1 Corinthians Commentary Chapter 14 (2)

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1 Corinthians 14 (2)

Clearly conveying the words realized through revelation to others through words inspired by the Holy Spirit is truly beneficial to edifying the church.

As the saying goes, “A hundred schools of thought contend,” we are now in an age of a flood of words, and it is very confusing.

This means that words worth listening to, words that contain spirit and life, are precious.

Verse 12 “Even so you, forasmuch as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.”

This excellence refers to a different dimension.

It is the dimension of the power of speech.

It is not knowledge or content.

That is, it is not knowledge, but the word of rhema that becomes bread.

You must first embody the Word in yourself through the Holy Spirit, and then cultivate the ability to convey the spirit and  life of words that spit out by the Holy Spirit, with patience over a long period of time.

Since the Bible was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is understood by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and also conveyed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so it is heard, received, and becomes bread by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 13 “Wherefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.”

The inner realization must be verbalized and communicated externally.

So, pray for an interpretation.

However, people with gifts tend to insist on their own.

However, spiritual people are people who have the wisdom to harmonize in the whole.

They turn the secrets of their hearts into words and make them beneficial to others.

Verse 14 “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.”

Prayer in tongues is a prayer done with the spirit.

The interpretation makes the content of the prayer known, so it produces the fruit of the mind, which is a change in personality.

The same is true of contemplative prayer.

Even if one focuses on the spirit and sees the tabernacle of God, his soul still remains on the earth, so even though he enjoys the joy of the spirit, his personality remains the same.

Since the end of faith is the salvation of the soul (1 Peter 1:9), being cleansed through the prayer of a heart that obeys the truth and being able to love passionately (1 Peter 1:22) is achieved through the unity of spirit and soul.

Verse 15 “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.”

Therefore, prayer with the spirit must have understanding in the heart.

Because the desires of the spirit and the desires of the flesh are at war with each other in the heart, the most important word in Romans 8, which is the result of salvation, is to have life and peace with the mind of the spirit (Rom 8:6).

By putting to death the deeds of the body with the mind of the spirit through the Spirit, we have life more abundantly (Rom 8:13).

As a result, we receive the redemption of the body and attain the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom 8:21).

As such, biblical salvation is not just the salvation of our spirit, but the salvation of the whole person.

Verse 16 “Else when you shall bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say Amen at his giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what you sayest?”

This means that praying only with the spirit does not benefit others.

So Paul advises that we should not pray only with the spirit for ourselves, but pray rationally through our own understanding in order to benefit others.

Verse 17 “For you verily givest thamks well but the other is not edified.”

You have been thankful to God in spirit, but the other person does not know that.

That is why he says that it is not helpful to others.

There are many stories about this phenomenon when people who have just come to church talk about their embarrassing experiences.

The purpose of giving gifts is to benefit others and edify (build up house), but it should not end up only looking after your own benefit.

Verse 18 “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all.”

The reason Paul is thankful for speaking with tongues is because it allows him to understand many of God’s mysteries.

It is a great benefit to him. However, it is not something that Paul boasts about.

Therefore, those who consider speaking with tongues as their spiritual badge of honor should take Paul’s advice to heart.

Verse 19 “Yet in church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach to others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”

Five words that teach others are beneficial to others and edifying to the church.

After asking a person who was given the office of deacon in a church, “How do you believe in Jesus?”

I asked, “Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross, rose again, ascended to heaven, sat on the throne, and sent the Holy Spirit, so that Christ is Emmanuel in us and is our personal savior?”.

He followed up to that point, saying, Amen.

Then I asked, If Christ is in you, there is life, and that life is full in you. Do you know this?”

From there, he gradually became hesitate.

"So, you gain that life and gain it more abundantly, and you reach the glory of God, become one with the Father in Christ, and love each other.” 

I explained in detail about the salvation that will unfold in Christ, and I prayed earnestly to God in the Lord’s name for that prophecy to be fulfilled.

Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.

Translated by  Nancy Chung

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To God be the glory.