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§39 The Advantage of Intelligibility (1 Cor. 14:6–12)

Here is the first of Paul’s two complex, imaginative deliberations in support of his thesis in 14:1–5, which describes the crucial value of prophecy and the proper role of tongues. Paul shifts into a diatribe style of disputation, issuing a series of rhetorical questions followed by illustrative analogies and a concluding exhortation.

14:6 / Paul begins with a hypothetical false first-person statement: speaking in tongues precludes one from speaking in sensible, understandable expressions. Should he come speaking in tongues, he will not be able to offer other kinds of utterances that would be useful: revelation, knowledge, prophecy, and word of instruction. The exact sense of the beneficial messages that Paul describes with these words is hard to determine, but the further mention (see 13:2) of prophetic powers and revelation or knowledge brings an apocalyptic-eschatological tone to the discussion, suggesting that there is a special urgency that demands clarity and intelligibility in communication.

14:7–9 / Paul’s second illustration refers to musical instruments. In verse 7 he mentions the flute and the harp, and in verse 8 he adds the trumpet. His point is simple: The muted or jumbled playing of such instruments cannot be comprehended, so there is no benefit from such noise. In verse 9 Paul makes direct application of this image by saying that tongues are no more useful than is indistinct music, for one not speaking in intelligible words is as helpful as one speaking into the air.

14:10–11 / Paul continues in a third analogical argument to illustrate his point about the liability of tongues by reminding the Corinthians of the pointlessness of speaking to foreigners in a language they do not understand. Foreign sailor and tradespersons were always passing through Roman Corinth, and a common language (Greek) was required for people to communicate with one another.

14:12 / Paul draws his arguments to a conclusion. He redirects the energies of the Corinthians and calls for them to excel in edification—gifts that build up the church—as the genuine manifestation of the Spirit alive and at work among them. He reiterates his earlier point (see 12:31a) that the Corinthians are to seek the preeminent gifts, not merely the flamboyant or unusual ones. While Paul’s point is clear, his grammar and style are not. This sentence could mean either “Seek spiritual gifts that edify the church in order to excel” or “Seek to excel in the spiritual gifts that edify the church.” Given the thrust of the general argument against self-directed spiritual practices, the NIV’s choice of the second option, try to excel in gifts that build up the church, is probably correct.