1 Corinthians 14:1-2
1599 Geneva Bible
14 1 He commendeth the gifts of prophecying: 7 and by a similitude taken of musical instruments, 12 he teacheth the true use of interpreting the Scriptures: 17 he taketh away the abuse: 34 And forbiddeth women to speak in the Congregation.
1 Follow [a]after love, and covet spiritual gifts, and rather that ye may [b]prophesy.
2 [c]For he that speaketh a strange [d]tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth him: howbeit in the [e]spirit he speaketh secret things.
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- 1 Corinthians 14:1 He inferreth now that, that he spake before: Therefore seeing charity is the chiefest of all, before all things set it before you as chief and principal: and so esteem those things as most excellent: which profit the greater part of men: (as prophecy that is to say, the gifts of teaching and applying the doctrine, which was contemned in respect of other gifts, although it be chiefest and most necessary for the Church) and not those which for a show seem to be marvelous as the gifts of tongues, when a man was suddenly endued with the knowledge of many tongues, which made men greatly amazed, and yet of itself was not greatly to any use, unless there were an interpreter.
- 1 Corinthians 14:1 What prophecy is, he showeth in the third verse.
- 1 Corinthians 14:2 He reprehendeth their perverse judgment touching the gift of tongues. For why was it given? to wit, to the intent that the mysteries of God might be the better known to a greater sort. Thereby it is evident that Prophecy, whereunto the gift of tongues ought to serve, is better than this: and therefore the Corinthians did judge amiss, in that they made more account of the gift of tongues, than of prophesying: because forsooth the gift of tongues was a thing more to be bragged of. And hereupon followed another abuse of the gift of tongues, in that the Corinthians used tongues in the Congregation, without an interpreter. Which thing although it might be done to some profit of him, that spake them, yet he corrupted the right use of that gift, because there came thereby no profit to the hearers: and common assemblies were instituted and appointed not for any private man’s commodity, but for the profit of the whole company.
- 1 Corinthians 14:2 A strange language, which no man can understand without an interpreter.
- 1 Corinthians 14:2 By that inspiration which he has received of the Spirit, which notwithstanding he abuseth, when he speaketh mysteries which none of the company can understand.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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