New Testament. Online Bible First Corinthians chapter 14 interpretation

2 For who speaks unfamiliar language, he speaks not to people, but to God; because nobody understands his, he speaks secrets with the spirit; 3 but whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification, admonition, and comfort.

4 Who speaks unfamiliar tongue, he edifies himself; but he who prophesies builds up the church.

5 I wish you all to speak in tongues; but it is better that you prophesy; for he who prophesies is superior to the one who speaks in tongues, unless he, moreover, speak, so that the church may be edified.

6 Now, if I come to you, brothers, and begin to speak in strangers tongues, then what benefit will I bring to you, when I do not speak to you either by revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching?

7 And soulless things, those who make a sound, a flute or a harp, if they do not produce separate tones, how to recognize that "that" they are playing the flute or the harp?

8 And if the trumpet makes a vague sound, who will prepare for battle?

9 So if you also utter incomprehensible words with your tongue, how will you know "yut, what" you are talking about? You will speak to the wind.

10 How many, for example, there are different words in the world, and not one of them is meaningless.

11 But if I do not understand the meaning of words, then I am a stranger to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.

12 So are you, jealous of gifts spiritual, try to get rich by them to the edification of the church.

13 Therefore, the speaker unfamiliar tongue, pray for the gift of interpretation.

14 For when I pray for unfamiliar tongue, even though my spirit prays, my mind remains without fruit.

15 What is to be done? I will pray with the spirit, I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, I will also sing with the mind.

16 For if you bless with the spirit, then whoever stands in the place of the commoner will say, “Amen,” with your thanksgiving? For he does not understand what “you are saying.

17 You give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God: I speak with tongues more than all of you; 19 but in the church I would rather say five words with my mind, that I might instruct others, than unfamiliar language.

20 Brothers! do not be children of the mind: be babies for evil, but be of age in mind.

21 The law says: With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people; but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.

22 Tongues are therefore a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers.

23 If the whole church comes together and everyone speaks unfamiliar tongues, and the ignorant or the unbelievers will come in to you, will they not say that you are mad?

24 But when all prophesy, and an unbeliever or one who does not know enters, he is convicted by all, judged by all.

25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed, and he will fall down, worship God and say: Truly God is with you.

26 So what, then, brethren? When you come together, and each of you has a psalm, there is a teaching, there is a language, there is a revelation, there is an interpretation - all this may be for edification.

27 If anyone speaks unfamiliar language, speak two, or a lot of three, and then "separately, and one explain.

28 If there is no interpreter, then be silent in the church, but speak to yourself and to God.

29 And let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge.

30 If there is a revelation to another of those who sit, then the first be silent.

31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted.

32 And the spirits of prophecy are obedient to the prophets, 33 because God is not God disorder, but peace. So happens in all churches with the saints.

34 Let your wives be silent in the churches, for it is not allowed for them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law says.

1 Corinthians chapter 14

Reach for love; be zealous for spiritual gifts, especially for prophesying.
For whoever speaks in an unknown language speaks not to people, but to God; because no one understands him, he speaks secrets with the spirit;
but he who prophesies speaks to people for edification, admonition and consolation.
He who speaks in an unknown language builds himself up; but he who prophesies builds up the church.
I wish you all speak in tongues; but it is better that you prophesy; for he who prophesies is superior to the one who speaks in tongues, unless he, moreover, speak, so that the church may be edified.
Now, if I come to you, brethren, and begin to speak in unfamiliar tongues, what benefit will I be to you if I do not speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by teaching?
And soulless things that emit a sound, a flute or a harp, if they do not produce separate tones, how to recognize that they are playing the flute or the harp?
And if the trumpet makes a vague sound, who will prepare for battle?
So if you also pronounce unintelligible words with your tongue, how will they know what you are saying? You will speak to the wind.
How many, for example, different words are in the world, and not one of them is meaningless.
But if I do not understand the meaning of words, then I am a stranger to the speaker, and the speaker is a stranger to me.
So you, zealous for spiritual gifts, try to enrich yourself with them for the edification of the church.
Therefore, speaking in an unknown tongue, pray for the gift of interpretation.
For when I pray in an unknown tongue, although my spirit prays, my mind remains without fruit.
What to do? I will pray with the spirit, I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, I will also sing with the mind.
For if you bless with the spirit, then whoever is standing in the place of the commoner will say: Amen with your thanksgiving? For he does not understand what you are saying.
You give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
I thank my God: I speak with tongues more than all of you;
but in church I would rather say five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, than the darkness of words in an unknown language.
Brethren! do not be children of the mind: be babies for evil, but be of age in mind.
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The law says: With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people; but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.
So tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers.
If the whole church comes together, and everyone begins to speak in unfamiliar tongues, and those who do not know or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are mad?
But when all prophesy, and someone who does not believe or who does not know enters, then he is convicted by everyone, judged by everyone.
And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed, and he will fall down, worship God and say: God is truly with you.
So what then, brethren? When you come together, and each of you has a psalm, there is a teaching, there is a language, there is a revelation, there is an interpretation, let all this be for edification.
If someone speaks in an unfamiliar language, speak two, or many three, and then separately, and one explain.
If there is no interpreter, then be silent in the church, but speak to yourself and to God.
And let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others reason.
If there is a revelation to another of those seated, then the first be silent.
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be comforted.
And the prophetic spirits are obedient to the prophets,
because God is not a God of disorder, but of the world. This happens in all the churches of the saints.
Let your wives be silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but to be subordinate, as the law says.
If they want to learn something, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is indecent for a wife to speak in church.
Did the word of God come out of you? Or has it reached you alone?
If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual, let him understand that I am writing to you, for these are the commandments of the Lord.
And whoever does not understand, let him not understand.
Therefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy, but do not forbid speaking in tongues;
only everything should be decent and decorous.

. Reach for love; be zealous for spiritual gifts, especially for prophesying.

"Hold on to love, be jealous of the spiritual, more than that, let you prophesy."... So, since love is so great a property, consider its acquisition a great deed, not remaining, however, in neglect of spiritual gifts; and preferably to others, love the prophecy. For the Apostle again humbles the arrogance magnified by the gift of tongues.

. For whoever speaks in an unknown language speaks not to people, but to God; because no one understands him, he speaks secrets with the spirit.

"Speak languages, not a man speaks, but to God: no one else hears, but speaks secrets in the spirit"... The Apostle does both together. The Corinthian accuses of curiosity and makes it possible to see the need for talent. It was given to the preachers because of the different languages ​​of the people, so that when they came to the Indians, they offered Divine sermon, speaking their language, and also, talking with the Persians, Scythians, Romans and Egyptians, preached to them the Gospel teaching in the language of each of these peoples. Therefore, it was superfluous for those talking in Corinth to speak in Scythian, or Persian, or Egyptian languages, which the Corinthians could not understand. That is why the divine Apostle said that "Speak languages, speaks not to a person, but to God", for I added the following: "Nobody else hears"... And in order not to consider talent useless, he added: "With the spirit he speaks secrets".

. And he who prophesies speaks to people for edification, admonition and consolation.

"Prophesying by a man speaks creation and consolation and confirmation" because everyone hears what he says.

. He who speaks in an unknown language builds himself up; but he who prophesies builds up the church.

"Verb languages ​​builds yourself"... For those present did not understand what he was saying.

"And prophesy builds"... For, seeing both the revelation of thoughts and the discovery of what was secretly accomplished, they received very great benefit. And so that it would not occur to anyone that the Apostle was saying this, motivated by envy, he added, of necessity:

. I wish you all speak in tongues; but it is better that you prophesy; for he who prophesies is superior to the one who speaks in tongues, unless he, moreover, speak, so that the church may be edified.

"I want to speak tongues of all of you, but even more so you prophesy: ​​more prophesy than speak tongues, unless He speaks, but accepts creation"... The apostle made it clear why he said "more." I am not diminishing, he says, talent, but looking for its needs: When there is no translator (speaker), then prophecy is better, because it is more useful.

. Now, if I come to you, brethren, and begin to speak in unfamiliar tongues, what benefit will I be to you if I do not speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by teaching?

"Now, brethren, if I come to you with the languages ​​of the verb, for what benefit I will create for you, if I do not speak to you either in revelation, or in reason, or in prophecy, or in teaching?" The apostle reintroduced his own face, thus consoling the accused. Coming to you and speaking in different languages, he says, what benefit will I bring you, if not teaching the doctrine, revealing to you the innermost secrets, guiding you to the Divine and offering you decent advice? It also represents the likeness corresponding to the proposed word.

. And soulless things that make a sound, a flute or a harp, if they do not produce separate tones, how to recognize that they are playing the flute or the harp?

. And if the trumpet makes a vague sound, who will prepare for battle?

“If you give a soulless voice, If you sniff, If you gusli, If you don’t give a difference by squeaking, how reasonable would be a squeak or a hum? For if the trumpet's voice is unknown, who will prepare for battle? " And you yourself know that both the pipe and the gusli need some kind of dimension and art. For at the same time, being inanimate, they emit a certain harmonious sound. If someone uses them in business without this, execution does not matter. Likewise, the trumpet, if it sounds innocently, does not arm the warriors.

. So if you also pronounce unintelligible words with your tongue, how will they know what you are saying? You will speak to the wind.

. How many, for example, different words are in the world, and not one of them is meaningless.

“So you too, if it is not prudent to give a word with your tongue, how can the verb be understood? You will be in the air as a verb. Tolitsy ubo, If it turns on, give birth to voices in the world, and none of them is silent "... What is a harmonious dimension for gusli and a military sign for a pipe is a "legend" for languages. For when those present do not understand, words are in vain spilled in the air.

. But if I do not understand the meaning of words, then I am a stranger to the speaker, and the speaker is a stranger to me.

"If we do not lose the strength of the voice, I will be a foreign language speaking to me, and a foreign language speaking to me."... The Apostle said the same in other words.

. So you, zealous for spiritual gifts, try to enrich yourself with them for the edification of the church.

"So you, too, who are still jealous of the spirit of nature, ask for the building up of the Church, so that you may be abundant."... In reproach, the Apostle called the Corinthians "Zealots of the spirit"... He commands them to do everything for the good of the church.

. Therefore, speaking in an unknown tongue, pray for the gift of interpretation.

"In the same way, speak with your tongue, and pray, and speak."... Ask, says the Apostle, Who gave you the gift of tongues, to apply the gift of a legend, so that you can benefit the Church.

. For when I pray in an unknown tongue, although my spirit prays, my mind remains without fruit.

"If I pray with my tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is without fruit"... The speaker benefits from the benefit of the hearers. This is what the Apostle said in the Epistle to the Romans: "So I have some fruit in you as well as in other townships"(). Therefore, speaking in another language and not offering stories to those present, I will not have any fruit, because they will not receive any benefit.

. What to do? I will pray with the spirit, I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, I will also sing with the mind.

“What do you have? I will pray in the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding: I will sing in the spirit, I will sing also with the understanding "... The Apostle calls a gift spirit, and the mind - an explanation of what has been said. He says, however, that a person who speaks in a different language, whether in psalmics, whether in prayer, or in teaching, should either be a translator himself for the benefit of the listeners, or someone else who is capable of doing this should be taken as co-workers for teaching.

. For if you bless with the spirit, how will someone who is standing in the place of a commoner say: "Amen" with your thanksgiving? For he does not understand what you are saying.

"Ponezh If you bless in spirit, fill the place of the ignorant, what does the Amen say, according to your thanksgiving? Do you know that you are verbs? "

The Apostle calls the layman an "ignoramus" (commoner), because they used to call those who are outside the military rank commoners.

. You give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

"You give thanks to the good, but the other is not created"... I know, says the Apostle, that, inspired by the grace of God, you sing to God; but one who does not know the language does not understand what is spoken. Then the Apostle, shaming the Corinthians, says:

. I thank my God: I speak with tongues more than all of you.

. but in church I would rather say five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, than the darkness of words in an unknown language.

“I thank my God, more than all of you verb languages. But in church I use five words with my mind to speak, and I use some of them, rather than words, with my tongue. "... Before you I was honored with this gift; through me you also received this grace. However, caring about the benefits of many, I prefer a clear teaching to an unclear one. Then he continues reproachfully:

. Brethren! do not be children of the mind: be babies for evil, but be of age in mind.

"Brothers, be minds not children: but child with malice, be minds perfect"... Do not pervert the order and compete not with little thought, but with the gentleness of children; but from those who are perfect in age, borrow not slyness, but cleverness.

. The law says: With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people; but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.

"In the law he writes: as if in other languages ​​and oral in others I will speak with this people, and neither will they listen to Me, the Lord says."... This is a prophetic saying (); the Apostle called the Old Testament Scripture law. Having cited a testimony, he also adds an interpretation.

. So tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers.

"The same tongues as a sign are not to the believers, but to the unbelievers."... For the difference in languages ​​strikes the wrong. This also on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem was experienced by those who were gathered there. Therefore, they immediately said: “Isn't it all the essence of the words of Galileans? And how do we hear " their "Every language has its own native language, the Parthians, the Medes" etc ()?

"And the prophecy is not wrong, but believers"... The Apostle has one goal - the benefit of many. Why is the Corinthians advised to prefer prophecy as beneficial to the whole society. The benefits of the prophecy are shown in the following words:

. If the whole church comes together, and everyone begins to speak in unfamiliar tongues, and those who do not know or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are mad?

"If everything is dreamed together, and all languages ​​are verbal, they will also enter foolishness, or unbelief, do not they say, as if you are raging?" The Apostle here called the unbaptized foolish and makes it clear that those who do not understand what is being said will have such an opinion about them that they are raging.

. But when all prophesy, and someone who does not believe or who does not know enters, then he is convicted by everyone, judged by everyone.

. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed, and he will fall down, worship God and say: God is truly with you.

“If all prophesy, a certain unfaithful or ignorant will come in, will be denounced by all, and he is tortured from everyone, and the secret of his heart is revealed: and so he will fall down, he will bow to God, proclaiming that he truly is with you. "... This is how fear fell upon everyone when the denunciation was made to Ananias and Sapphira. Moreover, it should be noted that the Apostle here clearly called the All-Holy Spirit God, because prophecy was the action of the Spirit of God: "All of this acts as one, and wherever the Spirit shares the power of someone who wants to"(); while the Apostle put it here: "Prostrate and bow down to God, proclaiming that I truly am with you", Calling the All-Holy Spirit God. So blessed Peter said: "Why" deceived (fulfill ") “Satan thy heart, lie to the Holy Spirit? ... Thou didst lie not as a man, but to God "(). So the Apostle, having shown the difference of gifts, teaches the Corinthians and deanery decent for them.

. So what then, brethren? When you come together, and each of you has a psalm, there is a lesson, there is a language, there is a revelation, there is an interpretation - all this will be for edification.

“What have you got, brethren? Whenever you converge, every one has a psalm for you, a teaching to have, a tongue to have, a revelation to have, a legend to have: all the same to creation, yes there are "... The apostle again pointed to the body and to the members of the body, for by the word "converge" he indicated a single body, and with the words "Kiyzhdo imat you" one or the other - on the difference of members; and then again he expresses the benefits that each person brings to the whole society in the words: "All to creation, let there be".

. If someone speaks in an unfamiliar language, speak two, or many three, and then separately, and one explain.

"If anyone speaks with his tongue, two by two, or multiply by three, and by part"... Do not conduct a general interview, which causes confusion and confusion, and not many talk: enough for this and two. However, let the number of conversations be so limited to three.

"And let one say"... For those present need to understand what is being said.

. If there is no interpreter, then be silent in the church, but speak to yourself and to God.

“If there’s not a storyteller, let him be silent in church: let God speak to himself”... For it is most inappropriate of all to use the gift of God for the pleasing of curiosity, and not for good.

. And let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others reason.

"But the prophets are two or three and verb, and let the friends judge"... The Divine Apostle already ranked as spiritual gifts and discernment by the spirit (). Therefore, the same is said here, namely, that those who have been vouchsafed this talent reason about what is spoken, whether it is said by the action of the Spirit of God. For the devil opposed false prophets to the prophets, and false apostles to the apostles; and this gives the Apostle to see in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, for he says: "Such are the lies, and the apostles are the doer of flattering" ().

. If there is a revelation to another of those seated, then the first be silent.

"If it opens to another, sitting down, let the first be silent"... If, says the Apostle, someone else is moved by the grace of the Spirit, then let him who has begun to speak yield to him.

. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be comforted.

"You can all according to a single prophecy, but all learn and all be comforted"... Let nothing be done in disorder and confusion, because each of you can offer a prophecy to the audience and thereby benefit them. This order has remained in the churches to this day, and some of the teachers talk with the people at this solemn meeting, and others at another.

. And the prophetic spirits are obedient to the prophets.

And the spirit of the Prophets "Obeying the Prophet"... The Apostle calls the gift of the Spirit. So Jesus obeyed Moses, Elisha to Elijah, many prophets - to Elisha himself and to this Apostle himself - Timothy, Titus and others.

. Because there is not a God of disorder, but of the world. This happens in all the churches of the saints.

"There is no disorder, God, but peace, as in all the churches of the saints"... It is not a new thing that we legalize, but we teach you the laws of the churches, which were established by the Guardian of the world Himself. Because spiritual grace was filled not only with men, but also with women, for this he announced through the mouth of the prophet Joel: "And I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy."(), then the Apostle, by necessity, decreed a law for wives.

. Let your wives be silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but to be subordinate, as the law says.

"Let your wives be silent in the churches: you were not ordered to speak for them, but obey, as the law speaks as well"... For God said to Eve: "Your appeal to your husband, and he will possess you" ().

. If they want to learn something, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is indecent for a wife to speak in church.

"If they want to learn how to learn, they ask in the house of their husbands: it is shameful for a wife to eat verb in the church"... Then the Apostle again turns to the Corinthians with a reproach.

. Did the word of God come out of you? Or has it reached you alone?

“Or is the word of God out of you? Or are you the only one to achieve? " You are not the first and you are not the only one to accept the gospel message. Therefore, do not be content with your own laws, but follow the church laws.

. If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual, let him understand that I am writing to you, for these are the commandments of the Lord.

"If anyone thinks of being a prophet or spiritual, let him understand, I am writing to you, the Lord is not the essence of the commandments"... The Apostle called those in whom the Spirit of God dwells spiritual. And one who is deprived of this grace cannot understand. Therefore, the Apostle added:

. And whoever does not understand, let him not understand.

"If anyone does not understand, let him not understand"... Then he offers advice.

. So, brethren, be zealous to prophesy, but do not forbid speaking in tongues.

"The same, my brethren, be jealous of the hedgehog to prophesy, and do not forbid the hedgehog to speak tongues"... The apostle again showed that one is preferable, but the other is also required, for this is signified by the word "Do not exclude".

. Only everything should be decent and decorous.

"Everything is fine and according to the order, let it be" . The Apostle gave the rite to see in what was said before.

Let us also preserve this decency and follow the apostolic statutes in order to make us worthy of communion with the Lawgiver by the grace and love of mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Him the Father with the All-Holy Spirit befits glory and greatness now and always and forever and ever! Amen.

14:1 Reach for love; be zealous for spiritual [gifts], especially for prophesying.
Paul has just shown the priority of the main spiritual gift and foundation of Christianity - the love of God.
Now he speaks of the advantage of prophesying over the gift of speaking in a spiritual language (spirit): in Corinth, the gift of language was given special importance, although for the congregation the gift of prophecy is much more valuable. Why?

Prophesying in this case does not mean receiving predictions from God or revealing events already predicted.
To prophesy in this case means to have the ability to speak in an accessible, intelligible, understandable way - so that the spiritual language of the good news can be understood by all hearers, extracting from a meaningful explanation (prophecy) - everyone's benefit for himself. It is thanks to the accessible explanation of God's truths of the good news of salvation that it is possible to help save those for whom Christ died.

The same happens when a Christian begins to speak in the language of God's spirit, abundantly inundating speech with spiritual terms, the meaning of which is not understood by listeners who are not initiated into spiritual secrets.
For example, to the simplest question posed in spiritual language (the language of the terminology of God's truth): "have you already been baptized with the holy spirit?" - a person who has no idea of ​​what baptism is or what the holy spirit is - simply cannot answer just because he did not understand the meaning of the question. (Acts 19: 2)

Or, for example, Christ's speech about the need to eat his flesh and drink his blood was also pronounced in the language of the spirit for the one who understands what Christ spoke about and what he meant. All who understood him literally could not understand the spiritual language of Christ - John. 6:54.

However, this whole phrase of Christ, for example:
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. - he who does not know anything about eternal life, about the resurrection and the last day will also not understand at all.
And only God understood Christ very well, speaking in the language of the secrets of God's spirit.
Therefore, even if God understands that I myself have understood something of His spiritual truths correctly, but the people with whom I speak do not understand my language, then there is little use from my knowledge of God's plans.

14:4 He who speaks in a language [unknown] edifies himself;
He who speaks under the influence of the holy spirit - he himself understands what is what and what he is talking about. So Paul showed the Corinthians that they, of course, are all good fellows, knowing the spiritual language as a gift from above (learning to master the meaning of the spiritual language of the Jewish preachers of the good news for the Gentiles would be a lengthy procedure, and the gift from above allowed them to navigate in spiritual instructions almost instantly). But the disadvantage is that they only understand themselves, unfortunately.

but he who prophesies builds up the church.
But if, having mastered the spiritual terminology, at the same time they learn to explain to the rest of the people the meaning of their extraordinary spiritual knowledge - then an undeniable plus: not only speakers, but also those who listen in the congregation will have the opportunity to rejoice in the instructions and be comforted by the good news; they will be able to understand everything and take into account the word of God - instead of shrugging their shoulders in bewilderment.

Although, of course, speaking in an unfamiliar language may seem to someone a very obvious and effective miracle of a gift from God. While the ability to prophesy and convey complex spiritual truths in simple language does not look so impressive, and the prophet himself is not much like a person marked by a special gift of God, in contrast to a speaker in an abstruse mysterious syllable.
However, Paul shows that prophecy is nevertheless far more useful in the Christian ministry.

14:5 I wish you all speak in tongues;
Paul is pleased that everyone in the congregation understands the spiritual language of God's truth and speaks it under the influence of holy spirit. But what about those who have just begun to get acquainted with Christ and do not yet possess this knowledge? What about those who are just being invited to the congregations to listen to spiritual instruction? That's the question:
but it is better that you prophesy; for he who prophesies is superior to him who speaks with tongues.

Therefore, someone who knows how to prophesy and explain complex spiritual secrets in simple accessible language is a more valuable find for the congregation than the smartest spiritually speaking Christian.
For he who prophesies benefits the entire church by edifying everyone who comes to hear the word of God and helping them to become Christians.
And an orator who speaks in a congregation using exclusively spiritual terminology only understands himself.

will he, moreover, explain, so that the church may receive edification
If, of course, he immediately begins to explain what he meant by speaking in one way or another, then the spiritual speaker will become a great help to the meeting.

That is why Paul paid special attention to the presence of Christians with the ability to translate the language of God's spirit into a simple and digestible language, accessible to everyone who wants to get acquainted with God and His Christ.

14:5 Now, if I come to you, brethren, and begin to speak in [unknown] languages, what benefit will I do to you if I do not speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by teaching?
Paul cites himself as an example: if he began to talk to the Christians of Corinth about spiritual concepts that were unfamiliar to them, would Paul be of any use to them?
For example, a doctor talks about the course of an operation using medical terminology in Latin. Perhaps it would be possible to understand the essence of things for those who are not a doctor and do not speak Latin? Of course not.
Therefore, Paul always strove to ensure that he could clothe the language of the spirit, which was familiar to him, in the form of a teaching or explanation that would be understandable to the rest.

14:7 And soulless [things] that make a sound, a flute or a harp, if they do not produce separate tones, how to recognize that they are playing the flute or the harp?
Using the example of even inanimate musical instruments, Paul showed the senselessness of making random sounds that do not fit into a certain melody. Only by the harmony of the melody can one find out what exactly they are playing and appreciate the meaning of the music.
Moreover, it is worth working on giving meaning to their words to those who consider themselves spiritualized.

14:8 And if the trumpet makes a vague sound, who will prepare for battle?
It is only by a certain set of sounds of the trumpet melody that it is possible to orient oneself in one's actions, for for each case - the trumpet of Israel emits different melody signals.
And if you just make random sounds, then no one will be able to perceive the alarm signals, no one will prepare for battle. Nobody benefits from making meaningless sounds.

14:9 So if you also pronounce unintelligible words with your tongue, how will they know what you are saying? You will speak to the wind.
The same is with a set of spiritual words and terms: if no one understands their meanings, then does it make sense to pronounce them? Doesn't have.
But, however, if someone begins to pronounce them, then the words will be let out in vain, without benefit for the listeners and the speaker.
If angels, for example, coming to people, brought them the message in the angelic language - would it be of benefit to mankind? No, because people would not understand anything.

14:10 How many, for example, different words are in the world, and not one of them is meaningless.
Paul recognizes a great variety of human words, and each of them has a meaning.

14:11 But if I do not understand the meaning of words, then I am a stranger to the speaker, and the speaker is a stranger to me.
But if, for example, I don’t understand someone’s speech, it means that they are talking to me in a foreign language that I don’t know. And I will be a foreigner for someone who speaks to me in an incomprehensible language. We will not understand each other, therefore, we will not be able to agree on anything and decide anything jointly.

14:12 Likewise, you, zealous for spiritual [gifts], try to enrich yourself with [them] for the edification of the church.
The same is true with the gift of mastering a spiritual language: this gift is the same as a foreign language for a commoner.
It is wonderful to have this gift, but also try to learn to speak accessible to everyone, simplify words, translate the language of spiritual terminology into an understandable language of instruction and edification of the congregation, so that everyone can benefit from listening to the word of God.

14:13 Therefore, speaking in a [unknown] tongue, pray for the gift of interpretation.
Paul asks all spiritual people to also pray for the gift of interpretation. Apparently, in Corinth, the lack of Christians who could speak to the benefit of the listener was a big problem.

14:14 For when I pray in an [unknown] tongue, although my spirit prays, my mind remains without fruit.
When Paul prays under the influence of the holy spirit on him, he utters words under inspiration, without using his mind, without carefully considering the oratory of the prayer, without straining his brain, roughly speaking. Therefore, he does not edify the church, because he does not try with his mind to select words suitable for understanding by others.

Let's take the simplest prayer spoken in spiritual language (under the influence of the holy spirit on Jesus Christ): "Our Father" from Matt. 6: 9-13.
It can be recited by heart, however, if the one who says the prayer does not understand what “Thy name is holy” means, nor what “Thy kingdom” is, nor what “Thy will be done on earth, as in heaven” , if you do not have the slightest idea about temptation or deceit, then he personally will not receive any benefit from this prayer.

Moreover, if you pray in the language of the spirit from Revelation 19: 7,17,18 for the bride of Christ, for example, for the early onset of their upcoming marriage and presence at the wedding supper, where the corpses of kings, the corpses of the strong, free and slaves, and even horses, you can imagine what the person standing next to me will think of me.

14:15 What to do? I will pray with the spirit, I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, I will also sing with the mind.
What to do in this case? Nothing special. If the prayer flows under the influence of the holy spirit and the words are spoken, what the spirit allows to say during prayer - this is wonderful, no one forbids praying with the words of the promptings of the holy spirit.

But if we want our prayer to be of benefit to those who are listening, then we must try to pray in such a way as to use both the mind and the mind to select simpler words that are understandable for those present at prayer. All the more it would be wrong in your prayer or repeat chants mindlessly and memorizesomeone else's spiritual phrases, the meaning of which is completely incomprehensible to us, although it seems beautiful by ear.

14:16 For if you bless with the spirit, how will someone who is standing in the place of a commoner say: "Amen" in your thanksgiving? For he does not understand what you are saying. The same picture of misunderstanding can arise in a blessing in the language of the spirit, for example:
"May God's grace come on you, may you be vouchsafed to taste the powers of the coming age and life-giving manna, may you taste the light and glory of holy Jerusalem, may its gates not be locked for you day or night, may its life-giving source not dry up ..." and etc. etc.
What will the novice Christian understand in such a blessing for himself? Nothing.
Well, except that we will make an effect on him with our intellectual spiritual eloquence. And nothing more.

14:17 You give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
And with thanksgiving - just the same if you express your gratitude to God at a meeting in about the same ornate spiritual language.
And although everything is right and well said for those who understand the language of God's truth about holy Jerusalem and the bride of Christ, the rest of those present, who do not yet know this language, will not understand anything either from the wish of blessings, or about what they just thanked God for in common prayer. This means that all this spiritual eloquence will be wasted, into the wind, the church will not receive useful instruction for the practical application of the truths of God in its life.

14:18 I thank my God: I speak with tongues more than all of you;
Paul, presumably, possessed the largest stock of spiritual language and was more often than others prompted by the power of the holy spirit to utter spiritual revelations. Let us recall, for example, the revelation that he saw, but could not even translate into human accessible language in order to explain the essence of his rapture to the third heaven - humanly (2 Cor. 12: 2-4).

14:19 but in the church I would rather say five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, than a multitude of words in an [unknown] language.
However, this did not elevate him in his own eyes, which most likely happened to the Christians of Corinth who spoke under the influence of the holy spirit (otherwise Paul would not have paid so much attention to this issue and the priority of prophecy, edification in faith)
On the contrary, Paul made a lot of efforts to translate spiritual secrets into the language of the human mind, accessible to others, so that the church would receive edification and instruction in the way of Christ, understand how to live and how to live, serving God and His Christ.

There is an interesting anecdotal sketch on the topic of the professor's explanations to a child in response to his question, illustrating clearly the meaninglessness of possessing even the "coolest" language of the spirit in the case of teaching infants in Christ:
-dad, why does it turn brown when I bite an apple?
-you understand, son, an apple is an organic substance containing an element of iron; the enzyme amylase in your saliva oxidizes iron and converts it into ferrum nitrous oxide two to three, which has shades from yellow to red and brown ...
The son, without waiting for an answer, interrupts the parent:
-dad, who are you talking to now ????

So, whatever the quality and quantity of the spiritual linguistic gift a Christian of Corinth possesses, Paul showed him that the advantage for the meeting is not in the ability to speak in the language of God's meaning, but in the ability to clarify the spiritual mysteries of God's truth - in human languages ​​accessible to understanding newbies.

14:20 Brethren! do not be children of the mind: be babies for evil, but be of age in mind.
After clarifying the need to prophesy in the congregation, Paul, although delicately, but almost openly denounced the spiritual people of Corinth - in the infancy of the mind, telling them that it is useful to be babies only in attempts to do evil. And in the desire to be unusually spiritual, you need to be adults: an adult Christian will not boast of his knowledge of the spiritual language and scatter spiritual terminology among uninitiated people.

14:21 The law says: With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people; but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.
Here Paul gave an example of the use of a "different" language to admonish Israel from the prophecy of Isa 28:11. In what way was it different, unusual?

In the fact that before that God admonished Israel with the language of admonition and persuasion. This time He moved on to admonishing Israel with the "tongue" of punishment and conquest by the Assyrians, which no one in Israel understood anyway.
If Israel understood the spiritual language of conquest - that is, understood that the conquest by the Assyrians for them means rejection of Jehovah - then perhaps they would have turned from their evil deeds. And not understanding this other "language" of admonition, they not only did not turn, but the evil of the Assyrians added to their evil, having adopted many of their customs.
By this example, Paul showed that an incomprehensible language in itself is useless for those who do not understand it and therefore do not have the opportunity to listen in order to take something out of what they have heard.

You can also give an example of another language for Israel - in the parables of Christ, this is also a spiritual language that is not accessible to everyone (Matthew 13: 10-15)
Also, another language of admonition of Judah can be seen on Christians carrying the good news of Christ. crucified in a variant unfamiliar to the Jews, representing the Messiah as the literal omnipotent king of Judah (foolishness of preaching -1 Cor. 21-23).
All these are examples of allegories, in which there is no sense from the point of view of those uninitiated in the spiritual language of allegories.

Quoting Scripture such as: “ whether God cares about oxen or is it talked about us? " - also the language of the spirit for all who know nothing about the Scripture, or about its content, or about the threshing oxen, or about blocking their mouths during threshing.

14: 22 So tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers;
That is, the proficiency of Christians in spiritual languages ​​incomprehensible for the majority makes an impression on unbelievers and is for them a sign that Christians are unusual people, not like everyone else, even if their preaching in the language of the spirit looks foolish and insane.

prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers.
The ability to clarify the spiritual language and show what God meant by reporting this or that is a sign for Christians themselves:
if there is a prophet in the congregation, it is - a sign of God's help meeting , for the prophesying is able to instruct on the path of God and explain the meaning of this path in an accessible language - to all who listen in the congregation.
Therefore, the presence of a prophet in the congregation is more preferable than the presence of speakers in spiritual tongues. Not the other way around, as Corinth thought.

14:23 Further, Paul especially emphasizes the thought that he wanted to convey to the Christians of Corinth: the meaning in the existence of the church of God comes down to the fact that any unbeliever or who does not know anything about God, having entered the congregation, had the opportunity to listen to the instructions in God's word, to understand them and something what is useful for yourself to take out of what you have heard.

If the whole church comes together, and everyone begins to speak in [unknown] tongues, and those who do not know or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are mad?
But a newcomer, entering the church, could hear, for example, and this (as mentioned above): a prayer for the bride of Christ, for the preservation of her fine linen, for the onset of their upcoming marriage and their presence at the wedding evening, where the corpses of tsars, corpses will be for dinner strong, free and slaves and even horses (Rev.19: 7,17,18 14: 4); or - about a seven-headed dragon chasing the woman's seed, with a river from its mouth and the earth swallowing up its river (Rev. 12: 15-17).
What would he think of the meeting - in this case?

One continuous spiritual language, speaking about different things, spoken in the church without explaining “what would that mean” is more harm than good to the meeting, because hearing it, the guest will rightly think that everything is not all right with people here, they seem to , crazy.
(at that time, different facets of God's truth were just opening up, the meaning of the Kingdom of God and the leaven of the Pharisees was revealed to someone, the redemption of Christ, to someone - a bride, and to someone - marriage or a dragon, for example).
Such a language, taken literally, is capable of bringing sad thoughts to everyone. And the visitor will leave with nothing, and yet a disciple of Christ may be lost in him.

Paul said earlier that it is necessary to grow up to understand the language of spirits, a beginner or a sincere person does not understand the spiritual, for a beginner, fellowship of Christians may seem like madness:
The sincere person does not accept what is of the Spirit of God, because he considers it insanity; and cannot understand, because this [must] be judged spiritually ( 1 Cor. 2:14)

That is why a newcomer, coming to a meeting of believers, may decide that there is a bunch of crazy people.

14:24,25 But when all prophesy, and someone who does not believe or who does not know enters, then he is convicted by everyone, judged by everyone. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed, and he will fall down, worship God and say: Truly God is with you.
If the guest understands the meaning of sound instructions in the word of God, then the word of God will have a positive effect on him, for it is alive and effective, and the convicted conscience will prompt the listener to change his way of life and thoughts. In this case, he will have a chance to be convinced of the soundness of the word of God and the need to accept the way of God, as well as to admit that in this meeting it is possible to find God.

In Israel, for example, in the time of Nehemiah, a meeting was organized and when reading the word of God, which was incomprehensible in its pure form to many listeners, they added an interpretation so that the people would understand what was read (Neh.8: 8).
As a result, the entire people, convicted by their conscience, wept from the realization of their sinfulness. There is simply no other way to bring people closer to God, except to explain to them in an accessible language the meaning of the good news and God's intentions.

14:26 So what then, brethren? When you come together, and each of you has a psalm, there is a lesson, there is a language, there is a revelation, there is an interpretation - all this will be for edification. Total for the congregation of Corinth: Paul shows them that if in the congregation there is a person who sings spiritual songs of praise to God, there is one who teaches the word of God and reveals something new, there is one who understands the language of God's spiritual truths and there is one who is able to communicate the word of God in an accessible way - then it can be said that it contains a complete set of gifts of the holy spirit, which will serve for the benefit of the whole Church and those who will join her.

14:27-31 In these texts, Paul explains the principle of conducting a meeting: you should not turn the meeting into a disorderly booth, where in general everyone who wants to speak out speaks at the same time (most likely, this is how the meetings of Christians in Corinth were held)
27 If anyone speaks in a language [unknown], [speak] two, or many three, and that separately, and one explain.
28 If there is no interpreter, then be silent in the church, but speak to yourself and to God.
For those who have the gift of understanding the spiritual language, Paul advised not to strive without fail to express aloud their extraordinary spiritual knowledge, if there is no one who could interpret these thoughts from Scripture or by revelation from above: God already sees that such people know a lot and understand everything correctly themselves. but the point is not to their knowledge to show the assembly, but that the meeting understood, what is it about.

29 And let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge.
It is clear that the congregation cannot be all prophets - mentors or fortune-tellers. But through reasoning over the word of God, everyone has the opportunity to be convinced of the correctness of what was said, to pick up the clarified knowledge and carry it further.

30 If there is a revelation to another of those who sit, then the first be silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted.
In everything, it is useful to observe order and sequence, everyone will have time to speak. If, of course, you organize the meeting and give the opportunity to speak out to those who have something to say for the edification of the church.

14:32 And the prophetic spirits are obedient to the prophets,
You should not think that a speaker under inspiration cannot stop and therefore cannot give anyone a pause for an opportunity to speak, or at least ask a question based on his inspiration: everyone who prophesies is able to control his spirit and stop, giving others the opportunity to speak.

14:33 because God is not [the God] of disorder, but the world. This [happens] in all the churches of the saints.
Discipline and order in the congregation must be observed, for God does not approve of chaos, being the God of all order.
By itself, the organization of the conduct of the meeting of the entire congregation of Christians will already glorify God with the glory of the Organizer of any world order, including His Church.

14:34 Let your wives be silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but to be subordinate, as the law says.
The requirement to observe discipline in the congregation also applied to married sisters in the congregation: judging by what Paul said about this, the wives in the congregations of Corinth inappropriately interfered in the reasoning of the brothers, asking questions about what they heard, contradicting the husbands, thereby undermining their authority and violating the commandment of God - to be obedient and obedient to her husband, for he is the head: if the congregation understands that the brother himself is under the heel of his wife and cannot pacify her, then what kind of mentor is he in this - for others?
All this, of course, made it difficult to conduct the meeting and turned it into a noisy uncontrollable bunch of ill-mannered people.

14:35 If they want to learn something, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is indecent for a wife to speak in church.
This text explains that Paul was referring specifically to married wives, who were charged with the responsibility not to contradict their husbands in the entire meeting, but to ask the husbands at home if they disagreed with something. If the wives did not understand something at the meeting, then it is proper for her not to shout out from the place and not interfere with the brothers leading the meeting, but to wait for the moment when, having come home, one could ask everyone that interests her - at her husband's house.
Paul advises husbands to bridle their wives, so that they at home, and not in public in the congregations, find out everything that interests them.

About the same - and in 1 Tim. 2: 12,13: “ Let [the husband's] wife study in silence, with all obedience [to the husband]; 12 but to teach the wife [husband] - I do not allow, nor to rule over the husband, but to be in silence [obedient to him] "

Was Paul talking here about the prohibition of the women of the congregation to speak to the congregation with the word of God or instruction? No.
He spoke specifically to wives in the congregation who behave in an inappropriate manner, and to husbands who do not know how to restrain them.

As for the question of whether it is possible for women in the congregations to speak with the word of God and with instructions, in the 1st century there were, for example, deaconesses of churches when the need arose (Romans 16: 1). And deaconesses are congregation assistants (deacons), if necessary, they can replace bishops (elders, 1 Timothy 3: 8).
Peter also explained that God poured out the holy spirit not only on His servants, but also on slaves so that they prophesy the word of God ( Acts 2:18). In the 1st century, for example, Philip of Caesarea had 4 prophetic daughters (Acts 21: 9); and to prophesy means "to clarify the Scriptures, to exhort, edify and instruct in faith," and so on. (cf. 1 Cor. 14: 1,3,4).

14:36 According to Paul, one can guess that the Corinthian congregation had its own rules and principles, as if the Christians of Corinth were the founders of Christianity:
Did the word of God come out of you? Or has it reached you alone?

That is why the women in him got such an incredibly wide access to reasoning about the word of God right at the meeting and at the moments when the brothers spoke, for the customs of the unbridled Corinth differed from the customs of Judah, where women were never allowed what was allowed to men.

Paul delicately reminded them that they were modeled after the traditions of meeting already held, and that it would be good for them to adhere to the established pattern, both with regard to the conduct of the affairs of the congregations, and with regard to overseeing the behavior of women and the need to pacify their ardor in cases, if it is excessive and oversteps the boundaries of God's requirements for married Christians.

14:37,38 In concluding these instructions, Paul took advantage of the fact that everyone in Corinth considered themselves to be highly spiritual, telling them:
If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual, let him understand that I am writing to you, for these are the commandments of the Lord.
Which of them admits that one of them is not a spiritual and not a prophet? This was on the verge of the impossible for the Corinthian congregation. That is why Paul said what he said, meaning that no one would say: "We did not understand you, Paul, and therefore did not follow your advice."

Since they considered themselves spiritual, they would therefore have to understand Paul's spiritual words, which were simply to utter God's principles to them. However, foreseeing that not all of the so-called spiritual will take a bang! Paul's instructions, he said:
And whoever does not understand, let him not understand.
That is, it depended on the Christians of Corinth themselves whether they wanted to follow Paul's advice or under the guise of unreasoning - they didn’t want to, showing in their folly that they were not spiritual yet.

14:39,40 Therefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy, but do not forbid speaking in tongues; only everything should be decent and decorous.
Total: whatever the Christians do in the congregation for the edification of the church - whether they speak in the tongues of the holy spirit under inspiration or prophesy - it will still be useful and done for the glory of God, provided IF the congregation is glorified for the decency of Christians in it and organization in the conduct of the congregation ...
If it becomes known about the meeting that there is disorder and everything bad, no even the deepest spiritual knowledge and the most florid spiritual speeches will help them approach God and be saved.

Listen to the FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS chapter 14 online

1 Reach for love; be zealous for spiritual gifts, especially for prophesying.

2 For whoever speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God; because no one understands him, he speaks secrets with the spirit;

3 but whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification, admonition, and comfort.

4 He who speaks in an unknown tongue builds himself up; but he who prophesies builds up the church.

5 I wish you all to speak in tongues; but it is better that you prophesy; for he who prophesies is superior to the one who speaks in tongues, unless he, moreover, speak, so that the church may be edified.

6 Now, if I come to you, brethren, and begin to speak in unknown tongues, what benefit will I be to you if I do not speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by teaching?

7 And soulless things that make a sound, a flute or a harp, if they do not produce separate tones, how to recognize that they are playing the flute or the harp?

8 And if the trumpet makes a vague sound, who will prepare for battle?

9 So if you also speak unintelligible words with your tongue, how will they know what you are saying? You will speak to the wind.

10 How many, for example, there are different words in the world, and not one of them is meaningless.

11 But if I do not understand the meaning of words, then I am a stranger to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.

12 Likewise, you, zealous for spiritual gifts, endeavor to be rich in them for the edification of the church.

13 Therefore, speaking in an unknown tongue, pray for the gift of interpretation.

14 For when I pray in an unknown tongue, although my spirit prays, my mind remains without fruit.

15 What is to be done? I will pray with the spirit, I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, I will also sing with the mind.

16 For if you bless with the spirit, how will he who is standing in the place of the commoner say, “Amen,” in your thanksgiving? For he does not understand what you are saying.

17 You give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God: I speak with tongues more than all of you;

19 but in the church I would rather say five words with my mind, that I might instruct others, than a multitude of words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brothers! do not be children of the mind: be babies for evil, but be of age in mind.

21 The law says: With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people; but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.

22 Tongues are therefore a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers.

23 If the whole church comes together, and everyone begins to speak in unfamiliar tongues, and those who do not know or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are mad?

24 But when all prophesy, and an unbeliever or one who does not know enters, he is convicted by all, judged by all.

25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed, and he will fall down, worship God and say: Truly God is with you.

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, and each of you has a psalm, there is a lesson, there is a language, there is a revelation, there is an interpretation - all this will be for edification.

27 If someone speaks in an unknown language, speak two, or many three, and that separately, and one explain.

28 If there is no interpreter, then be silent in the church, but speak to yourself and to God.

29 And let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge.

30 If there is a revelation to another of those who sit, then the first be silent.

31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are obedient to the prophets,

33 because God is not the God of disorder, but of the world. This happens in all the churches of the saints.

34 Let your wives be silent in the churches, for it is not allowed for them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law says.

35 But if they want to learn something, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is indecent for a wife to speak in church.

36 Did the word of God come out of you? Or has it reached you alone?

37 If anyone considers himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him understand that I am writing to you, for these are the commandments of the Lord.

38 And whoever does not understand, let him not understand.

39 So, brethren, be zealous to prophesy, but do not forbid speaking in tongues;

40 only everything should be decent and decorous.