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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:22 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Co 14:22 |
Strong Concordance |
Wherefore [5620] tongues [1100] are [1526] for [1519] a sign [4592], not [3756] to them that believe [4100], but [235] to them that believe not [571]: but [1161] prophesying [4394] serveth not [3756] for them that believe not [571], but [235] for them which believe [4100]. |
| |
King James |
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Thus from Isaiah it appears, reasons Paul, that "tongues" (unknown and uninterpreted) are not a sign mainly intended for believers (though at the conversion of Cornelius and the Gentiles with him, tongues were vouchsafed to him and them to confirm their faith), but mainly to be a condemnation to those, the majority, who, like Israel in Isaiah's day, reject the sign and the accompanying message. Compare "yet . . . will they not hear Me" (Co1 14:21). "Sign" is often used for a condemnatory sign (Eze 4:3-4; Mat 12:39-42). Since they will not understand, they shall not understand.
prophesying . . . not for them that believe not, but . . . believe--that is, prophesying has no effect on them that are radically and obstinately like Israel (Isa 28:11-12), unbelievers, but on them that are either in receptivity or in fact believers; it makes believers of those not wilfully unbelievers (Co1 14:24-25; Rom 10:17), and spiritually nourishes those that already believe. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Wherefore - Thus, (Ὥστε Hōste), or wherefore. The apostle does not mean to say that what he was about to state was a direct conclusion from the passage of Scripture which he had quoted, but that it followed from all that he had said, and from the whole view of the subject. "The true statement or doctrine is, that tongues are for a sign," etc.
Tongues - The power of speaking foreign languages.
Are for a sign - An "indication," an evidence, or a proof that God has imparted this power, and that he attends the preaching of the gospel with his approbation. It is a "sign," or a "miracle," which, like all other miracles, may be designed to convince the unbelieving world that the religion is from God.
Not to them that believe - Not to Christians. They are already convinced of the truth of religion, and they would not be benefited by that which was spoken in a language which they could not understand,
But to them that believe not - It is a miracle designed to convince them of the truth of the Christian religion. God alone could confer the power of thus speaking; and as it was conferred expressly to aid in the propagation of the gospel, it proved that it was from God; see the note on Act 2:1-15.
But prophesying - Speaking in a calm, connected, didactic manner, in language intelligible to all under the influence of inspiration; see notes on Co1 14:1.
For them that believe not - Is not particularly intended for them; but is intended mainly for the edifying of the church. It is not so striking, so replete with proofs of the divine presence and power as the gift of tongues. Though it may be really under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and may be really by inspiration, yet it is not so evidently such as is the power of speaking foreign languages. It was, therefore, better adapted to edify the church than to convince gainsayers. At the same time the "truths" conveyed by it, and the consolations administered by it, might be as clear evidence to the church of the attending power, and presence, and goodness of God, as the power of speaking foreign languages might be to infidels. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Tongues are intended for a sign to unbelievers - To engage their attention, and convince them the message is of God. Whereas prophecy is not so much for unbelievers, as for the confirmation of them that already believe. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Wherefore tongues are for a sign - The miraculous gift of tongues was never designed for the benefit of those who have already believed, but for the instruction of unbelievers, that they might see from such a miracle that this is the work of God; and so embrace the Gospel. But as, in the times of the prophet, the strange Babylonish tongues came in the way of punishment, and not in the way of mercy; take heed that it be not the case now: that, by dwelling on the gift, ye forget the Giver; and what was designed for you as a blessing, may prove to you to be a curse. For if, because ye have the gift of tongues, ye will choose for your own aggrandizement to use them in the public congregation where none understands them, God may curse your blessings.
Prophesying - Teaching the things of God in a known language is of infinitely more consequence than speaking in all the foreign tongues in the universe. |
17 So then [686] faith [4102] cometh by [1537] hearing [189], and [1161] hearing [189] by [1223] the word [4487] of God [2316].
24 But [1161] if [1437] all [3956] prophesy [4395], and [1161] there come in [1525] one [5100] that believeth not [571], or [2228] one unlearned [2399], he is convinced [1651] of [5259] all [3956], he is judged [350] of [5259] all [3956]:
25 And [2532] thus [3779] are [1096] the secrets [2927] of his [846] heart [2588] made [1096] manifest [5318]; and [2532] so [3779] falling down [4098] on [1909] his face [4383] he will worship [4352] God [2316], and report [518] that [3754] God [2316] is [2076] in [1722] you [5213] of a truth [3689].
11 For with stammering [03934] lips [08193] and another [0312] tongue [03956] will he speak [01696] to this people [05971].
12 To whom he said [0559], This is the rest [04496] wherewith ye may cause the weary [05889] to rest [05117]; and this is the refreshing [04774]: yet they would [014] not hear [08085].
39 But [1161] he answered [611] and said [2036] unto them [846], An evil [4190] and [2532] adulterous [3428] generation [1074] seeketh after [1934] a sign [4592]; and [2532] there shall no [3756] sign [4592] be given [1325] to it [846], but [1508] the sign [4592] of the prophet [4396] Jonas [2495]:
40 For [1063] as [5618] Jonas [2495] was [2258] three [5140] days [2250] and [2532] three [5140] nights [3571] in [1722] the whale's [2785] belly [2836]; so [3779] shall the Son [5207] of man [444] be [2071] three [5140] days [2250] and [2532] three [5140] nights [3571] in [1722] the heart [2588] of the earth [1093].
41 The men [435] of Nineveh [3536] shall rise [450] in [1722] judgment [2920] with [3326] this [5026] generation [1074], and [2532] shall condemn [2632] it [846]: because [3754] they repented [3340] at [1519] the preaching [2782] of Jonas [2495]; and [2532], behold [2400], a greater than [4119] Jonas [2495] is here [5602].
42 The queen [938] of the south [3558] shall rise up [1453] in [1722] the judgment [2920] with [3326] this [5026] generation [1074], and [2532] shall condemn [2632] it [846]: for [3754] she came [2064] from [1537] the uttermost parts [4009] of the earth [1093] to hear [191] the wisdom [4678] of Solomon [4672]; and [2532], behold [2400], a greater than [4119] Solomon [4672] is here [5602].
3 Moreover take [03947] thou unto thee an iron [01270] pan [04227], and set [05414] it for a wall [07023] of iron [01270] between thee and the city [05892]: and set [03559] thy face [06440] against it, and it shall be besieged [04692], and thou shalt lay siege [06696] against it. This shall be a sign [0226] to the house [01004] of Israel [03478].
4 Lie [07901] thou also upon thy left [08042] side [06654], and lay [07760] the iniquity [05771] of the house [01004] of Israel [03478] upon it: according to the number [04557] of the days [03117] that thou shalt lie [07901] upon it thou shalt bear [05375] their iniquity [05771].
21 In [1722] the law [3551] it is written [1125], [3754] With [1722] men of other tongues [2084] and [2532] other [1722] [2087] lips [5491] will I speak [2980] unto this [5129] people [2992]; and [2532] yet for all [3779] that will they [1522] not [3761] hear [1522] me [3450], saith [3004] the Lord [2962].
1 Follow [1377] after charity [26], and [1161] desire [2206] spiritual [4152] gifts, but [1161] rather [3123] that [2443] ye may prophesy [4395].
1 And [2532] when [1722] the day [2250] of Pentecost [4005] was fully come [4845], they were [2258] all [537] with one accord [3661] in [1909] one place [846].
2 And [2532] suddenly [869] there came [1096] a sound [2279] from [1537] heaven [3772] as [5618] of a rushing [5342] mighty [972] wind [4157], and [2532] it filled [4137] all [3650] the house [3624] where [3757] they were [2258] sitting [2521].
3 And [2532] there appeared [3700] unto them [846] cloven [1266] tongues [1100] like as [5616] of fire [4442], and [5037] it sat [2523] upon [1909] each [1538] [1520] of them [846].
4 And [2532] they were [4130] all [537] filled [4130] with the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] began [756] to speak with [2980] other [2087] tongues [1100], as [2531] the Spirit [4151] gave [1325] them [846] utterance [669].
5 And [1161] there were [2258] dwelling [2730] at [1722] Jerusalem [2419] Jews [2453], devout [2126] men [435], out of [575] every [3956] nation [1484] under [5259] heaven [3772].
6 Now [1161] when this [5026] was [1096] noised abroad [5456], the multitude [4128] came together [4905], and [2532] were confounded [4797], because [3754] that every [1538] man [1520] heard [191] them [846] speak [2980] in his own [2398] language [1258].
7 And [1161] they were [1839] all [3956] amazed [1839] and [2532] marvelled [2296], saying [3004] one to another [4314] [240], Behold [2400], are [1526] not [3756] all [3956] these [3778] which [3588] speak [2980] Galilaeans [1057]?
8 And [2532] how [4459] hear [191] we [2249] every [1538] man in our [2257] own [2398] tongue [1258], wherein [1722] [3739] we were born [1080]?
9 Parthians [3934], and [2532] Medes [3370], and [2532] Elamites [1639], and [2532] the dwellers [2730] in Mesopotamia [3318], and [5037] in Judaea [2449], and [2532] Cappadocia [2587], in Pontus [4195], and [2532] Asia [773],
10 [5037] Phrygia [5435], and [5037] [2532] Pamphylia [3828], in Egypt [125], and [2532] in the parts [3313] of Libya [3033] about [2596] Cyrene [2957], and [2532] strangers [1927] of Rome [4514], [5037] Jews [2453] and [5037] [2532] proselytes [4339],
11 Cretes [2912] and [2532] Arabians [690], we do hear [191] them [846] speak [2980] in our [2251] tongues [1100] the wonderful works [3167] of God [2316].
12 And [1161] they were [1839] all [3956] amazed [1839], and [2532] were in doubt [1280], saying [3004] one [243] to [4314] another [243], What [5101] meaneth [2309] [302] [1511] this [5124]?
13 [1161] Others [2087] mocking [5512] said [3004], [3754] These men are [1526] full [3325] of new wine [1098].
14 But [1161] Peter [4074], standing up [2476] with [4862] the eleven [1733], lifted up [1869] his [846] voice [5456], and [2532] said [669] unto them [846], Ye men [435] of Judaea [2453], and [2532] all [537] ye that dwell [2730] at Jerusalem [2419], be [2077] this [5124] known [1110] unto you [5213], and [2532] hearken [1801] to my [3450] words [4487]:
15 For [1063] these [3778] are [3184] not [3756] drunken [3184], as [5613] ye [5210] suppose [5274], seeing [1063] it is [2076] but the third [5154] hour [5610] of the day [2250].