I Corinthians 14:10-11, "There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world,
and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the
voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a
barbarian unto me."
The word "voices" is simply languages from the word phone. "Without signification" is
aphonon defined as without the faculty of speech. The same word occurs in acts 8:32.
The eunuch was reading from Isaiah, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like
a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth."
Peter relating the story of Balaam said, "the dumb ass speaking with man's voice" (II
Pet 2:16. The emphatic thought is that no matter how many "kinds" of languages or
dialects there may be, still all of them are intelligible. None of them are comprised
of mere "sounds" that cannot be understood.
Paul called the gift of tongues by the Greek expression gene glosson translated as
"kinds of tongues" (I Cor 12:10), "diversifies of tongues" (I Cor 12:28). The word
genos always refers to a family, offspring, race, nation, kind, sort or a class in the
New Testament. It always is used to show that which is related to each other of the
same type. Note there are many "kinds" of fish (Mt 13:47), yet they are all fish.
There are "kinds" of demons observed in the New Testament as in Matthew 17:21, yet
they are all still demons.
In other words, "many kinds of voices" (I Cor 14:10) but they are all voices. In other
words, there are many kinds of languages yet they are all still languages. While we
have Semitic, Slavic, Latin and many others as families of languages, nevertheless
they are all related in that they have a definite vocabulary and grammatical
construction. Paul could not have combined known foreign languages with unknown,
merely ecstatic "sounds" because they are not related to one another.
"A barbarian" in Corinth merely expresses the thought that one could not speak the
Greek language used there. The word comes from the Greek barbaros defined as "one
whose speech is rude or harsh." Hence "it signified one who speaks a foreign language
strange to another" (Vine's). It is used in Romans 1:14 to distinguish all who were
not Greeks or Jews. A.T. Robertson points out "the Egyptians called all 'barbarous'
who did not speak their language. Evidently the Greeks followed this same practice."
In other words, if I speak one language and a brother in the assembly gets up and
speaks in a language "unknown" to me, we cannot communicate. Words are vehicles by
which we may communicate ideas and convey light to the end that we may edify others.
Verse 12, "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye
may excel to the edifying of the church." Here again Paul emphasizes the true aim and
purpose of all that is done in public worship, in the assembly--namely, "the edifying
of the church."
Note the Greek phrase is zelotai pneumaton which means "zealots for spirits." The word
"gifts" is not in the original yet Paul's discussion has to do with "gifts of the
spirit." Nevertheless, remember John warned believers to "try the spirits" (I Jn
4:1-3). In the margin the rendering is "prove the spirits," a task made essential in
view of the fact that "many false prophets are gone out into the world." Therefore
John advised to "believe not every spirit" since error is being taught in the name of
truth.
The Corinthians had need of testing their motives in the exercise of the "gifts"
because in their zeal to be motivated and to perform undar a spiritual constraint,
they failed to discern the kind of spirit that pushed them onward.
"Excel" is from perisseno, to abound, to be over and above. It is used in Matthew 5:20
as Jesus taught saying, "that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness
of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven."
In this day of serious competition how marvelous it would be if, instead of merely
attempting to out-talk, out-perform or out-show one another, we would rather determine
to be the very best member of the church in the business of building up our brethren,
both individually and for the whole body.
"The edifying of the church" denotes the act of promoting the spiritual growth. It is
found in Romans 14:19 and Romans 15:2. Paul, in the former said, "Let us therefore
follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify
another." In this latter he said, "Let every one of us please his neighbor for his
good to edification."
Verse 13, "Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may
interpret." The "wherefore" signifies the application of the principle verse 12. Since
"he that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself" (vs 4), if one obeys (vs 12)
and yet has "the gift of tongues," he could only do so if he interpreted the foreign
language spoken in the tongue of the assembly. Then only could the church be edified.
It is observable the exercise of the "gift of tongues" those who were possessors of
that gift could be supernaturally enabled to interpret other tongues. Hear it, "If any
man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that by
course; and let one (that is one of the two or three) interpret" (vs 27). Hence if one
really desired to edify the whole church, he would pray to be the interpreter rather
than one of the speakers in a foreign language.
Always connected with the gift of tongues is the gift of interpretation of tongues,
hermeneia glosson, (I Cor 14:26; 28). What does "interpret" mean? In passages not
referring to "gifts of the spirit" it refers to an exposition of Old Testament
Scripture as in Luke 24:27, or to a translation from one known foreign language to
another as in John 2:38; 42; 9:7; Hebrews 7:2. In either case it is an attempt to make
clear what was said to the listeners.
Verse 14, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding
is unfruitful." Public praying in a foreign language could in no way profit the
hearers. How could a man say "amen" (vs 16), joining his heart with the man leading in
prayer, if he could not understand the words.
One's spirit might more eloquently convey one's thoughts privately to the Lord than
could his tongue articulate it in words. However, public praying, to be fruitful,
which is to accomplish its purpose, must be in the language of the congregation. JM
and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the
voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a
barbarian unto me."
The word "voices" is simply languages from the word phone. "Without signification" is
aphonon defined as without the faculty of speech. The same word occurs in acts 8:32.
The eunuch was reading from Isaiah, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like
a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth."
Peter relating the story of Balaam said, "the dumb ass speaking with man's voice" (II
Pet 2:16. The emphatic thought is that no matter how many "kinds" of languages or
dialects there may be, still all of them are intelligible. None of them are comprised
of mere "sounds" that cannot be understood.
Paul called the gift of tongues by the Greek expression gene glosson translated as
"kinds of tongues" (I Cor 12:10), "diversifies of tongues" (I Cor 12:28). The word
genos always refers to a family, offspring, race, nation, kind, sort or a class in the
New Testament. It always is used to show that which is related to each other of the
same type. Note there are many "kinds" of fish (Mt 13:47), yet they are all fish.
There are "kinds" of demons observed in the New Testament as in Matthew 17:21, yet
they are all still demons.
In other words, "many kinds of voices" (I Cor 14:10) but they are all voices. In other
words, there are many kinds of languages yet they are all still languages. While we
have Semitic, Slavic, Latin and many others as families of languages, nevertheless
they are all related in that they have a definite vocabulary and grammatical
construction. Paul could not have combined known foreign languages with unknown,
merely ecstatic "sounds" because they are not related to one another.
"A barbarian" in Corinth merely expresses the thought that one could not speak the
Greek language used there. The word comes from the Greek barbaros defined as "one
whose speech is rude or harsh." Hence "it signified one who speaks a foreign language
strange to another" (Vine's). It is used in Romans 1:14 to distinguish all who were
not Greeks or Jews. A.T. Robertson points out "the Egyptians called all 'barbarous'
who did not speak their language. Evidently the Greeks followed this same practice."
In other words, if I speak one language and a brother in the assembly gets up and
speaks in a language "unknown" to me, we cannot communicate. Words are vehicles by
which we may communicate ideas and convey light to the end that we may edify others.
Verse 12, "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye
may excel to the edifying of the church." Here again Paul emphasizes the true aim and
purpose of all that is done in public worship, in the assembly--namely, "the edifying
of the church."
Note the Greek phrase is zelotai pneumaton which means "zealots for spirits." The word
"gifts" is not in the original yet Paul's discussion has to do with "gifts of the
spirit." Nevertheless, remember John warned believers to "try the spirits" (I Jn
4:1-3). In the margin the rendering is "prove the spirits," a task made essential in
view of the fact that "many false prophets are gone out into the world." Therefore
John advised to "believe not every spirit" since error is being taught in the name of
truth.
The Corinthians had need of testing their motives in the exercise of the "gifts"
because in their zeal to be motivated and to perform undar a spiritual constraint,
they failed to discern the kind of spirit that pushed them onward.
"Excel" is from perisseno, to abound, to be over and above. It is used in Matthew 5:20
as Jesus taught saying, "that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness
of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven."
In this day of serious competition how marvelous it would be if, instead of merely
attempting to out-talk, out-perform or out-show one another, we would rather determine
to be the very best member of the church in the business of building up our brethren,
both individually and for the whole body.
"The edifying of the church" denotes the act of promoting the spiritual growth. It is
found in Romans 14:19 and Romans 15:2. Paul, in the former said, "Let us therefore
follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify
another." In this latter he said, "Let every one of us please his neighbor for his
good to edification."
Verse 13, "Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may
interpret." The "wherefore" signifies the application of the principle verse 12. Since
"he that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself" (vs 4), if one obeys (vs 12)
and yet has "the gift of tongues," he could only do so if he interpreted the foreign
language spoken in the tongue of the assembly. Then only could the church be edified.
It is observable the exercise of the "gift of tongues" those who were possessors of
that gift could be supernaturally enabled to interpret other tongues. Hear it, "If any
man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that by
course; and let one (that is one of the two or three) interpret" (vs 27). Hence if one
really desired to edify the whole church, he would pray to be the interpreter rather
than one of the speakers in a foreign language.
Always connected with the gift of tongues is the gift of interpretation of tongues,
hermeneia glosson, (I Cor 14:26; 28). What does "interpret" mean? In passages not
referring to "gifts of the spirit" it refers to an exposition of Old Testament
Scripture as in Luke 24:27, or to a translation from one known foreign language to
another as in John 2:38; 42; 9:7; Hebrews 7:2. In either case it is an attempt to make
clear what was said to the listeners.
Verse 14, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding
is unfruitful." Public praying in a foreign language could in no way profit the
hearers. How could a man say "amen" (vs 16), joining his heart with the man leading in
prayer, if he could not understand the words.
One's spirit might more eloquently convey one's thoughts privately to the Lord than
could his tongue articulate it in words. However, public praying, to be fruitful,
which is to accomplish its purpose, must be in the language of the congregation. JM
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| "Comparison of the Gifts of Tongues and Prophesy" Part III CHAPTER 21 By John C. Morgan |