1 Corinthians Commentary Chapter 14 (1)

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1 Corinthians 14 (1)

Among the problems of the church in Corinth, gifts were a part of it.

Among them, tongues and prophecy were particularly problematic.

Tongues caused more trouble.

So we see that chapter 14 recommends prophecy more than tongues.

It seems that there is no true prophecy in this age.

This is because the Bible has been completed.

However, people are talking about salvation through tongues, which is childish and ridiculous.

Chapter 14 is about tongues and prophecy.

Verse 1 "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy."

He emphasizes love and recommends prophecy among the spiritual gifts.

And then Paul recommends speaking in tongues.

The word desire is a state of seeking and pursuing.

desire is the zeal to pursue, but if not done properly, it can lead to jealousy or greed.

"Follow after charity" This means that you should pursue love, just as Paul himself ran to Damascus.

It is a question of whether love and spiritual things are different.

Love is existence (he agape).

Therefore, it is not an object of longing, passion, or envy, but an object that should be pursued.

Spiritual things are gifts (charisma), so they are functions and are given to those in office for their ministry.

They are a kind of tool.

For example, the chick appraiser was given a special talent, such as being able to distinguish between male and female chicks.

The best gift in 1 Corinthians 12:31 is the gift of prophecy (14:1).

However, love is an existence, so it is sandwiched between chapters 12 and 14.

Because it is a more excellent way, it is wrapped between gifts and gifts.

What is the relationship between love and prophecy? Prophecy is not a fortune-telling, but a foretelling in Christ, so it is revealed by love itself.

Therefore, after preaching the gospel, the gift of prophecy is the best and perfect.

Verse 2 “For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God; for no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”

Speaking in tongues is speaking mysteries to God.

Col 2:2 The mystery is Christ. God makes us understand this mystery.

Eph 5:30 and below This mystery is great, and it speaks of Christ and the church.

Eph 5:30 and below This mystery is great, and it speaks of Christ and the church.

Matthew 13:11 The Lord says that the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven is given to his disciples.

Verse 3 “But he that prophesies speaks to men for edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

The nature of prophecy (sermon) is exhortation, comfort, and edification.

It means building a house, and each Christian’s body becomes the house of God.

2 Corinthians 10:8 He wanted to build it,

Ephesians 2:21 Each building (house) - each saint is a small building where God dwells, and is included in the entire building.

You can think of it as a small tent for each person within the big tent of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:12,16 It builds up the body of Christ.

It makes the body grow and builds itself up in love.

Peters 2:5 The spiritual house is a priest who offers spiritual sacrifices.

That is why prophecy is important. It is a prophetic mission that has received the spirit of prophecy.

Verse 4 “He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself, but he that prophesies edifies the church.”

Speaking in tongues is a gift and work that builds oneself up, so it has personal benefits.

On the other hand, prophecy is a gift and work that builds the church, so it has overall benefits.

The kingdom of God is not a kingdom for oneself alone.

Therefore, personal faith without the majority is bound to be flawed.

Verse 5 “I would that you all speak with tongues, but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speakes with tongues,  except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”

Tongues are a secret within, and if they are not revealed through interpretation, the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues.

The true value of tongues lies in interpretation.

It reveals the mysteries of God.

The interpretation of tongues is like prophecy.

Therefore, the gift must be beneficial to oneself and others.

Since it is to benefit people through words, it must be words that people can understand.

Verse 6 “Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”

If revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine do not come in a language, they will be of no use.

Verse 7 If you cannot discern the sound of something lifeless, such as a pipe or a harp, it is no different from the sound of other miscellaneous things.

Verse 8 “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”

If the trumpet sounds an uncertain sound, you cannot prepare for battle.

This means that you cannot convey the command to charge forward or open fire with a tongue.

Therefore, people must be able to understand whatever sound is being made.

The reason why the word battle comes up is because the trumpet sound and battle are related.

Matthew 24:31 I will send my angels with a loud trumpet sound.

1 Corinthians 15:52 For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

Revelation 1:10 I heard a loud voice like a trumpet.

In fact, salvation is always a battle itself that occurs with the trumpet of God.

For those who have ears to hear even now, the word of God will be heard as a trumpet.

Verse 9 “So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air.”

Easy words are words that are clearly presented.

Words whose meaning is clear and expressed well.

That is the sound of the trumpet that is blown properly.

The servants of the Lord must express the tongue of angels, the gospel of truth, the mystery of Christ, well.

It is important to make revelations or knowledge known to others.

It is the work of preparing for the spiritual battle for salvation, and now is the time to blow the trumpet loudly and clearly.

If you don't understand the words of verse 9, you are speaking to the air.

Verse 10 says that there are many kinds of voices in the world, but there is no voice without signification.

Verse 11 says that if a barbarian (foreigner) makes a voice exactly like Tarzan, who will understand the voice?

The voice has meaning, but if you don't understand the meaning of the voice, you are a barbarian.

The power of words is more important than the beauty of the sound (1 Corinthians 4:20).

In a word, Paul is saying that he does not want to be a barbarian (foreigner outside of Christ).

It means that you have no desire to speak words that has no consequences.

The power of words, that is, voice , becomes life and bread for oneself and others.

Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.

Translated by  Nancy Chung

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