In 1 Corinthians 14.6-12 Paul continues along his narrative prose in elaborating upon the issue of intelligibility and the edification of the church. Verse 6 sets the stage for this section by showing the Corinthians that they would not benefit from Paul coming to them speaking in tongues. In order to clarify this point, Paul employs two illustrations: One from instruments (vv. 7-9) and the other through foreign languages (10-12). In concluding this section, Paul reemphasizes the importance of the edification of the church and that the Corinthians should abound for those gifts that edify her, not themselves.
1 Corinthians 14.6
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
In verse 6 there is an observable transition in Paul’s argument from the previous section. This shift is noted in particular by his use of “now” in addressing his “brethren.” In light of what was just written, Paul asks the Corinthians, “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation …knowledge …prophecy or of teaching?” With this statement, we clearly see that the Corinthians would not benefit by Paul speaking unintelligibly to them in tongues, but rather intelligibly to them by way of revelation, knowledge, prophecy, and teaching (Gordon Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, pg. 661). In order to clarify his point, Paul now provides two different illustrations in verses 7 through 12.
1 Corinthians 14.7-9
If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
In verses 7-9, Paul provides his first of two illustrations by comparing the Corinthians tongue-speaking with each other to lifeless instruments, namely the flute and harp. He conditionally states that if they, referring to the flute and harp, do not produce a distinct sound, how will they be understood? He then explains this example with the use of a bugle in sounding people for battle.
If the bugle produces an indistinct sound, how can anyone prepare themselves for battle? This illustration is then applied to one’s inability to understand another who is speaking in tongues by Paul’s following statement, “unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken?” “The analogy is clear,” remarks Gordon Fee
Tongues…is like the harpist running fingers over all the strings, making musical sounds but not playing a pleasing melody, or like a bugler who blows the bugle without sounding the battle cry. In both cases sounds come from the instrument, but they make no sense; hence the do not benefit the listener, so it is with tongues (Ibid., 664).
From this first illustration we discover that one must speak intelligibly to another in order for them to understand and not in unintelligible tongues.
1 Corinthians 14.10-12
There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
Paul’s second illustration, found in verses 10-12, provides us with yet another example of the importance of speaking intelligibly with each other.
In verse 10, Paul states that there are indeed many languages in the world and none of them are without meaning. He then provides a conditional cause-effect example by stating that if he did not know the meaning of a particular language that he and the one with whom he was dialoguing with would be like barbarians since they could not understand each other.
This illustration would have been very familiar to the Corinthians since the city was made up of a diversity of people from different nations and languages (David Garland, 1 Corinthians, 638) Just like the illustration in verses 7-9, this illustration too applies what is obvious: that without intelligibility of speech within the gathered assembly no one will be able to understand what is being said (Fee, 665). Finally, verse 12 applies the previous two illustrations, but also ties together the two themes set forth by Paul in verses 1-5: the desire for spiritual gifts and the edification of the church.
We observe that verse 12 applies the preceding two illustrations by Paul’s use of “so.” He explains to his recipients, “since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.”
What is more, we observe from this passage that Paul picks up the two themes that he originally established in verses 1-5. This resumption is observed in Paul’s reference to the Corinthians zealousness for spiritual gifts from verse 1 (D.A. Carson, Showing the Spirit, 103). In fact, his present encouragement can be understood as an amendment to the opening injunction of verse 1 (Garland, 638).
This present junction amends their zealousness for spiritual gifts by specifically exhorting them to “abound for the edification of the church.” Therefore, we can conclude that for Paul, the most important gifts that one should strive for are those that edify the church, not the self (Ibid., 638; cf. 1 Peter 4.10-11)
With this final passage, we observed that Paul not only provided an application of the previous two illustrations, but he also tied together the two themes that he established in verses 1 through 5, as well as reemphasized the importance of seeking those gifts that edify the church.
Other Parts in This Series:
Historical and Literary Context
Enjoy this post? Get more like them by subscribing to Reformed and Reforming by E-mail or RSS.
Consider sharing this post:
Related posts:
- One Issue and One Concern: 1 Corinthians 14.13-19 1 Corinthians 14.13-19 provides for us an application of verse...
- One Issue and One Concern: The Complete Series on 1 Corinthians 14.1-19 By observing the historical and literary context of 1 Corinthians...
- One Issue and One Concern: 1 Corinthians 14.1-19 Historical and Literary Context In the study of the Bible, it is always important...
- One Issue and One Concern: 1 Corinthians 14.1-5 1 Corinthians 14.1-5 establishes the central theme of verses 1-19,...
- Martyn Llyod-Jones on Speaking in Tongues Martyn Llyod-Jones (The Sovereign Spirit: Discerning His Gifts): Now what...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Leave a Reply