Scripture Daily

Context No. 2898 of 4322 · 1 Corinthians

Context · Reflection

1 Corinthians 14:13-19: in context

13Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say? 17For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. 18I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all. 19However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

Paul is addressing the gift of tongues in the Corinthian church. If I pray in a tongue, he says, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful, so I will pray with both the spirit and the mind. Otherwise, when you give thanks, how can the outsider say the Amen, since he does not know what you are saying? He, who speaks in tongues more than any of them, says he would rather speak five intelligible words in church to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Paul's principle is that worship exists to build others up, not merely to express the self. Even a genuine spiritual gift, if it leaves the person next to you unable to understand and say Amen, has failed the test of love. The measure is not how expressive or moving my worship feels to me, but whether it edifies the one beside me. Five words that actually teach are worth more than ten thousand that only impress.

In how I express my faith, am I seeking to build others up and be understood, or mainly to express myself?

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