9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 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. 9 PARAPHRASE. to battle, what soldier will prepare himself for it? so, 9 also, if you do not by the inspired mode of speech which you use, deliver a discourse clearly significant according to established usage, how will the meaning of what is spoken by you be known, and if not known, how can it be acted upon? For in that case, you will speak with as little effect as if you 10 addressed yourselves to the air. And this would be so, even if the inspired modes of speech are such as are in established use. Let us suppose, that there are as many different kinds of articulate sounds known in the world as you utter in the inspired modes of speech, and that there is not one of them but is spoken by some nation. But, as men can discover a meaning in those languages only which they understand, therefore, if I know not the meaning of the sounds when uttered, I shall be to him who utters them in the state of a foreigner ignorant of the language of the country he is in, and consequently understanding nothing of what is addressed to him; and he who utters them will be to me in the state of a foreigner, speaking a language of which I am ignorant, and therefore ad 11 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore, let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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. 12 PARAPHRASE. 22 dressing himself to me without effect. Conformably then to my wish for you, do you also, since you are eagerly desirous of spiritual gifts, endeavour so to act with them as it appears from this reasoning will give you the most abundant means of confirming the faith 13 and union of the Christian society. Wherefore, in a Christian assembly, let him who is gifted to speak in an inspired mode of speech, use it in his devo14 tions with a view to its being interpreted. For, if in a Christian assembly, I use in my devotions an inspired mode of speech without a view to its being interpreted, my spiritual gift, it is true, is employed in devotion, but my natural understanding is fruitless as to applying my gift to its intended purpose, the general benefit. What then is there to be done? why, to resolve with one's self thus, I will pray in the assembly with my spiritual gift of speaking in an inspired mode of speech, but also, with the use of my natural understanding in doing it together with an interpretation; in like manner, I will praise God in the assembly with my 15 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. PARAPHRASE. spiritual gift of speaking in an inspired mode of speech, but also, with the use of my natural understanding in doing it together with an interpretation. Because, otherwise, if you bless God in a Christian assembly with the spiritual gift of speaking in an inspired mode of speech without an interpretation, how will one in the situation of an uninspired Christian, intending to follow you in your devotions, be able to express his assent to your thanksgiving, since he knows not what you say; and how then will your natural understanding have been employed in applying your gift, as was in"tended, to the general benefit? For though it is true that you yourself rightly give thanks to God, yet the other, not knowing what you say, is not confirmed by it in Christian faith and union, which 18 is the object of assembling. I thank my God, that I am gifted to speak in a greater variety of inspired " modes of speech than you all; but in a Christian assembly, I would rather speak five words by the use of my natural understanding, in order, that by what I utter I may also instruct others, than 20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. PARAPHRASE. ten thousand words merely in an inspired mode of 20 speech. Brethren, be not like children, in using the powers of the mind; be so indeed, as much as you can, by repressing its evil inclinations, but in using its powers exhibit the maturity of men; and so, consider the uses of the different spiritual gifts, and exercise them accordingly. With regard to the gift of inspired modes of speech, the prophetic declaration applicable to the subject of this gift, shews, that it is not the appropriate one for a 21 Christian assembly. In the scriptures of the Mosaic dispensation it is thus written, "with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that they will not hear me, saith the Lord"; that is, in plainer terms, by men using a different language, and of a different nation, will I speak to this people, and yet, even then they will not receive my instruction; which words, we know, as they express the intention of God to surprise the people of Judah, by apparently transferring his former peculiar favour from them to their enemies, in the unexpected judgment of the Babylonish captivity, as a violent means of counteracting their continued disregard of his commands, so do they also indicate his intention, in the Christian dispensation, of surprising the Jewish nation, with 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? PARAPHRASE. the like unexpected transfer of his favour from them to the Gentiles, by causing the Jews to hear the Gospel preached by the Gentiles in various inspired modes of speech, as a supernatural means of counteracting the obstinate unbelief of the Jews in his 22 revelations so that it is clear, that the use of inspired modes of speech, being an indication of God's anger against unbelief, is intended as a miraculous display of his power, addressed, not to those who believe in his revelations, but to unbelievers. But, on the other hand, the exposition of the prophetical agreement between the Jewish and Christian dispensations, is addressed, not to unbelievers, but to those who believe in his revelations, whence it is a gift appropriately employed in a 23 Christian assembly. Such being the nature of these two gifts respectively, the uselessness of the one, and the value of the other, in a Christian assembly, is the more apparent the more each of them is so used. If then, the whole of a Christian society should assemble together, and all should exercise the spiritual gift of speaking in inspired modes of speech, and there should come into the assembly either uninspired Christians, or unbelievers, will not these persons say to the assembly, there is no |