1 Corinthians Chapter 14, Verse 15
From BibleWiki
15: τι ουν εστιν προσευξομαι τω πνευματι προσευξομαι δε και τω νοι ψαλω τω πνευματι ψαλω δε και τω νοι
15: 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.
15: What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also
with the understanding, I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also
with the understanding.
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, 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, etc. I will endeavour 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. I deem it of vast importance to pray with the spirit in such a way that the heart and the affections may be engaged, so that I may myself derive benefit from it; but I will also unite with that, utility to others; I will use such language that they may understand it, and be profited.
And I will pray with the understanding also. So that others may understand me. I will make the appropriate use of the intellect, so that it may convey ideas, and make suitable impressions on the minds of others.
I will sing with the spirit. It is evident that the same thing might take place in singing which occurred in prayer. It might be in a foreign language, and might be unintelligible to others. The affections of the man himself might be excited, and his heart engaged in the duty, but it would be profitless to others. Paul, therefore, says that he would so celebrate the praises of God, as to excite the proper affections in his own mind, and so as to be intelligible and profitable to others.
