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Please explain 1 Corinthians 14:2 to me. I would appreciate clarity on this verse
Thank you for a really good question. A question that is often driven by the fact that the translators added one word into the translation that cannot be found in the original texts. This word is the word “unknown.†So firstly we need to look at the original Greek to make sure we really have the correct text: Greek: Ὁ Î³á½°Ï Î»Î±Î»á¿¶Î½ γλώσσῃ οá½Îº ἀνθÏώποις λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ Ï„á¿· θεῷ· οá½Î´Îµá½¶Ï‚ Î³á½°Ï á¼€ÎºÎ¿Ïει, πνεÏματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήÏια. ho gar laloun glossa ouk anthroupois lalei tou Theou oudeis gar akouei pneumati de lalei musteiria. Directly translated word for word it reads like this: the for speaking in a tongue (language) not to men speaks/ but to God/ no one for hears/ in the Spirit however/ he utters mysteries. Now let us look at how it is translated in the versions we normally read: For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. (No UNKNOWN or ANOTHER before tongue as some translations put it) Hebrew Paralellism: Now let us consider the format this chapter is written in. We always have to take proper note of the writing. Language has rules and when writing we adhere to the rules of the language – we construct sentences and we carefully note the rules with regard to prepositions, tense, adverbs, verbs, etc. First off we need to read the entire chapter or logical portion that is meant to be seen as a whole. When we do this we note that Paul is addressing the misuse of the gift of tongues among the Corinthians. So whatever we will encounter within the portion, we must always have in mind that the reason this is written is to address this issue. The logical portion we are referring to here is 1 Corinthians 12, 13 and 14. You will note that he starts off in chapter 12 – “Now concerning spiritual gifts …†This it is clear that he is addressing the Spiritual gifts in Corinth. In verse 10 and 11 of Chapter 12 he brings in the gift of tongues specifically. Bear in mind he did already declare that he did not wish the people in Corinth to be ignorant – verse 1. Chapter 13 he deals specifically with the gift of tongues. And now in chapter 14 he specifically deals with the contrast between prohecy and tongues. We do not have all the details of the questions that Paul is answering from the letter the Corinthians wrote to him. Neither do we know in full detail the assumptions and ideas on which they based their thinking. We therefore have to deduce from the style and dialogue itself whether Paul agrees or disagrees with the sentiments expressed. Now we get back to the actual writing. Paul uses a well known Hebrew style called parallelism to emphasize his arguments: (bear in mind he was trained as a Pharisee in one of the best schools of Hebrew thought in Israel). In this case it is antithetical parallelism where a statement is followed by a contradicting statement. He uses “but†or a similar conjunction (literary terminology to describe the type of word) to signal that he does not agree with the previous statement. Let us briefly note 1 Corinthians 14:26 - 28 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Paul was a very systematic and orderly man. So from the verse above it is clear that Paul is trying to establish proper church order. Church activities should edify people. As an example in a multilingual meeting speaking in tongues is permissible if conducted in an orderly fashion with proper translation. (Illustration of prayer in a different tongue and you have no idea what is being said!) Incomprehensible utterances are contrary to the Spirit of God, because God would not exclude some people by giving others a “gift†that is not for the benefit of the Body. It is contrary to His nature of unselfish love. Speaking in tongues may be a worldwide phenomenon, but that fact does not mean that it is in harmony with Scripture. Paul puts it this way to the people in Ephesus: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (Ephesians 4:14). So let us now get to the actual writing and note what Paul was saying and how he said it. I have already mentioned that he used parallelism in contrasting format: HOW IT SHOULD BE Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1) Love dictates preaching the Gospel. Not all are prophets who receive visions from God. Rather, the word “prophecyâ€{1} here means preaching or proclaiming the Gospel. HOW IT SHOULD NOT BE For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. (1 Corinthians 14:2) 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.(1 Corinthians 14:3) Here Paul is quoting a saying from the Corinthians. Paul does not agree with this position as it is clear from his subsequent use of the conjunction “but†in verse 3. The Bible’s only definition of tongues is in Acts 2, where it is defined as a gift of languages. {1} – Ï€ÏοφητεÏω – Thayer’s Greek Lexicon gives the following clear description of the word in this instance: to break forth under sudden impulse in lofty discourse or in praise of the divine counsels: Luke 1:67; Acts 19:6 (1 Samuel 10:10, 11; 1 Samuel 19:20, 21, etc.); — or, under the like prompting, to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others (see Ï€Ïοφήτης, II. 1 f.), 1 Corinthians 11:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 13:9; 1 Corinthians 14:1, 3, 4, 5, 24, 31, 39. This is very important to understand this! In fact verse 3 is now clear in the light of this description. So let us just understand this correctly. Paul is saying in the light of chapter 13 the greatest gift is love and then in chapter 14 he continues encouraging us to earnestly pursue love. Yes he says we should desire spiritual gifts but especially prophecy and in this case meaning to teach, to refute, to reprove, to admonish, to comfort others. Why? Well because we read quite clearly: John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.†So if we earnestly pursue love we will really desire the gift of helping, assisting our brothers and sisters which means that we should teach them, refute and reprove and admonish them if necessary and to comfort them. 1 Timothy 4:12 – 14 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Now we can get back to verse 2. Let us first establish where this saying comes from. In Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:30; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4-6, 13, 18, 23, 27, 39. The origin of the expression is apparently to be found in the fact, that in Hebrew the tongue is spoken of as the leading instrument by which the praises of God are proclaimed (ἡ τῶν θείων ὕμνων μελῳδός, 4 Macc. 10:21, cf. Psalm 34:28 (); (); (); Psalm 125:2 (); Acts 2:26; Philippians 2:11; λαλεῖν á¼Î½ γλώσσῃ, Psalm 38:4 (), and that according to the more rigorous conception of inspiration nothing human in an inspired man was thought to be active except the tongue, put in motion by the Holy Spirit (κατάχÏηται ἕτεÏος αá½Ï„οῦ τοῖς φωνητηÏιοις á½€Ïγάνοις, στόματι καί γλωττη Ï€Ïός μηνυσιν ὧν ἄν θÎλῃ, Philo, rer. div. haer. § 53 (i. 510, Mang. edition)) – Thayer’s Greek Lexicon Now let us turn to some commentaries Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 2. speaketh … unto God—who alone understands all languages. no man understandeth—generally speaking; the few who have the gift of interpreting tongues are the exception. in the spirit—as opposed to "the understanding" (1 Cor 14:14). mysteries—unintelligible to the hearers, exciting their wonder, rather than instructing them. Corinth, being a mart resorted to by merchants from Asia, Africa, and Europe, would give scope amidst its mixed population for the exercise of the gift of tongues; but its legitimate use was in an audience understanding the tongue of the speaker, not, as the Corinthians abused it, in mere display. Matthew Poole's Commentary For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue; by a tongue (for unkown is not in the Greek, but necessarily added by our translators, for he speaketh of such a language) he meaneth a language not known to all, or at least not to the most of them that hear him. It may be asked, what unknown language the apostle here meaneth? Shall we think that any pastors or teachers in the church of Corinth were so vain, as to preach in the Arabic, Scythian, or Parthian language to a people who understood only the Greek? Our learned Dr Lightfoot thinks this not probable, and that if any had been so vain for ostentation, the apostle would rather have chid them for suffering such an abuse, and have forbidden such further practice, than have given direction, than if any so spake he should interpret, as he doth, 1 Corinthians 14:5. He rather thinks, therefore, that the apostle meaneth the Hebrew tongue; the use of which, though it was by this time much lost through the Jews’ mixture with other nations, yet was restored in a great measure to the guides of churches, for their better understanding the Scriptures of the Old Testament; and continued amongst the Jews in their reading of the law in the synagogues. Now there being many Jews in this church, and the service of God being ordinarily in the Jewish synagogues performed in that language, it is very probable, that some of these Jews that were Christianized (to show their skill) might, when they spake to the whole church of Corinth, use to speak in Hebrew, though few or none understood that language. The apostle saith, he that did so, spake not unto men, - that is, not to those men who did not understand that language, not to the generality of his hearers, though possibly here and there some might understand him, but unto God, - who being the Author of all languages, must necessarily know the significancy of all words in them: for (he saith) scarce any man understood him. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue,.... Or with tongues, as some copies and the Ethiopic version read: Dr. Lightfoot thinks, that the Hebrew tongue, which was become a dead language, and understood but by few, is here meant, and that not without reason; seeing the public prayers, preaching, and singing of psalms among the Jews, were in this languages (x); in imitation of whom, such ministers, who had the gift of speaking this language, read the Scriptures, preached, prayed, and sung psalms in it, which were no ways to the edification of the people, who understood it not; upon which account the apostle recommends prophesying, praying, and singing, in a language that was understood: otherwise he speaketh not unto men; - to the understanding, profit, and edification of men: but unto God: to his praise and glory, and he only knowing, who knows all languages, and every word in the tongue what is said; excepting himself, unless there should be any present capable of interpreting: for no man understandeth him: - or "heareth him": that is, hears him, so as to understand him; he may hear a sound, but he cannot tell the meaning of it, and so it is of no use and advantage to him: Conclusion: Basically then to get back to your question – Paul after dealing extensively with this “problem†in Corinth is saying the gifts of the Spirit is important and believers should encourage the gifts but of all the gifts love is the greatest. And love wills us to exhort, preach, teach in order to share the character of God with those around us. And to do so it is best to do it in a simple manner for all to understand. So even if some of us are fluent in speaking Hebrew, and even if the Scriptures were normally read in Hebrew (or Greek), Psalms were sung in Hebrew, preaching and prayers were in Hebrew, it makes no sense at all and we would not understand this. There is no edification in this. Only God would understand this as He certainly understands all languages as He gave them in the first place. Paul thus states correctly so as not to offend the Jews that it is fine to speak a language that God would understand, but it is of no value to the hearers. It is far better to preach, exhort, comfort, teach in a language that all can understand and in this manner live out the greatest gift of all – love – more specifically God’s love for us.