is the force and intent of Paul’s words. How is it that churches have so far departed from what is plain, clear, and obvious? It is because the word of God, which is given for our instruction, is either completely ignored or it is selectively taken apart and divided up to meet the agenda of the reader.

What a shame! What sad consequences there will be for those who so abuse this precious gift of God. Let us not be found in such an unhappy position when we stand before Him for our rewards and losses.

Life application: There are many issues in the Bible which are difficult to understand and which result in various opinions concerning doctrine. These require a much deeper analysis in order to grasp. However there are issues which are clear and precise and which should be obvious to anyone who simply takes them at face value. The way to do this is to reject presuppositions and to allow the Lord’s word to fill them with their plainly understood message. In such cases, drop all presuppositions and be a vessel prepared for pure doctrine.

Lord, Your word tells us that it is preferable to speak five words with understanding, than ten thousand words in a tongue. May I apply this to my heart and mind. Help me to never conduct myself in the congregation in any way which would diminish the little time I share with others by uttering unintelligible sounds. Rather, help me always to speak words which edify, words which have meaning to others, and words which glorify You. Help me to be responsible with my tongue, and adult in my spiritual thinking. Amen.

Sunday, 1 February 2015

I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 1 Corinthians 14:18

For most of the past seventeen verses, Paul has been speaking of coherent sounds which form understandable languages, not gobbledeegoop. There is no chance then that he now departs from that in order to say something pertaining to unintelligible noises which would ecstatically roll of his tongue. To Paul, edification is the main intent of any words spoken in the church.

Understanding this, we can know that he is not referring to anything similar to the nonsense which is uttered in Charismatic churches today – ecstatic tongues, prayer languages, etc. Nor is he referring to the number of times that he speaks in foreign languages in a church. Rather, he is speaking of known languages that he has acquired, most of which the other congregants would not understand.

Paul would have known Hebrew. He would have learned it in his rabbinical training and used it in synagogues. He would have known Aramaic, the lingua franca of the land of Israel at his time. He would have known Greek, the standard language of the Roman Empire at his time. He also probably knew Latin, a language which was growing in ascendancy during his time. He was raised in Tarsus of Cilicia, and there was probably a regional dialect in that area that he grew up with. In addition to this, he was a tent maker and moved around as he shared the gospel. He probably learned many local dialects as he traveled. In all, his words in this verse are certainly true. He was a man of many languages, and for this he thanked his God. It made him a useful tool in the spreading of the most important message ever entrusted to man.

Life application: Tongues are known languages. When speaking in the church, use a tongue which is known to all.

Lord, I need a vacation, some time away. And so Lord, I will be visiting with You today. I need to have some time alone; and so Lord, I am coming to Your throne. I have to clear my mind of every impure thought; and so Lord, I will come to You as I ought. And in Your presence, I will find rest for my soul. There to You my troubles I will roll. And when I get back to my regular pace, I know I will have energy available to run this race. Thank You for allowing me a vacation in Your presence, O God. I will cherish that time now while I continue my daily trod. Amen.

Saturday, 31 January 2015

For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. 1 Corinthians 14:17

This verse really should be taken in conjunction with the previous one in order to understand what he is saying –

“Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.”

Sure enough, if someone says the Eucharist in another language, Hebrew perhaps, he is indeed giving thanks in a good and appropriate way. God hears the words, understands them, and receives them as intended. This is a good thing in some sense. However, those who are in the congregation and don’t understand Hebrew are not edified.

At the Superior Word in Sarasota, the Lord’s Supper is taken every Sunday. The words of Paul, which provide the instruction for the Lord’s Supper, are read aloud from 1 Corinthians 11. However, a blessing in Hebrew is pronounced over them as well. If this were all that occurred, God would have received His praise and thanks, but none in the congregation would be edified. And so the words are repeated in English for the edification of the congregation –

Baruch atah Adonai eloheynu, melekh ha’olam, ha’motzi lekhem min ha’aretz
Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Without the translation, there is no edification. With it, the congregation will, week by week, begin to understand these Hebrew words. The may even develop a desire to learn the language as well. Thus, the tongue serves a valid purpose.

Life application: In the church everything should be done with the thought of bringing edification to others.

Lord, help me to overlook the small offenses that come my way from family, friends, and close associates. People have stress, people have misunderstandings, and people are people. Some things aren’t worth carrying a grudge over or being difficult about. If I can put the petty differences which arise into proper perspective, I know that they are insignificant. When I think of my offenses against You from moment to moment, I can see where true offense should lie. And yet, because of Your great mercy, I am forgiven through Christ. Thank You for reminding me of this. Amen. 

Friday, 30 January 2015

 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 1 Corinthians 14:16

Paul now changes to the second person for this verse and the one following. He is not writing about his practice, but the practice of the congregants at Corinth. He is showing what he desires for those in Corinth in the surrounding verses and contrasting that with what they are actually doing.

He just made a conclusion which he desired the Corinthians to emulate. “I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” Based on that conclusion, he shows that what they are doing in the church is contrary to it. If they do as he said, there will be understanding. Should they not follow his instruction, the result will be (otherwise) “if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?”

The “spirit” is the breath of the man; the utterance he makes. If a person prays, sings, or blesses in a language which is unknown to another, the uninformed, there will be nothing to edify him. The uninformed is a person who knows neither the language nor the meaning of the words. In other words, if the gospel is spoken in a language foreign to a person, it certainly has meaning, but not to the hearer of the words. If a prayer for relief is spoken in a foreign language, it does have meaning, but not to the hearers of the words. For the hearer, then, there is no gospel message; for the hearer, then, there is no prayer of relief; and for the hearer, then, there is no change in the mind.

But this is the purpose of words; to have an effect on the hearer. Therefore, if the person speaking, or if the person hearing, or if both the speaker and the hearer (whichever combination) cannot understand the words, there is no point in the words being spoken.

Paul’s logic here perfectly demonstrates that unknown “ecstatic” or “prayer language” tongues uttered by Charismatics are false. As was noted in the commentary on verse 7, there is no language which can be unknown to God, because there is nothing that God doesn’t know. There can be no words uttered with the intent of edifying Him because He knows all. But, Paul says that the words uttered by a person are to be uttered for the edification of himself or others. If the speaker utters a supposed “ecstatic” tongue which means nothing to anyone else, then it has no purpose at all; God doesn’t need edification. Without understanding, there can be no “Amen.” This would be contrary to the purpose of communication within the church.

Life application: Thinking through difficult issues, particularly when they have been so often misrepresented by others, is difficult. But this is what we are called to do. Think!

Heavenly Father, I rejoice in You. Amen.