TEXT.

to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

28 If, therefore, the whole church be come together into one place,

and all speak with tongues, and there come in those, that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say, that ye are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all. 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.

26 How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done to edifying...

PARAPHRASE.

of strange tongues miraculously, is not for those who are already converted, but for a sign to those, who are unbelievers: but prophecy is for believers, and not for unbelievers; and therefore, fitter for your assemblies. 23 If, therefore, when the church is all come together, you should all speak in unknown tongues, and men unlearned, or unbelievers should come in, would they not say, 24" that you are mad?" But if ye all prophesy, and an

unbeliever, or an ignorant man, come in, the discourse 25 he hears from you reaching his conscience, And the secret thoughts of his heart, he is convinced, and wrought upon; and so, falling down, worships God, and declares 26 that God is certainly amongst you. What then is to be done, brethren? When you come together, every one is ready", one with a psalm, another with a doctrine, another with a strange tongue, another with a revelation, another with an interpretation. Let all things be

NOTE.

26 It is plain, by this whole discourse of the apostle's, that there were contentions and emulations amongst them for precedency of their gifts; and therefore I think ἕκασος έχει may be rendered every one is ready," as impatient to be first heard. If there were no such disorder amongst them, there would have been no need for the regulations given, in the end of this verse, and the seven verses following, especially ver. 31, 32, where he tells them, they all may prophesy, one by one, and that the motions of the Spirit were not so ungovernable as not to leave a man master of himself. He must not think himself under a necessity of speaking, as soon as he found any impulse of the Spirit upon his mind,

TEXT.

t

27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

29 Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another, that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

31 For ye may all prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, that all may be comforted."

PARAPHRASE.

27 done to edification. Even though any one speak in an unknown tongue, which is a gift that seems least intended for edification; let but two or three at most, at any one meeting, speak in an unknown tongue; and that ⚫ separately, one after another; and let there be but one 28 interpreter1. But if there be no-body present, that can interpret, let not any one use his gift of tongues in the congregation; but let him, silently, within himself, speak 29 to himself, and to God. Of those, who have the gift of prophecy, let but two or three speak at the same meet30 ing, and let the others examine and discuss it. But if, during their debate, the meaning of it be revealed to one that sits by, let him, that was discoursing of it before, 31 give off. For ye may all prophesy, one after another, that all in their turns be hearers, and receive ex

may

NOTES.

27 St. Paul has said, in this chapter, as much as conveniently could be said, to restrain their speaking in unknown tongues, in their assemblies, which seems to be that, wherein the vanity and ostentation of the corinthians was most forward to show itself. "It is not," says he, "a gift intended for the edifica"tion of believers; however, since you will be exercising it in your meetings, "let it always be so ordered, that it may be for edification:" T, I have rendered "although." So I think it is sometimes used; but no where, as I remember, simply for "" if," as in our translation; nor will the sense here bear "whether;" which is the common signification of ETE. And, therefore, I take the apostle's sense to be this; "You must do nothing but to edification;" though you speak in an unknown tongue, "even an unknown tongue must be "made use of, in your assemblies, only to edification."

▷ Vid. ver. 2 and 4.

The rule of the synagogue was: " in the law, let one read, and one inter"pret: in the prophets, let one read, and two interpret: in Esther, ten may "read, and ten interpret." It is not improbable, that some such disorder had been introduced into the church of Corinth, by the judaizing, false apostle, which St. Paul would here put an end to.

TEXT.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What! came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only?

PARAPHRASE.

32 hortation and instruction. For the gifts of the Holy Ghost are not like the possession of the heathen priests, who are not masters of the Spirit that possesses them. But christians, however filled with the Holy Ghost, are masters of their own actions, can speak, or hold their peace, as they see occasion, and are not hurried away 33 by any compulsion. It is, therefore, no reason for you to speak, more than one at once, or to interrupt one another, because you find yourselves inspired and inoved. by the Spirit of God. For God is not the author of confusion and disorder, but of quietness and peace. And this is what is observed in all the churches of God.

34 As to your women, let them keep silence in your assem

blies; for it is not permitted them to discourse there, or pretend to teach; that does no way suit their state of 35 subjection, appointed them in the law. But, if they have a mind to have any thing explained to them, that passes in the church, let them, for their information, ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to discourse and debate with men publicly, in the congrega 36 tion'. What! do you pretend to give laws to the church of God, or to a right to do what you please

NOTE.

34, 35 Why I apply this prohibition, of speaking, only to reasoning and purely voluntary discourse, but suppose a liberty left women to speak, where they had an immediate impulse and revelation from the Spirit of God, vid. note on chap. xi. S. In the synagogue, it was usual for any man, that had a mind, to demand, of the teacher, a farther explication of what he had said: but this was not permitted to the women,

TEXT.

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge, that the things, that I write unto you, are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently, and in order.

PARAPHRASE.

amongst yourselves, as if the gospel began at Corinth, and issuing from you was communicated to the rest of the world; or, as if it were communicated to you alone, 37. of all the world? If any man amongst you think, that he hath the gift of prophecies, and would pass for a man 'knowing in the revealed will of God', let him acknowledge, that these rules, which I have here given, are the 38 commandments of the Lord. But if But if any man' be igno

rant that they are so, I have no more to say to him: I 39 leave him to his ignorance. To conclude, brethren, let

prophecy have the preference in the exercise of it": 40 but yet forbid not the speaking unknown tongues. But whether a man prophesies, or speaks with tongues, whatever spiritual gift he exercises in your assemblies, let it be done without any indecorum, or disorder.

NOTES.

37 Пvoμalixos, a spiritual man," in the sense of St. Paul, is one, who founds his knowledge in what is revealed by the Spirit of God, and not in the bare discoveries of his natural reason and parts: vid. chap. ii. 15.

38 By the [any man] mentioned in this, and the foregoing verse, St. Paul : seems to intimate the false apostle, who pretended to give laws amongst them, and, as we have observed, may well be supposed to be the author of these disorders; whom, therefore, St. Paul reflects on, and presses in these three verses. 39ZA, in this whole discourse of St. Paul, taken to refer to the exercise, and not to the obtaining the gifts, to which it is joined, will direct us right, in understanding St. Paul, and make his meaning very easy and intelligible.

SECT. X.

CHAP. XV. 1-58.

CONTENTS.

AFTER St. Paul (who had taught them another doctrine) had left Corinth, some among them denied the resurrection of the dead. This he confutes by Christ's resurrection, which the number of witnesses, yet remaining, that had seen him, put past question, besides the constant inculcating of it, by all the apostles, every-where. From the resurrection of Christ, thus established, he infers the resurrection of the dead; shows the order they shall rise in, and what sort of bodies they shall have.

TEXT.

1 MOREOVER, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures:, 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, ac◄ cording to the scriptures:

PARAPHRASE.

1 IN what I am now going to say to you, brethren, I make known to you no other gospel, than what I formerly preached to you, and you received, and have hi therto professed, and by which alone you are to be saved. 2 This you will find to be so, if you retain in your memories what it was that I preached to you, which you certainly do, unless you have taken up the christian name 3 and profession to no purpose. For I delivered to you, and particularly insisted on this, which I had received, viz. that Christ died for our sins, according to the scrip4 tures: And that he was buried, and that he was raised again, the third day, according to the scriptures;