1 Corinthians 14:6-12
1599 Geneva Bible
6 And now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking diverse tongues, what shall I profit you, except I speak to you, either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 [a]Moreover things without life which give a sound, whether it be a pipe or an harp, except they make a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?
9 So likewise you, by the tongue, except ye utter words that have [b]signification, how shall it be understood what is spoken? for ye shall speak in the air.
10 [c]There are so many kinds of voices (as it cometh to pass) in the world, and none of them is dumb.
11 Except I know then the power of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a Barbarian, and he that [d]speaketh, shall be a Barbarian unto me.
12 [e]Even so, forasmuch as ye covet spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel unto the edifying of the Church.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 14:7 He setteth forth that which he said, by a similitude, which he borroweth and taketh from instruments of music, which although they speak not perfectly, yet they are distinguished by their sounds, that they may be the better used.
- 1 Corinthians 14:9 That do fitly utter the matter itself.
- 1 Corinthians 14:10 He proveth that interpretation is necessarily to be joined with the gift of tongues, by the manifold variety of languages, insomuch that if one speak to another without an interpreter, it is as if he spake not.
- 1 Corinthians 14:11 As the Papists in all their sermons and they that ambitiously pour out some Hebrew or Greek words in the Pulpit before the unlearned people, thereby to get them a name of vain learning.
- 1 Corinthians 14:12 The conclusion: if they will excel in those spiritual gifts, as it is meet, they must seek the profit of the Church, and therefore they must not use gift of tongues, unless there is an interpreter to expound the strange and unknown tongue, whether it be himself that speaketh, or another interpreter.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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