Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 14:19
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.
19. yet in the church ] “Whatever I may do in private, I should desire my public ministrations to be for the instruction and edification of the flock, and not for my own individual glorification.”
teach ] The word in the original is that from which our word catechize is derived. The same word is used in St Luk 1:4; Act 18:25; Act 21:21; Act 21:24; Rom 2:18, and twice in Gal 6:6. It signifies to make to resound thoroughly in any one’s ears. The importance of sermons and catechetical teaching in public worship is thus indicated, as well as their proper object, the instruction and edification of the flock. See 1Co 14:24.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Yet in the church – In the Christian assembly. The word church does not refer to the edifice where Christians worshipped, but to the organized body of Christians.
I had rather … – It is probable that in the Christian assembly, usually, there were few who understood foreign languages. Paul, therefore, would not speak in a foreign language when its only use would be mere display.
With my understanding – So as to be intelligible to others; so that I might understand it, and so that at the same time others might be benefitted.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. Yet in the church] As the grand object of public worship is the edification of those who attend, five words spoken so as to convey edification, were of much more consequence than ten thousand which, not being understood, could convey none. By the word , tongue, to which we add unknown, I suppose the apostle always means the Hebrew, for the reasons offered in Clarke’s note on “1Co 14:1“.
One of the greatest difficulties, says Bishop Pearce, in this epistle is contained in the words and , spirit and understanding, which are frequently used in this chapter; and fixing the true meaning of these words will solve the difficulty. In this verse the apostle explains , to speak with the understanding, by , that I might teach others; so that the sense of , understanding, seems to be, that understanding which the hearer has of what is said; and this sense will agree well with, I will sing with the spirit, and with the understanding, 1Co 14:15.
He observes also that spirit, and , understanding, have a sense opposite to each other; so that if is rightly rendered, the understanding which another has of what is said; then will signify a man’s own mind, i.e. his own understanding of what he himself speaks; and this sense agrees well with 1Co 14:2: In the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Yet he had so great a regard to the end of his ministry, teaching others, and communicating Divine knowledge to them, that he had rather speak a little tending to that end, than never so much in a language which those to whom he spake did not understand.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. I had ratherThe Greekverb more literally expresses this meaning, “I WISHto speak five words with my understanding (rather) than ten thousandwords in an unknown tongue”; even the two thousandth part of tenthousand. The Greek for “I would rather,” would be adifferent verb. Paul would NOTwish at all to speak “ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words,…. Referring not to the five books of Moses, as Jerom suggests, and much less, as the Papists say, to the five words, “for this is my body”; by the muttering of which they suppose the bread in the Lord’s supper to be transubtantiated into the body of Christ; but meaning a very few words, which he chose to speak in the church before the congregation, when and where saints were met together for public worship, for their edification and comfort, and the glory of God; for though at other times, and to other people, he might think fit to make use of his gift in speaking with divers tongues, yet at such a time and place he thought it much more eligible to say ever so few words
with understanding: so as to be understood by others, as well as himself:
that by my voice I might teach others also; the doctrines of the Gospel, the mysteries of grace, the duty of men towards God and men, and one another:
than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue; than to deliver ever so long an oration in a language not understood by them, which could be of no use unto them; for though they might hear his voice, the sound of his words, yet thereby he could not teach and instruct them to their profit, unless they understood the language which he spoke; and therefore five words understood were more likely to be of use than ten thousand spoken in a strange language.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Howbeit in church ( ). Private ecstasy is one thing (cf. 2Co 12:1-9) but not in church worship.
That I may instruct ( ). Final clause with . For the rare verb see on Luke 1:4; Acts 18:25.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Teach [] . Orally. See on Luk 1:4.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Yet in the church,” (alla en ekklesia) “But (strong adversative meaning instead or in contrast) in a church or church service assembly.”
2) “I had rather speak five words with my understanding,” (thelo pente logous to noi mou lalesai) “I much prefer to speak five words with the intelligence of mind.” Paul preferred to use every day speech, depend on the Word of God, above use of a charismatic tongue.
3) “That by my voice I might teach others also,” (hina kai allous latecheso) “in order that I may also instruct or catechize others (of my brethren).” The necessary inference is that charismatic speaking in tongues obstructed, impeded, or delayed general worship and praise and teaching in assembly worship. Ethics, morals, and holy service are based on teachings of the Word, not a tongue.
4) “Than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue (he murious logous en glosse) “Than a myriad, or ten thousand, words, in a tongue (not understood by my brethren – Gk. heteros).” Paul had already admonished the Corinthian brethren to “follow him,” as he followed Christ, 1Co 11:1. As he chose to recognize and use the spiritual gifts, based on their order or rank of practical benefit and use he desired to see the same in others.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
19. I would rather speak five words. This is spoken hyperbolically, unless you understand five words, as meaning five sentences. Now as Paul, who might otherwise have exulted loftily in his power of speaking with tongues, voluntarily abstains from it, and, without any show, aims at edification exclusively, he reproves, by this means, the empty ambition of those, that are eagerly desirous to show themselves off with empty tinkling. (1Co 13:1.) The authority of the Apostle ought, also, to have no little weight in drawing them off from vanity of this kind.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
19. In the church In the Christian assembly gathered for religious exercises, as prayer, praise, (singing,) prophecy, (preaching,) and other modes suggested by the Spirit.
Five words A definite small number designed to give sharpness to his sentence.
Ten thousand Besser, quoted by Kling, says “rather half of ten, if of the edifying sort, than a thousand times ten of the other.” So that “the edifying sort” was twenty thousand times the better.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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.
Ver. 19. In an unknown tongue ] A Parisian doctor tells us that though the apostle would have God’s service to be celebrated in a known tongue, yet the Church for various weighty reasons hath otherwise ordered and appointed it. (Benedict.) The Mahometans read their Koran (which they supposed were profaned if it were translated into common tongues) and perform their public devotions in the Arabic tongue, which is their learned language. (Montan. in 1Co 14:1-40 )
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
19. ] , in (the) assembly, ‘in the congregation’ [this is the better rendering here, and wherever there is a chance of the word church being mistaken as meaning a building], not ‘in an assembly,’ as Meyer. The art. is omitted after a preposition: so Middleton, ch. vi. 1; the logical account of which is, that the prep. serves to categorize the substantive following it, and so make it general instead of particular.
, , as , , 11. . 117: similarly , , see Hartung, ii. p. 72.
has probably been a correction, because was found harsh, the understanding being only the indirect instrument.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
had rather = desire to. App-102.
with. Greek. dia, but the texts read “by” (Dat.)
might teach. Greek. katecheo. See Act 18:25.
others. App-124.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
19.] , in (the) assembly, in the congregation [this is the better rendering here, and wherever there is a chance of the word church being mistaken as meaning a building],-not in an assembly, as Meyer. The art. is omitted after a preposition: so Middleton, ch. vi. 1; the logical account of which is, that the prep. serves to categorize the substantive following it, and so make it general instead of particular.
, , as , , 11. . 117: similarly , ,-see Hartung, ii. p. 72.
has probably been a correction, because was found harsh, the understanding being only the indirect instrument.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Co 14:19. , five words) A definite for an indefinite number; the two thousandth part of ten thousand: comp. Lev 26:8.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 14:19
1Co 14:19
howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.-In the assembly of the church Paul would not speak in foreign languages, where its only use would have been display; but he chose to speak in such a way as to convey instruction that would benefit others. As the object of public worship is the edification of the church, five words spoken so as to edify were of far greater value than ten thousand, not being understood, which could convey none. No higher estimate than this was ever put on practical wisdom. The best and profoundest utilitarian is the man who advocates utility on this high ground. Paul argued so warmly in behalf of the understanding because he felt so deeply the importance of benefiting others.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
in the: 1Co 14:4, 1Co 14:21, 1Co 14:22
Reciprocal: Est 1:22 – according Hab 2:2 – make Act 8:30 – Understandest 1Co 12:7 – General 1Co 14:9 – easy 1Co 14:14 – my spirit 1Co 14:15 – I will pray with the spirit 1Co 14:31 – all may learn 2Co 3:12 – we use Eph 4:29 – that which Col 4:5 – Walk Heb 5:12 – teachers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Co 14:19. My understanding means the hearers could understand his words (verse 14). Paul’s motive for preferring a few of these words to ten thousand of the others was an unselfish one; it was because it would give more teaching to others.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
howbeit in the church [congregation] I had rather speak five words with my understanding [so as to be understood], that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. [Paul was thankful for the gift of tongues because of its utility, but especially lest any should think that he disparaged the gift because he did not have it, and assigned it a subordinate place from envy. His disparagement is most emphatic. “Rather half of ten of the edifying sort than a thousand times ten of the other,” says Besser. “There is a lesson here,” says Johnson, “to preachers who are so learned in their utterances that the people can not understand them.”]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
19. Here Paul says that he speaks with tongues more than all the rest; evidently the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and doubtless many other languages currently spoken, especially by the nations of Asia, where he was born and reared and honored by the Holy Ghost to plant the gospel in so many different countries. Throughout this paragraph of nineteen verses, Paul ceases not to wield his most ponderous sledgehammer blows against all unintelligible exercises in church services. Evidently the reason he says so much about singing in this connection is because it is so apt to be unintelligible, consisting of sound without sense, i. e., thunder without lightning, which is just about as unprofitable in a fastidious choir as to catch a hog in the streets, bring him in, and let him squeal for the entertainment of the congregation. Good Lord, give us some sense, make us ashamed of our ignorance, and afraid of coming Judgment, as it is defiantly wicked and blasphemous to usurp the house of God for human pomp and show, offering sacrifices to pride and vanity, the daughters of the devil. I beg you, reader, faithfully to warn the people in harmony with earnest Paul in reference to unedifying church services, as this is the way meetings are killed dead and churches turned over to Satan.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak {q} five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.
(q) A very few words.