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Text -- 1 Corinthians 14:19 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
14:19 but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Words | Unknown Tongue | Tongues | Tongue | TONGUES, GIFT OF | Preaching | PROPHECY; PROPHETS, 2 | PAUL, THE APOSTLE, 4 | NUMBER | MINISTRY | Language | Interpretation | HOLY SPIRIT, 2 | Corinth | Church | CATECHIST; CATECHUMEN | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
, Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey , Lapide

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: 1Co 14:19 - -- Howbeit in church ( alla en ekklēsiāi ). Private ecstasy is one thing (cf. 2Co 12:1-9) but not in church worship.

Howbeit in church ( alla en ekklēsiāi ).

Private ecstasy is one thing (cf. 2Co 12:1-9) but not in church worship.

Robertson: 1Co 14:19 - -- That I may instruct ( hina katēchēsō ). Final clause with hina . For the rare verb katēcheō see note on Luk 1:4 and note on Act 18:25.

That I may instruct ( hina katēchēsō ).

Final clause with hina . For the rare verb katēcheō see note on Luk 1:4 and note on Act 18:25.

Vincent: 1Co 14:19 - -- Teach ( κατηχήσω ) Orally. See on Luk 1:4.

Teach ( κατηχήσω )

Orally. See on Luk 1:4.

Wesley: 1Co 14:19 - -- In a rational manner; so as not only to understand myself, but to be understood by others.

In a rational manner; so as not only to understand myself, but to be understood by others.

JFB: 1Co 14:19 - -- The Greek verb more literally expresses this meaning, "I WISH to speak five words with my understanding (rather) than ten thousand words in an unknown...

The Greek verb more literally expresses this meaning, "I WISH to speak five words with my understanding (rather) than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue"; even the two thousandth part of ten thousand. The Greek for "I would rather," would be a different verb. Paul would NOT wish at all to speak "ten thousand words in an unknown tongue."

Clarke: 1Co 14:19 - -- Yet in the church - As the grand object of public worship is the edification of those who attend, five words spoken so as to convey edification, wer...

Yet in the church - As the grand object of public worship is the edification of those who attend, five words spoken so as to convey edification, were of much more consequence than ten thousand which, not being understood, could convey none. By the word γλωσση, tongue, to which we add unknown, I suppose the apostle always means the Hebrew, for the reasons offered in the note on 1Co 14:1

One of the greatest difficulties, says Bishop Pearce, in this epistle is contained in the words πνευμα and νους, spirit and understanding, which are frequently used in this chapter; and fixing the true meaning of these words will solve the difficulty. In this verse the apostle explains λαλειν τῳ νοΐ, to speak with the understanding, by ἱνα αλλους κατηχησω, that I might teach others; so that the sense of νους, understanding, seems to be, that understanding which the hearer has of what is said; and this sense will agree well with, I will sing with the spirit, and with the understanding, 1Co 14:15

He observes also that πνευμα spirit, and νους, understanding, have a sense opposite to each other; so that if νους is rightly rendered, the understanding which another has of what is said; then πνευμα will signify a man’ s own mind, i.e. his own understanding of what he himself speaks; and this sense agrees well with 1Co 14:2 : In the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Calvin: 1Co 14:19 - -- 19.I would rather speak five words This is spoken hyperbolically, unless you understand five words, as meaning five sentences. Now as Paul, who...

19.I would rather speak five words This is spoken hyperbolically, unless you understand five words, as meaning five sentences. Now as Paul, who might otherwise have exulted loftily in his power of speaking with tongues, voluntarily abstains from it, and, without any show, aims at edification exclusively, he reproves, by this means, the empty ambition of those, that are eagerly desirous to show themselves off with empty tinkling. (1Co 13:1.) The authority of the Apostle ought, also, to have no little weight in drawing them off from vanity of this kind.

TSK: 1Co 14:19 - -- in the : 1Co 14:4, 1Co 14:21, 1Co 14:22

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: 1Co 14:19 - -- Yet in the church - In the Christian assembly. The word "church"does not refer to the "edifice"where Christians worshipped, but to the organize...

Yet in the church - In the Christian assembly. The word "church"does not refer to the "edifice"where Christians worshipped, but to the organized body of Christians.

I had rather ... - It is probable that in the Christian assembly, usually, there were few who understood foreign languages. Paul, therefore, would not speak in a foreign language when its only use would be mere display.

With my understanding - So as to be intelligible to others; so that I might understand it, and so that at the same time others might be benefitted.

Poole: 1Co 14:19 - -- Yet he had so great a regard to the end of his ministry, teaching others, and communicating Divine knowledge to them, that he had rather speak a lit...

Yet he had so great a regard to the end of his ministry, teaching others, and communicating Divine knowledge to them, that he had rather speak a little tending to that end, than never so much in a language which those to whom he spake did not understand.

Haydock: 1Co 14:19 - -- But in the Church. The apostle here condemns the vanity of the Corinthians, who made a parade of their gift of tongues. (Calmet)

But in the Church. The apostle here condemns the vanity of the Corinthians, who made a parade of their gift of tongues. (Calmet)

Gill: 1Co 14:19 - -- Yet in the church I had rather speak five words,.... Referring not to the five books of Moses, as Jerom suggests, and much less, as the Papists say, t...

Yet in the church I had rather speak five words,.... Referring not to the five books of Moses, as Jerom suggests, and much less, as the Papists say, to the five words, "for this is my body"; by the muttering of which they suppose the bread in the Lord's supper to be transubtantiated into the body of Christ; but meaning a very few words, which he chose to speak in the church before the congregation, when and where saints were met together for public worship, for their edification and comfort, and the glory of God; for though at other times, and to other people, he might think fit to make use of his gift in speaking with divers tongues, yet at such a time and place he thought it much more eligible to say ever so few words

with understanding: so as to be understood by others, as well as himself:

that by my voice I might teach others also; the doctrines of the Gospel, the mysteries of grace, the duty of men towards God and men, and one another:

than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue; than to deliver ever so long an oration in a language not understood by them, which could be of no use unto them; for though they might hear his voice, the sound of his words, yet thereby he could not teach and instruct them to their profit, unless they understood the language which he spoke; and therefore five words understood were more likely to be of use than ten thousand spoken in a strange language.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

Geneva Bible: 1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak ( q ) five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in ...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: 1Co 14:1-40 - --1 Prophecy is commended,2 and preferred before speaking with tongues,6 by a comparison drawn from musical instruments.12 Both must be referred to edif...

MHCC: 1Co 14:15-25 - --There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to...

Matthew Henry: 1Co 14:15-20 - -- The apostle here sums up the argument hitherto, and, I. Directs them how they should sing and pray in public (1Co 14:15): What is it then? I will p...

Barclay: 1Co 14:1-19 - --This chapter is very difficult to understand because it deals with a phenomenon which, for most of us, is outside our experience. Throughout Paul s...

Constable: 1Co 7:1--16:13 - --III. Questions asked of Paul 7:1--16:12 The remainder of the body of this epistle deals with questions the Corin...

Constable: 1Co 12:1--14:40 - --E. Spiritual gifts and spiritual people chs. 12-14 Paul had been dealing with matters related to worship...

Constable: 1Co 14:1-25 - --4. The need for intelligibility 14:1-25 Paul went on to elaborate on the inferiority of the gift...

Constable: 1Co 14:13-19 - --Application in view of believers 14:13-19 Paul continued his argument by clarifying the effect that unintelligible speech has on believers gathered fo...

College: 1Co 14:1-40 - --1 CORINTHIANS 14 D. GIFTS OF PROPHECY AND TONGUES (14:1-25) 1. Tongues and Prophecy Compared (14:1-5) 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire s...

McGarvey: 1Co 14:19 - --howbeit in the church [congregation] I had rather speak five words with my understanding [so as to be understood], that I might instruct others also, ...

Lapide: 1Co 14:1-40 - --CHAPTER XIV SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He puts prophecy before the gift of tongues, because ( a ) it is of great use in edifying others, and tongue...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) First Corinthians From Ephesus a.d. 54 Or 55 By Way of Introduction It would be a hard-boiled critic today who would dare deny the genuineness o...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The AUTHENTICITY of this Epistle is attested by CLEMENT OF ROME [First Epistle to the Corinthians, 47], POLYCARP [Epistle to the Philippians, 11], and...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Outline) THE INSCRIPTION; THANKSGIVING FOR THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH; REPROOF OF PARTY DIVISIONS: HIS OWN METHOD OF PREACHING ONLY CHRIST. ...

TSK: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) Overview 1Co 14:1, Prophecy is commended, 1Co 14:2, and preferred before speaking with tongues, 1Co 14:6, by a comparison drawn from musical instr...

Poole: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 14

MHCC: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The Corinthian church contained some Jews, but more Gentiles, and the apostle had to contend with the superstition of the one, and the sinful conduct ...

MHCC: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) (1Co 14:1-5) Prophecy preferred to the gift of tongues. (1Co 14:6-14) The unprofitableness of speaking in unknown languages. (1Co 14:15-25) Exhortat...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians Corinth was a principal city of Greece, in that partic...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter the apostle directs them about the use of their spiritual gifts, preferring those that are best and fitted to do the greatest good....

Barclay: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) The False And The True Worship (1Co_14:1-19) The Effects Of False And True Worship (1Co_14:20-25) Practical Advice (1Co_14:26-33) Forbidden Innova...

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical Background Corinth had a long history stretching back into the...

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1-9 A. Salutation 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving 1:4-9 ...

Constable: 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Bibliography Adams, Jay. Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible. Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presb...

Haydock: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE CORINTHIANS. INTRODUCTION. Corinth was the capital of Achaia, a very rich and populous city...

Gill: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS This was not the first epistle that was written by the apostle to the Corinthians, for we read in this of his having ...

Gill: 1 Corinthians 14 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS 14 In this chapter the apostle discourses concerning the use of spiritual gifts, and prefers prophesying, or preachin...

College: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) FOREWORD Since the past few decades have seen an explosion in the number of books, articles, and commentaries on First Corinthians, a brief word to t...

College: 1 Corinthians (Outline) OUTLINE I. INTRODUCTION - 1:1-9 A. Salutation - 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving - 1:4-9 II. DISUNITY AND COMMUNITY FRAGMENTATION - 1:10-4:21 A. ...

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