1 CORINTHIANS 14:9 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.”
So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air — the slide from musical analogy to direct address: the Corinthian glossolalists are literally incomprehensible. Speech (lógos) requires semantic content; otherwise it dissipates without effect.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 14:9
“So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue, speech easy to be understood, you will be speaking into the air:” i.e., calling to nobody, speaking unto no one. Thus every where he shows its unprofitableness. “But if it be unprofitable, why was it given?” says one. So as to be useful to him that has received it. But if it is to be so to others also, there must be added interpretation. Now this he says, bringing them near to one another; that if a person himself have not the gift…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!