1 Corinthians 14:15
in 1 Corinthians 14What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
What is it then? 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.
KJV
What is it then? 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.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary
15 notes on this verseFor our mind would not even be able to pray unless the Spirit prayed for it as if obeying it, so that we cannot even sing and hymn the Father in Christ with proper rhythm, melody, measure and harmony unless the Spirit who searches everything, even the depths of God, first praises and hymns him whose depths he has searched out and has understood as far as he is able.
This site's exposition
if I pray in a tongue
on 1 Corinthians 14:14-17
In a tongue the spirit prays while the mind is unfruitful, so verse 15 keeps both, praying and singing with spirit and with mind. The uninstructed hearer of verses 16 and 17 cannot say Amen to thanks he never understood.
This site's exposition
I will sing with my spirit
Singing formed part of the Corinthian gathering, and verse 26 lists a psalm among what members brought. Paul applies the same rule to songs as to prayers. Worship engages both the spirit and the mind.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
We are the true adorers and the true priests, who, praying in spirit, sacrifice, in spirit, prayer,-a victim proper and acceptable to God, which assuredly He has required, which He has looked forward to for Himself! This victim, devoted from the whole heart, fed on faith, tended by truth, entire in innocence, pure in chastity, garlanded with love, we ought to escort with the pomp of good works, amid psalms and hymns, unto God's altar, to obtain for us all things from God.
Worshiping and praying in the Spirit seem to me to be simply the Spirit presenting prayer and worship to himself.
It is in spirit and mind that one should pray and sing to God. Paul does not say anything about the tongue. The reason is that this spiritual prayer is not offered up or prayed by the tongue, for it is deeper than the lips …
The prayer of those who sing is acceptable to God only if a pure heart carries the same message which the words of the hymn unfold.
"For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful." "What is it then? 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." Seest thou how by degrees bringing his argument to a point, he signifies that not to others only is such an one useless, but also to himself; if at least "his understanding is unfruitful?" For if a man should speak only in the Persian, or any other foreign tongue, and not understand what he saith, then of course to himself also will he be thenceforth a barbarian, not to another only, from not knowing the meaning of the sound. For there were of old many who had also a gift of prayer, together with a tongue; and they prayed, and the tongue spake, praying either in the Persian or Latin language, but their understanding knew not what was spoken. Wherefore also he said, "If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth," i.e., the gift which is given me and which moves my tongue, "but my understanding is unfruitful." What then may that be which is best in itself, and doth good? And how ought one to act, or what request of God? To pray, "both with the spirit," i.e., the gift, and "with the understanding." Wherefore also he said, "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." He signifieth the same thing here also, that both the tongue may speak, and the understanding may not be ignorant of the things spoken. For except this be so, there will also be another confusion.
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
What then, he says, is more beneficial? And what should one ask of God? That one should pray "with the spirit," that is, with the gift, and also "with the mind," that is, to consciously understand the words of the prayer with one's thought. Likewise …
Because someone could say: inasmuch as prayer in a tongue is without fruit to the mind, but the spirit prays, should one then not pray in the spirit. Therefore, the Apostle answers this objection, saying that one should pray in both ways, in the spirit …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
I will sing with the spirit, &c. He does not forbid their praying or singing under a divine afflatus, or when they were inspired for this purpose, or had such a spiritual gift communicated to them; but he would have them perform both so as to be understood by others, that others might join with them. Note, Public worship should be performed so as to be understood.
What is it then?....
He informs them that tongues were a sign for unbelievers rather than those that believe; and represents the advantage of prophecy above speaking with tongues, from the different suggestions they would give to the mind of an unbeliever coming into their assemblies,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
A prescient warning, mutatis mutandis, against the Roman and Greek practice of keeping liturgies in dead languages, which long since have become unintelligible to the masses; though their forefathers spoke them at a time when those liturgies were framed for general use.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
What is it then? - What shall I do? What is the proper course for me to pursue? What is my practice and my desire; see the same form of expression in Rom 3:9, and Rom 6:15. It indicates the “conclusion” to which the reasoning had conducted him, or the course which he would pursue in view of all the circumstances of the case. I will pray with the spirit ... - I will endeavor to “blend” all the advantages which can be derived from prayer; I will “unite” all the benefits which “can” result to myself and to others.
The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τί | ti | What | G5101 → | 563 times |
| οὖν | oun | then | G3767 → | 497 times |
| ἐστιν; | estin | is it? | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| προσεύξομαι | proseuxomai | I will pray | G4336 → | 85 times |
| τῷ | to | with the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεύματι, | pneumati | spirit, | G4151 → | 378 times |
| προσεύξομαι | proseuxomai | I will pray | G4336 → | 85 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῷ | to | with the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νοΐ· | noi | mind; | G3563 → | 24 times |
| ψαλῶ | psalo | I will sing praise | G5567 → | |
| τῷ | to | with the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεύματι, | pneumati | spirit, | G4151 → | 378 times |
| ψαλῶ | psalo | I will sing praise | G5567 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῷ | to | with the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νοΐ. | noi | mind. | G3563 → | 24 times |
τίWhat
tiG5101 →563 times
οὖνthen
ounG3767 →497 times
ἐστιν;is it?
estinG1510 →2333 times
προσεύξομαιI will pray
proseuxomaiG4336 →85 times
τῷwith the
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεύματι,spirit,
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
προσεύξομαιI will pray
proseuxomaiG4336 →85 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῷwith the
toG3588 →19766 times
νοΐ·mind;
noiG3563 →24 times
ψαλῶI will sing praise
psaloG5567 →
τῷwith the
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεύματι,spirit,
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
ψαλῶI will sing praise
psaloG5567 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῷwith the
toG3588 →19766 times
νοΐ.mind.
noiG3563 →24 times
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
Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
it leads to
- Psalms 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
- John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
- Psalms 119:11
Through
Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
- Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Through
Jude 1:20But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Romans 8:26–27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
- Ephesians 6:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Abraham of Nathpar, ON PRAYER 2; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cassiodorus, EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 2; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Gregory of Nazianzus, THEOLOGICAL ORATION 31.12; 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; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, ON PRAYER 4; Tertullian, On Prayer; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.