RSV ~ 1 Corinthians 14 Notes

1 Cor 14:1-40 | ISB Notes

Paul gives pastoral direction on spiritual gifts, building upon the theological and ethical foundations laid in chaps. 12-13. He seeks to regulate the Corinthians’ undisciplined exercise of charismatic gifts by stressing the need to build up the congregation (14:3-5, 12, 26). As a rule, gifts exercised in public worship must be publicly beneficial; otherwise disorder and confusion will result (14:33, 40). • Vatican II reaffirmed the enduring validity of charismatic gifts. The Council described their function as one of renewing and building up the Church in the Spirit. Following Paul, it also warned that extraordinary charisms should not be rashly desired (Lumen Gentium 12).

1 Cor 14:1 | ISB Notes

prophesy: The ability to prophesy is the preferred charismatic gift. It can include the power to predict future events (Acts 11:27-28; 21:10-11) but is primarily the ability to encourage the assembled Church in a powerful way (1 Cor 14:3; Acts 15:32). Prophets can also make the gospel compelling to outside observers (1 Cor 14:24-25). Paul promotes this gift over tongues because prophets can speak to others with clear and understandable words.

1 Cor 14:2 | ISB Notes

speaks in a tongue: Here viewed as human languages that are unknown and thus “foreign” to the local Church (14:10-11). Interpreting them amounts to translating them (14:5; Acts 2:1-11).

1 Cor 14:7-8 | ISB Notes

Paul compares tongues to musical instruments (14:7) and a military trumpet (14:8). Just as music follows an ordered sequence of notes, and a battle call has a distinctive sound, so the language of tongues has an intelligible meaning in itself. Left untranslated, however, tongues remain incoherent to the congregation, like a string of meaningless noises.

1 Cor 14:10 | ISB Notes

many different languages: Diversity among human languages can be traced back to the rebellion at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9). The commercial city of Corinth would be exposed to many foreign dialects, even though its principal language was Greek.

1 Cor 14:11 | ISB Notes

foreigner: The term is elsewhere translated “barbarian” (Rom 1:14; Col 3:11). Here it refers to someone whose native language is unknown to Greek-speaking Christians.

1 Cor 14:14 | ISB Notes

my mind is unfruitful: I.e., uninvolved in the heavenly speech. An uninterpreted tongue makes conscious participation in the prayer impossible both for the individual speaking and for the congregation listening. Even so, the gift engages the spirit of the worshiper, enabling him to utter “mysteries in the Spirit” (14:2).

1 Cor 14:16 | ISB Notes

“Amen”: A Hebrew expression meaning “So be it!” or “So it is!”. It is a traditional response to liturgical prayers (Rev 5:14).

See word study: Amen at 2 Cor 1.

1 Cor 14:20 | ISB Notes

in thinking be mature: The Corinthians’ preoccupation with tongues was a sign of their immaturity. They should rather seek for themselves the moral innocence of children and the mature judgment of adults (3:1; Eph 4:11-14).

1 Cor 14:21 | ISB Notes

the law: Refers to the entire OT, not just the Pentateuch (Jn 10:34; 15:25). • Paul paraphrases Is 28:11-12, where the scoffers of Israel mock Isaiah by comparing his prophecies to the unintelligible babble of infants. Isaiah turns their mockery into a warning by saying that Yahweh will rouse foreign armies (Assyria), who speak an alien language, to seek and destroy them (Deut 28:49). This leads Paul to see “tongues” as a “sign” of the judgment that will fall upon sinners (1 Cor 14:22).

1 Cor 14:22 | ISB Notes

unbelievers: Since this can also be translated “unfaithful”, it is uncertain whether Paul is thinking of unbaptized pagans or unfaithful Christians or both.

prophecy is not for unbelievers: I.e., not primarily for unbelievers or the unfaithful. It is foremost a gift to edify the assembled church, although it can benefit visitors and newcomers as well (14:24-25).

1 Cor 14:25 | ISB Notes

God is really among you: Charismatic prophecy can lead to the conversion of unbelievers who attend a Christian liturgy. • Paul’s language recalls OT passages where the Gentiles come to recognize Yahweh as the one true God present among his messianic people (Is 45:14; Zech 8:22-23).

1 Cor 14:27-28 | ISB Notes

Paul gives three pastoral guidelines for speaking in tongues: (1) only a few should exercise the gift at each assembly; (2) they should speak in sequence, not simultaneously; (3) the utterances should be interpreted. Paul assumes that the gift of tongues lies within the control of the recipient, who can keep silent when appropriate. Should the spontaneity of charismatic gifts be allowed to override the structures of the liturgy, they will cause disorder and distraction (14:39-40).

1 Cor 14:29 | ISB Notes

weigh what is said: Prophecies must be measured against apostolic teaching to ensure their consistency with the whole deposit of faith (Rom 12:6).

1 Cor 14:34-35 | ISB Notes

Paul enjoins silence upon Christian women in public worship. This is not an absolute restriction, since women can lawfully pray and prophesy in the liturgical assembly (11:5) and are encouraged to teach in other circumstances (Tit 2:3-4). Paul is prohibiting women from instructing the congregation in the official capacity of a pastor or homilist. See note on 1 Tim 2:12.

1 Cor 14:37 | ISB Notes

command of the Lord: Paul is giving, not personal advice, but instruction that in some sense comes directly from Christ (7:10).