Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 14:25
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on [his] face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
25. and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest ] The nature of Christian prophecy is here plainly shewn. See note on 1Co 14:1. ‘And thus’ is omitted by most modern editors.
that God is in you of a truth ] Literally, that God is really in you (or among you). This description of the effect of prophecy upon the unbeliever is in no way contrary to the assertion in 1Co 14:22. There the Apostle is speaking of a sign to attract the attention of the unbeliever; here his attention is already attracted. He has come to the Christian assembly, and is listening to the words spoken there in the name of Jesus Christ. Unless his conscience is ‘seared with a hot iron’ there will be no further need of signs to induce him to give his attention to what is spoken.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest – Made manifest to himself in a surprising and remarkable manner. He shall be led to see the real designs and motives of his heart. His conscience would be awakened; he would recall his former course of life; he would see that it was evil; and the present state of his heart would be made known to himself. It is possible that he would suppose that the speaker was aiming directly at him, and revealing his feelings to others; for such an effect is often produced. The convicted sinner often supposes that the preacher particularly intends him, and wonders that he has such an acquaintance with his feelings and his life; and often supposes that he is designing to disclose his feelings to the congregation. It is possible that Paul here may mean that the prophets, by inspiration, would be able to reveal some secret facts in regard to the stranger; or to state the ill design which he might have had in coming into the assembly; or to state some things in regard to him which could be known only to himself; as was the case with Ananias and Sapphira (Act 5:1, seq.); but perhaps it is better to understand this in a more general sense, as describing the proper and more common effect of truth, when it is applied by a mans own conscience. Such effects are often witnessed now; and such effects show the truth of religion; its adaptedness to people; the omniscience and the power of God; the design of the conscience, and its use in the conversion of sinners.
And so falling down on his face – The usual posture of worship or reverence in eastern countries. It was performed by sinking on the knees and hands, and then placing the face on the ground. This might be done publicly; or the apostle may mean to say that it would lead him to do it in private.
He will worship God – He will be converted, and become a Christian.
And report that God … – Will become your friend, and an advocate for the Christian religion. An enemy will be turned to a friend. Doubtless this was often done. It is now often done. Pauls argument is, that they should so conduct their public devotions as that they should be adapted to produce this result.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart] As these, who were the prophets or teachers, had often the discernment of spirits, they were able in certain cases, and probably very frequently, to tell a man the secrets of his own heart; and, where this was not directly the case, God often led his ministers to speak those things that were suitable to the case before them, though they themselves had no particular design. The sinner, therefore, convinced that God alone could uncover the secrets of his heart, would be often obliged to fall down on his face, abashed and confounded, and acknowledge that God was truly among them. This seems to be the plain meaning of the passages before us.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
God either, by an extraordinary providence, discovering to him that prophesieth the secrets of such a sinners heart, and causing him that prophesieth to make them manifest; or, by a more ordinary providence, (often experienced at this day), directing the preacher to such subjects and discourses, as he that cometh to hear shall think directed to himself, and confess that he is the man, and be convinced of his errors, and converted, and turn to the Christian religion, and report that God indeed is amongst you. So as prophesying will have these two great advantages of speaking with tongues, God will be more glorified, and the souls of others will be more profited; which makes the gift of prophesying much preferable to the gift of tongues.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. And thusomitted in theoldest manuscripts and versions.
secrets of his heart mademanifestHe sees his own inner character opened out by thesword of the Spirit (Heb 4:12;Jas 1:23), the word of God, inthe hand of him who prophesieth. Compare the same effect produced onNebuchadnezzar (Da 2:30 and endof Da 2:47). No argument isstronger for the truth of religion than its manifestation of men tothemselves in their true character. Hence hearers even now oftenthink the preacher must have aimed his sermon particularly at them.
and soconvicted atlast, judged, and manifested to himself. Compare the effect on thewoman of Samaria produced by Jesus’ unfolding of her character toherself (Joh 4:19; Joh 4:29).
and reportto hisfriends at home, as the woman of Samaria did. Rather, as the Greekis, “He will worship God, announcing,” that is,openly avowing then and there, “that God is in you of a truth,”and by implication that the God who is in you is of a truth the God.
1Co14:26-40. RULES FOR THEEXERCISE OF GIFTSIN THE CONGREGATION.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest,…. Not to the prophets, or preachers, or to the rest of the congregation, but to himself; the word preached being in the hands, and trader the influence, direction, and application of the Spirit of God, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; showing the plague and naughtiness of it, discovering the lusts that are in it, detecting the errors of the mind, and filling the conscience with a sense of guilt, and a consciousness of deserved punishment; so that the person looks upon himself as particularly spoken to, and as if the person speaking had knowledge of all that was within him, and adapted his discourse on purpose to him, and delivered it for his sake alone; concluding, that there is, and must be, something more than human in it:
and so falling down on his face: either publicly before the whole congregation; or when retired, as one ashamed of his sins and errors, and not able to look either God, or good men, in the face; and being in an adoration posture; or however, being truly humbled before God under a sense of his iniquities,
he will worship God; pray unto him, and earnestly entreat he would be merciful to him a sinner, and blot out all his transgressions, and forgive him all his sins; and will ever after acknowledge him to be the true God, embrace his Gospel, submit to his ordinances, and attend his service:
and report: or “declare”, freely and openly to the church, to all men, to the world, and to his company from whence he came, and to whom he belonged,
that God is in you of a truth: that the Spirit of God, who is truly God, and searches the deep things of God, and reveals them, and the deep things of men, and makes them manifest, is in the prophets and preachers, otherwise they would never be able to make manifest the secrets of the heart as they do; and that the presence of God is in the church, and the power of God goes along with the ministration of the word: hereby, now many valuable ends are answered, a sinner is converted, God is worshipped and glorified, credit is brought to religion, the church of Christ is spoken well of, and prophets or preachers are honoured; wherefore prophesying, seeing it is both for the edification of believers, and conversion of sinners, ought to be desired, and made use of before speaking with tongues.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
That God is among you indeed ( ). Recitative and direct quotation from Isa 45:15 (Hebrew rather than the LXX). “Really ( Lu 24:34) God is in you.”
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest “ (ta krupta tes; kardia autou phanera ginetai) “The hidden or covert things of his heart become manifest, real or visible to him.” He sees himself a sinful, accountable, needy soul before God, Rom 10:8-13.
2) “And so failing down on his face he will worship God,” (kai houtos peson epi prosopon proskunesei to theo) “And so failing on his face, or bowing, humbling himself to or toward God,” in posture of surrendered will and life he falls Act 16:25-34. To convince men that God is in her, speaking to the world is the work of the church.
3) “And report that God is in you of a truth.” (Apangellon hoti ontos ho theos; en humin estin) “Announcing or heralding that truly the God is among you,” Act 8:14; Act 11:19-21. This disposes of any question of whether the charisma of tongues or prophecy was more to be coveted. Even when one had the gift of tongues it was to be discretely used, under the following regulations:
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
25. Falling down on his face, he will worship For it is only the knowledge of God that can bring down the pride of the flesh. To that, prophecy brings us. Hence, it is its proper effect and nature to bring down men from their loftiness, that they may, with prostrate homage, render worship to God. To many, however, prophecy also is of no benefit — nay more, they are made worse by what they hear. Nor was it even Paul’s intention to ascribe this effect to prophecy, as if it were always the result of it. He simply designed to show how much advantage is derived from it, and what is its office. It is therefore a singular commendation, that it extorts from unbelievers this confession — that God is present with his people, and that his majesty shines forth in the midst of their assembly.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(25) And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest.Better, and the secrets of his heart are made manifestsuch being the reading of the best MSS. It is the third result of the prophetic utterances explained in previous Note. His complete conversion is evidenced by his worshipping God and recognising the presence of God in that assembly of Christians: He will confess that you are not mad, but that God is truly in you, and that He is the true God who is in you (Bengel). It is to be noticed that though the Apostle speaks in this passage of an unlearned person (i.e., a private person, one who has no gift of prophecy or tongues), or an unbeliever, it is the latter that is most prominently before his mind, and the former only so far as he shared in common with the latter his ignorance and inability to understand.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Secrets of his heart The man (as has often been the case under a searching ministry) feels as if the speaker knew him through and through, and was preaching at, and to, and through him alone.
Falling face In complete submission, self-surrender, and worship.
Report As Dr. Hodge says, “The man who has had such an experience cannot keep it to himself.” He will joyfully declare, in substance, that he “has experienced religion;”
or, if witlings will so have it, he “has got religion.”
That God No longer identified with the deities of heathen mythology.
Is in you Both among you as a Church, and in your hearts individually by his Spirit.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Co 14:25. And thus are the secrets, &c. “In a manner to him very surprising and unaccountable; insomuch that sometimes a person who comes into your assembly out of mere curiosity, or possibly with some ill design, is not able to command himself under the impression which the word ofGod thus spoken makes upon him.” It is very possible that, as in the known cases of Nathaniel and the woman of Samaria, (Joh 1:47; Joh 4:18.) some secret facts relating to a stranger might, in some instances, be revealed to a prophet; perhaps, in some cases, the ill designs which had brought them into the assembly, when they came only as spies: and this was well suited to the purpose of producing, through grace, strong convictions of the presence of God with Christians. The passage, however, may be so understood, as to include any remarkable correspondence between what was spoken and the thoughts and state of mind whereof such a stranger might be conscious. Many memorable instances of which still happen, where ministers preach in an experimental manner, and lasting effects are often produced in consequence of such impressions.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Ver. 25. The secrets of his heart ] God’s word is a curious critic, Heb 4:12 ; “a discerner of the thoughts,” &c. It finds and ferrets out secret sins.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
are . . . made = become.
manifest. App-106.
worship. App-137.
and report = announcing, or declaring. Greek. apangello.
in = among. Greek. en. App-104.
of a truth = indeed. Greek. ontos. Compare Joh 8:36.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Co 14:25. , the secrets of his heart) all the inmost thoughts of the heathens heart, which has never experienced such feelings, and has now for the first time become acquainted with itself and makes confession concerning itself: for the unbeliever is here principally intended. The unlearned man is added by the way, on account of his case being not altogether dissimilar. Any one with the lowest degree of faith before entering an assembly of that kind knew, that God is truly in believers.-, of him) the unbelieving stranger.- , are made manifest) Dan 2:30 at the end.-) so, at last.-, falling down) a public declaration on the part of those, who feel and experience in themselves the power of the word, is generally made too sparingly in our times.-, declaring) spontaneously, clearly, expressly announcing this fact either in the Church, or even out of it elsewhere: comp. on this word, Greg. Paneg. 123 cum Annot.-, that) comp. Dan 2:46-47. A most conclusive argument for the truth of religion, from the operations of God on godly men.-, indeed) He will confess, that you are not mad, but that God is truly in you, and that He is the true God, who is in you.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 14:25
1Co 14:25
the secrets of his heart are made manifest;-As he heard the prophets, one by one, he would be reproved by all, and his real character and moral state would be made known to him. His conscience would be awakened, and he would see that it was evil. And it is possible that he would suppose that the speakers were aiming directly at him, and revealing his feelings to others; for such an effect is often produced. Prophetic preaching must have had great power to make men feel that they stood face to face with God, for even faithful preaching today lays bare the sinners heart, and often causes him to feel that the preacher particularly intends him, and wonders that he has such acquaintance with his feelings and his life.]
and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.–Being thus smitten with their divine knowledge and mission, he would fall down and worship God, and report that God was in them enabling them to know the secrets of the heart. [This description of the effect of prophecy upon the unbeliever is in no way contrary to the assertion in verse 22. There the apostle is speaking of a sign to attract the attention of the unbeliever; here his attention is already attracted. He has come to the assembly of the church, and is listening to the words spoken there in the name of Jesus Christ. And as faith comes by hearing there will be no need of signs to induce him to become a believer.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
falling: Gen 44:14, Deu 9:18, Psa 72:11, Isa 60:14, Luk 5:8, Luk 8:28, Rev 5:8, Rev 19:4
God is: Isa 45:14, Zec 8:23
Reciprocal: Gen 21:22 – God Gen 26:28 – was with Deu 7:21 – the Lord Jos 22:31 – the Lord is 1Sa 9:19 – and will tell 1Sa 19:20 – when they 2Ki 19:17 – Of a truth Mat 5:16 – and Mat 8:2 – worshipped Mar 12:17 – And they Luk 4:32 – General Joh 1:48 – when Joh 4:19 – I perceive Joh 4:29 – General Joh 8:7 – and said Act 2:37 – they Act 13:1 – prophets Act 24:25 – Felix Rom 1:16 – for it is 1Co 14:1 – prophesy 1Co 14:39 – covet Phm 1:6 – the acknowledging Heb 4:12 – and is 1Pe 2:12 – glorify 1Jo 3:20 – if
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Co 14:25. Secrets of his heart are the thoughts produced by the edifying prophesying just heard. See the note at Mat 2:2 for the meaning of worship.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Co 14:25. [1] the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeedprobably by an open confession, giving vent to the irresistible conviction that had seized him. (The words are taken from Isa 45:14.) Such self-revealing effects of Divine truth upon an audience are still to be seen, and hearers of the word are ready to charge the preacher with laying bare certain bad features of their own private character which could only be known to them by some tell-tale.
[1] And thus of the received text is insufficiently attested.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Vv. 25. Then a sudden penetrating illumination, spread over his whole life, is produced in him: he sees himself, as a whole and in the particular details of his life, as God sees him. One might apply this description to the revelation of certain particular circumstances of his life, as when Elisha speaks to Gehazi (2Ki 5:26), or Jesus to Nathanael and to the Samaritan woman (John 1, 4). But it is simpler to think here of a moral illumination, similar to that of the judgment, which shows a man his past and present state in its true light. What passes in him at such a moment resembles what passed in Paul on the way to Damascus. Struck by this light, he casts himself in the dust, not before man, but before God, acknowledging that such brightness can only proceed from the Holy of holies and the Searcher of hearts; that consequently it is He who speaks by the mouth of those into the midst of whom He has come.
The participle , reporting, may refer only to what passes at the time in the assembly itself; it is a cry escaping from him under the power of overwhelming emotion: Yes, God is among you of a truth! But this declaration may be regarded also as extending after his departure from the assembly to those whom he meets.
The may signify: among you; but in this context, where inspiration is the matter in question, perhaps it is more natural to explain it: in you. So Meyer, Edwards, etc. By the , really, the man recognises that the claim of Christians to Divine inspiration is well-founded. Here is the opposite of the , ye are mad (1Co 14:23). The apostle could not better close the discussion on the relative value of the gifts of tongues and of prophecy than by these two examples; and now he can go on to lay down the practical rules which will secure the salutary use of these gifts.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
the secrets of his heart are made manifest [being exposed by the cleaving sword of the Spirit– Heb 4:12; Jam 1:23-24; comp. Joh 4:19; Joh 4:29]; and so he will fall down on his face [The Oriental mode of showing deep emotion (Isa 45:14; 1Sa 19:24). Here it indicates feelings of submission and self-abasement] and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed. [Paul supposes the case of one who dropped into the meeting out of curiosity. If he heard many people speaking at once in an unknown tongue, he would regard the gathering as little better than bedlam (Act 2:13), and the more he heard speaking at once, the worse it would be. Therefore the meeting would be to him void of blessing from God, and the sign without any signification, for he would hear his fellow-citizens addressing him in a foreign tongue, which was to him a mere jargon, instead of hearing foreigners address him in his own tongue, similar to the miracle at Pentecost. If, on the other hand, he heard all his fellow-citizens prophesying in his own tongue, he would be reproved by all, and the secrets of his heart would be laid bare as though he had been cross-examined by a skillful attorney. This would lead to his conversion, and so be of profit to him, and would make him a witness to the divine nature of the church, instead of one who looked upon it as a hive of fanatics. Prophetic preaching must have had great power to make men feel that they stood face to face with God, for even the faithful preaching of our day lays bare the sinner’s heart. He feels that sermons are aimed at him, and is often convinced that some one has been tattling to the preacher because the life is so fully exposed by his words. It should be observed that if truth is more potent than signs, much more is it more efficacious in revivals than mere excitement or pumped-up enthusiasm.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
25. The secrets of his heart are made manifest, and thus falling down on his face he will worship God, confessing that God is truly in you all. Oh, how infinitely profitable is this paragraph to the people of God in all ages and nations! because here we have vividly described a normal gospel meeting, which we may regard as a sample elucidatory of the true gospel economy amid all environments. Here you see the roaring, shouting demonstrations of newborn souls, and gloriously sanctified people speaking aloud the languages of their newly found rhapsody, arousing and magnetizing Satans idiots on all sides, and bringing them together helter- skelter and pell-mell to see what is the matter. Now the curious rabble have poured in and crowded the house, gazing on as if it were a monkey show, and pronouncing all the dramedians crazy. Now immediately they all turn to prophesying, their attention attracted by the sight of the curious rabble, every one besieging a sinner and speaking to him edification, exhortation or comfort, which is the definition of prophesying (1Co 14:3). What is the effect of all this rally by those shouting Christians encompassing those wicked people with their burning words of prophetic fire? Conviction seizes them; the secrets of their hearts are made manifest, i. e., they proceed to make awful confessions of their terrible sins. They are discerned by all;
i. e., those Spirit filled saints read them like books, and see that they are thunder-riven with conviction. What is the ultimatum of the enterprise? Falling down on their faces, they will confess that God is surely in the midst of you; i. e., they are gloriously and rousingly converted to God, and turn crazy like the balance. Here we have an inspired illustration of a gospel meeting, and we see that it is characterized by the old-style knockdown power. The Holiness Movement much needs a general quickening and toning up, lest we slow down as our predecessors have done. Oh, how infinitely valuable this literal description of a normal gospel meeting, and how vividly contrastive with the humdrum, deadbeat routine of modern churchism!