1 Corinthians 14:10
Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
Assuredly
The word "assuredly" in this context is a translation of the Greek word "εἰ τύχοι" (ei tychoi), which conveys a sense of certainty or affirmation. It underscores the Apostle Paul's confidence in the statement he is about to make. This word sets the tone for the verse, emphasizing the importance of the message that follows. In a broader scriptural context, it reflects the assurance believers can have in the truths of God’s Word, encouraging them to trust in the divine wisdom imparted through the Scriptures.

there are many different languages
The phrase "there are many different languages" highlights the diversity of human speech. The Greek word for "languages" here is "φωνῶν" (phonon), which can also mean "voices" or "sounds." This reflects the rich tapestry of human culture and communication that God has created. Historically, the existence of many languages is rooted in the biblical account of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), where God confused the language of humanity to scatter them across the earth. This diversity is a testament to God's creative power and serves as a reminder of the unity and diversity within the body of Christ, where every language and culture can be used to glorify God.

in the world
The phrase "in the world" situates the discussion within the global context. The Greek word "κόσμῳ" (kosmo) refers to the world or the universe. It reminds us that the scope of God's creation is vast and encompasses all nations and peoples. This global perspective is crucial for understanding the mission of the Church, which is to reach every corner of the earth with the Gospel. It also reflects the inclusivity of the Christian message, which transcends cultural and linguistic barriers.

yet none of them is without meaning
The phrase "yet none of them is without meaning" emphasizes the significance of each language. The Greek word "ἄφωνον" (aphonon) means "without voice" or "meaningless." Paul is asserting that every language has its own intrinsic value and purpose. This is a powerful reminder that God values every culture and language, and that communication is a gift from God meant to be used for His glory. In the context of 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is addressing the use of spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of tongues, and he underscores the importance of intelligibility and edification in the church. This phrase encourages believers to use their gifts in ways that build up the body of Christ and communicate God's love effectively to others.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Apostle Paul
The author of 1 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth about the use of spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of tongues.

2. Corinth
A major city in ancient Greece, known for its diverse population and cultural influences, which included a variety of languages and dialects.

3. Corinthian Church
The recipients of Paul's letter, a diverse group of believers struggling with issues of unity and the proper use of spiritual gifts.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Communication
Language is a tool for conveying meaning and understanding. In the church, clear communication is essential for edification and unity.

Diversity in the Body of Christ
Just as there are many languages, there are diverse gifts and roles within the church. Each has its purpose and value.

The Role of Interpretation
Spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues, require interpretation to be beneficial to the church. This principle applies to all forms of communication within the body of Christ.

Unity Amidst Diversity
The church is called to embrace diversity while striving for unity. This involves respecting and valuing different expressions and gifts.

Purposeful Use of Gifts
Spiritual gifts should be used purposefully to build up the church, not for personal gain or show.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the diversity of languages in the world reflect God's creativity and purpose, and how can this understanding impact our view of cultural diversity within the church?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our communication within the church is clear and edifying, especially when dealing with complex or sensitive topics?

3. How can the account of the Tower of Babel and the events of Pentecost inform our understanding of the role of language and communication in God's plan?

4. What steps can we take to ensure that spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, are used appropriately and beneficially within our church community?

5. How can we foster unity in our church while respecting and valuing the diverse gifts and backgrounds of its members?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 11:1-9
The Tower of Babel account, where God confuses human language, highlighting the diversity of languages as part of God's plan.

Acts 2:1-12
The Day of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit enables the apostles to speak in various languages, emphasizing the importance of understanding and communication in spreading the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 12:10
Discusses the gift of tongues and interpretation, underscoring the need for clarity and edification in the church.
UsefulnessE. Hurndall 1 Corinthians 14:1-19
A Lesson for PreachersJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Choosing LoveScougal.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Edification, Exhortation and ComfortProf. Godet.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Following After LoveGreat Thoughts1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Grace and GiftsD. Thomas, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Ineffective PreachingJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Love Lessening Misery1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Private and Public EdificationJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Prophecy and TonguesF. W. Robertson, M. A.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Speaking in a TongueProf. Godet.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Spiritual GiftsEssex Congregational Remembrancer1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Spiritual Gifts and Public WorshipM. Dods, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
The Gift of TonguesJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
The Gifts of the Spirit Must be Wisely EmployedJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
The Girls of Prophecy and TonguesA. F. Barfield.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
The Prompting of Love1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Three Modes of PreachingJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
True PreachingJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Unedifying Preaching1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Universal BenevolenceJ. Orr, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:1-24
Argument Continued and IllustratedC. Lipscomb 1 Corinthians 14:6-13
Christian Intelligence the Medium of Christian GrowthR. Tuck 1 Corinthians 14:7-11
A Preacher Should Study Plain LanguageJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:10-11
Sweetness of Voice1 Corinthians 14:10-11
The Diversity of Human LanguageJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 14:10-11
VoicesMorlais Jones.1 Corinthians 14:10-11
People
Corinthians, Paul
Places
Corinth
Topics
Creature, Different, Doubtless, Kind, Kinds, Language, Languages, Meaning, None, Perhaps, Sense, Signification, Sorts, Sounds, Suppose, Undistinguishable, Unmeaning, Voice, Voices, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Corinthians 14:1-20

     5775   abuse

1 Corinthians 14:1-33

     1444   revelation, NT
     5110   Paul, teaching of

1 Corinthians 14:2-23

     5193   tongue

1 Corinthians 14:6-10

     5314   flute

1 Corinthians 14:10-11

     5374   languages

Library
1 Corinthians xiv, 20
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit, in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. It would be going a great deal too far to say, that they who fulfilled the latter part of this command, were sure also to fulfil the former; that they who were men in understanding, were, therefore, likely to be children in malice. But the converse holds good, with remarkable certainty, that they who are children in understanding, are proportionally apt to be men in malice: that is, in proportion
Thomas Arnold—The Christian Life

Gunsaulus -- the Bible Vs. Infidelity
Frank Wakely Gunsaulus was born at Chesterville, Ohio, in 1856. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1875. For some years he was pastor of Plymouth Church, Chicago, and since 1899 pastor of Central Church, Chicago. He is also president of the Armour Institute of Technology. He is a fascinating speaker, having a clear, resonant voice, and a dignified presence. His mind is a storehouse of the best literature, and his English style is noteworthy for its purity and richness. He is the author
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume 10

Here is the Sum of My Examination Before Justice Keelin, Justice Chester, Justice Blundale, Justice Beecher, Justice Snagg, Etc.
After I had lain in prison above seven weeks, the quarter-sessions were to be kept in Bedford, for the county thereof, unto which I was to be brought; and when my jailor had set me before those justices, there was a bill of indictment preferred against me. The extent thereof was as followeth: That John Bunyan, of the town of Bedford, labourer, being a person of such and such conditions, he hath (since such a time) devilishly and perniciously abstained from coming to church to hear Divine service,
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

The Substance of Some Discourse had Between the Clerk of the Peace and Myself; when He came to Admonish Me, According to the Tenor of that Law, by which I was in Prison.
When I had lain in prison other twelve weeks, and now not knowing what they intended to do with me, upon the third of April 1661, comes Mr Cobb unto me (as he told me), being sent by the justices to admonish me; and demand of me submittance to the church of England, etc. The extent of our discourse was as followeth. Cobb. When he was come into the house he sent for me out of my chamber; who, when I was come unto him, he said, Neighbour Bunyan, how do you do? Bun. I thank you, Sir, said I, very
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

Things to be Meditated on as Thou Goest to the Church.
1. That thou art going to the court of the Lord, and to speak with the great God by prayer; and to hear his majesty speak unto thee by his word; and to receive his blessing on thy soul, and thy honest labour, in the six days past. 2. Say with thyself by the way--"As the hart brayeth for the rivers of water, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, even for the living God: When shall I come and appear before the presence of God? For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Miracle of Tongues.
"If any man speak in an (unknown) tongue, . . . let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him speak to himself, and to God."-- 1 Cor. xiv. 27, 28. The third sign following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit consisted in extraordinary sounds that proceeded from the lips of the apostles--sounds foreign to the Aramaic tongue, never before heard from their lips. These sounds affected the multitude in different ways: some called them babblings of inebriated men; others heard in them the great
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Second Wall.
The second wall is even more tottering and weak: that they alone pretend to be considered masters of the Scriptures; although they learn nothing of them all their life, they assume authority, and juggle before us with impudent words, saying that the Pope cannot err in matters of faith, whether he be evil or good; albeit they cannot prove it by a single letter. That is why the canon law contains so many heretical and unchristian, nay, unnatural laws; but of these we need not speak now. For whereas
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

Luther's First Preface.
To the "Geystliche Gsangbuechlin, Erstlich zu Wittenberg, und volgend durch Peter schoeffern getruckt, im jar m. d. xxv. Autore Ioanne Walthero." That it is good, and pleasing to God, for us to sing spiritual songs is, I think, a truth whereof no Christian can be ignorant; since not only the example of the prophets and kings of the Old Testament (who praised God with singing and music, poesy and all kind of stringed instruments) but also the like practice of all Christendom from the beginning,
Leonard Woolsey Bacon—The Hymns of Martin Luther

Women are not Permitted to Speak at the Time of the Divine Liturgy...
Women are not permitted to speak at the time of the Divine Liturgy; but, according to the word of Paul the Apostle, "let them be silent. For it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law also saith. But if they wish to learn anything let them ask their own husbands at home." Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon LXX. Women are not permitted to speak in church. "Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak," is the passage referred
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils

Eighteenth Day for Peace
WHAT TO PRAY.--For Peace "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplication be made for kings and all that are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour."--1 TIM. ii"He maketh wars to cease to the end of the earth."--PS. xlvi. 9. What a terrible sight!--the military armaments in which the nations find their pride. What a terrible thought!--the evil passions that may at any moment bring
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Rules to be Observed in Singing of Psalms.
1. Beware of singing divine psalms for an ordinary recreation, as do men of impure spirits, who sing holy psalms intermingled with profane ballads: They are God's word: take them not in thy mouth in vain. 2. Remember to sing David's psalms with David's spirit (Matt. xxii. 43.) 3. Practise St. Paul's rule--"I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the understanding also." (1 Cor. xiv. 15.) 4. As you sing uncover your heads (1 Cor. xi. 4), and behave yourselves in comely reverence as in the
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Of Deeper Matters, and God's Hidden Judgments which are not to be Inquired Into
"My Son, beware thou dispute not of high matters and of the hidden judgments of God; why this man is thus left, and that man is taken into so great favour; why also this man is so greatly afflicted, and that so highly exalted. These things pass all man's power of judging, neither may any reasoning or disputation have power to search out the divine judgments. When therefore the enemy suggesteth these things to thee, or when any curious people ask such questions, answer with that word of the Prophet,
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

From his Entrance on the Ministry in 1815, to his Commission to Reside in Germany in 1820
1815.--After the long season of depression through which John Yeardley passed, as described in the last chapter, the new year of 1815 dawned with brightness upon his mind. He now at length saw his spiritual bonds loosed; and the extracts which follow describe his first offerings in the ministry in a simple and affecting manner. 1 mo. 5.--The subject of the prophet's going down to the potter's house opened so clearly on my mind in meeting this morning that I thought I could almost have publicly
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel

The Preacher as a Christian.
In the last lecture I spoke of St. Paul as a Man, showing how remarkable were his endowments and acquirements, and how these told in his apostolic career. But it was not through these that he was what he was. Great as were the gifts bestowed on him by nature and cultivated by education, they were utterly inadequate to produce a character and a career like his. It was what Christianity added to these that made him St. Paul. It is right enough that we should now recognise the importance of his natural
James Stalker—The Preacher and His Models

Fifteenth Day. The Holy Spirit.
But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believed on Him were to receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet: because Jesus was not yet glorified.'--John vii. 39. 'The Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things.'--John xiv. 26. 'God chose you to salvation in sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.'--2 Thess. ii. 13. (See 1 Pet. i. 2.) It has sometimes been said, that while the Holiness of God stands out more prominently
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be Moral.
1. Because all the reasons of this commandment are moral and perpetual; and God has bound us to the obedience of this commandment with more forcible reasons than to any of the rest--First, because he foresaw that irreligious men would either more carelessly neglect, or more boldly break this commandment than any other; secondly, because that in the practice of this commandment the keeping of all the other consists; which makes God so often complain that all his worship is neglected or overthrown,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Spiritual Gifts.
"But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And a still more excellent way show I unto you." --1 Cor. xii. 31 (R.V.). The charismata or spiritual gifts are the divinely ordained means and powers whereby the King enables His Church to perform its task on the earth. The Church has a calling in the world. It is being violently attacked not only by the powers of this world, but much more by the invisible powers of Satan. No rest is allowed. Denying that Christ has conquered, Satan believes that the time
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Meditations to Stir us up to Morning Prayer.
1. If, when thou art about to pray, Satan shall suggest that thy prayers are too long, and that therefore it were better either to omit prayers, or else to cut them shorter, meditate that prayer is thy spiritual sacrifice, wherewith God is well pleased (Heb. xiii. 15, 16;) and therefore it is so displeasing to the devil, and so irksome to the flesh. Bend therefore thy affections (will they, nill they) to so holy an exercise; assuring thyself, that it doth by so much the more please God, by how much
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

That the Unskilful Venture not to Approach an Office of Authority.
No one presumes to teach an art till he has first, with intent meditation, learnt it. What rashness is it, then, for the unskilful to assume pastoral authority, since the government of souls is the art of arts! For who can be ignorant that the sores of the thoughts of men are more occult than the sores of the bowels? And yet how often do men who have no knowledge whatever of spiritual precepts fearlessly profess themselves physicians of the heart, though those who are ignorant of the effect of
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Holy Spirit Guiding the Believer into a Life as a Son.
The Apostle Paul writes in Rom. viii. 14, R. V., "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." In this passage we see the Holy Spirit taking the conduct of the believer's life. A true Christian life is a personally conducted life, conducted at every turn by a Divine Person. It is the believer's privilege to be absolutely set free from all care and worry and anxiety as to the decisions which we must make at any turn of life. The Holy Spirit undertakes all that responsibility
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

Peace
Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. I Pet 1:1. Having spoken of the first fruit of sanctification, assurance, I proceed to the second, viz., Peace, Peace be multiplied:' What are the several species or kinds of Peace? Peace, in Scripture, is compared to a river which parts itself into two silver streams. Isa 66:12. I. There is an external peace, and that is, (1.) (Economical, or peace in a family. (2.) Political, or peace in the state. Peace is the nurse of plenty. He maketh peace in thy borders,
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Necessity of Regeneration, Argued from the Immutable Constitution of God.
John III. 3. John III. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. WHILE the ministers of Christ are discoursing of such a subject, as I have before me in the course of these Lectures, and particularly in this branch of them which I am now entering upon, we may surely, with the utmost reason, address our hearers in those words of Moses to Israel, in the conclusion of his dying discourse: Set your hearts unto all
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

The Christian Prayer
Scripture references: Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-13; John 17; Matthew 26:41; Mark 11:24,25; Luke 6:12,28; 9:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:17,25; 1 Corinthians 14:13,15; Psalm 19:14; 50:15, Matthew 7:7; 1 Timothy 2:1; Ephesians 3:20,21; John 16:23; 14:14; James 5:16. THE PROVINCE OF PRAYER Definition.--Prayer is the communion of man with God. It is not first of all the means of getting something from God, but the realization of Him in the soul. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

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