1 Corinthians 14:6
in 1 Corinthians 14Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
KJV
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
12 notes on this verseSpeaking with tongues - Without interpreting. What shall I profit you? - i.e. I shall not profit you; Except I shall speak to you either by revelation - Of some secret thing; or by knowledge, of some mystery; or by prophesying, foretelling some future event; or by doctrine, instructing you what to believe and practice. - See Whitby. These four words are taken in different acceptations by learned men. The general sense of the terms is that given above: but the peculiar meaning of the apostle is perhaps not easily discerned.
This site's exposition
if I come to you speaking
on 1 Corinthians 14:6-9
Paul turns the argument on himself: tongues without revelation, knowledge, prophecy or teaching would bring them no benefit. Verses 7 and 8 draw on the flute or harp with no distinct notes and the trumpet sounding a muffled call, a garbled battle signal.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?" "And why speak I," saith he, "of the rest? Nay, let the person who speaketh with tongues be Paul: for not even so will any good come to the hearers" And these things he saith to signify that he is seeking their profit, not beating any grudge against them that have the gift; since not even in his own person doth he shrink from pointing out its unprofitableness. And indeed it is his constant way to work out the disagreeable topics in his own person: as in the beginning of the Epistle he said, "Who then is Paul? and who is Apollos? and who is Cephas?" This same then he doth also here, saying, "Not even I shall profit you, except I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of prophesying, or of knowledge, or of teaching." And what he means is, "if I say not somewhat that can be made intelligible to you and that may be dear, but merely make display of my having the gift of tongues;-tongues which ye do not understand, ye will go away with no sort of profit. For how should you profit by a voice which ye understand not?"
"The generation of those that seek Him" is the elect race, devoted to inquiry after knowledge. Wherefore also the apostle says, "I shall profit you nothing, unless I speak to you, either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by doctrine." Although even by those who are not Gnostics some things are done rightly, yet not according to reason; as in the case of fortitude.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Do you want to know that tongues without interpretation are useless? Let me, Paul, your teacher, speak in tongues; even in this case there will be no benefit to the hearers unless I explain something "by revelation," that is, as those who have received revelation …
Then when he says: Now, brethren, he proves by examples that the gift of prophecy is more excellent than the gift of tongues, and this in three ways: first, by giving an example taken from himself; secondly, by an example taken from inanimate things (v. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Revelation - Of some gospel mystery. Knowledge - Explaining the ancient types and prophecies. Prophecy - Foretelling some future event.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues,....
To a pipe and a harp playing always in one tone. Of what use can this be to those who are dancing? If there be no distinction of sounds, how should they order their steps or motions?
He advises that worship should be celebrated so that the most ignorant might understand, and join in prayer and praise, and presses the advice by his own example,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
So "knowledge" corresponds to "doctrine," which is the gift of teaching to others our knowledge. As the former pair refers to specially revealed mysteries, so the latter pair refers to the general obvious truths of salvation, brought from the common storehouse of believers.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Now, brethren, if I come unto you ... - The truth which the apostle had been illustrating in an abstract manner, he proceeds to illustrate by applying it to himself. If he should come among them speaking foreign languages, it could be of no use unless it were interpreted to them. Speaking with tongues - Speaking foreign languages; that is, speaking them “only,” without any interpreter. Paul had the power of speaking foreign languages 1Co 14:18; but he did not use this power for ostentation or display, but merely to communicate the gospel to those who did not understand his native tongue. Either by revelation - Macknight renders this, “speak intelligibly;” that is, as he explains it, “by the revelation peculiar to an apostle.” Doddridge, “by the revelation of some gospel doctrine and mystery.” Locke interprets it, that you might understand the revelation, or knowledge,” etc.; but says in a note, that we cannot now certainly understand the difference between the meaning of the four words here used. “It is sufficient,” says he, “to know that these reruns stand for some intelligible discourse tending to the edification of the church.” Rosenmuller supposes the word “revelation” stands for some “clear and open knowledge of any truth arising from meditation.” It is probable that the word here does not refer to divine inspiration, as it usually does, but that it stands opposed to that which is unknown and unintelligible, as that which is “revealed” ἀποκαλύψις apokalupsis stands opposed to what is unknown, concealed, “hidden,” obscure. […]
The words behind it
28 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Νῦν | nun | now | G3568 → | 145 times |
| δέ, | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | brothers, | G80 → | 343 times |
| ἐὰν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| ἔλθω | eltho | I shall come | G2064 → | 628 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| γλώσσαις | glossais | in tongues | G1100 → | 49 times |
| λαλῶν, | lalon | speaking, | G2980 → | 294 times |
| τί | ti | what | G5101 → | 563 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὠφελήσω, | opheleso | will I profit, | G5623 → | |
| ἐὰν | ean | only | G1437 → | 352 times |
| μὴ | me | unless | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| λαλήσω | laleso | I shall speak | G2980 → | 294 times |
| ἢ | e | either | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἀποκαλύψει | apokalupsei | revelation | G602 → | 17 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| γνώσει | gnosei | knowledge | G1108 → | 29 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| προφητείᾳ | propheteia | prophecy | G4394 → | 19 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| διδαχῇ; | didachea | teaching? | G1322 → |
Νῦνnow
nunG3568 →145 times
δέ,however
deG1161 →2765 times
ἀδελφοί,brothers,
adelphoiG80 →343 times
ἐὰνif
eanG1437 →352 times
ἔλθωI shall come
elthoG2064 →628 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
γλώσσαιςin tongues
glossaisG1100 →49 times
λαλῶν,speaking,
lalonG2980 →294 times
τίwhat
tiG5101 →563 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ὠφελήσω,will I profit,
ophelesoG5623 →
ἐὰνonly
eanG1437 →352 times
μὴunless
meG3361 →1066 times
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
λαλήσωI shall speak
lalesoG2980 →294 times
ἢeither
eG2228 →342 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἀποκαλύψειrevelation
apokalupseiG602 →17 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
γνώσειknowledge
gnoseiG1108 →29 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
προφητείᾳprophecy
propheteiaG4394 →19 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
διδαχῇ;teaching?
didacheaG1322 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
it leads to
- Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- 2 Peter 1:19–21
We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day…
- Mark 12:24
Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
- Psalms 19:7–11
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
- Romans 15:4
Through
Ephesians 1:17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
it leads to
- Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
- James 3:17–18
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Colossians 1:9–10
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and…
- Isaiah 11:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 7; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 35; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.