1 Corinthians Chapter 14, Verse 23
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23: εαν ουν συνελθη η εκκλησια ολη επι το αυτο και παντες γλωσσαις λαλωσιν εισελθωσιν δε ιδιωται η απιστοι ουκ ερουσιν οτι μαινεσθε
23: If therefore the whole church be come together into one place,
and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are
unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
23: If therefore the whole church come together into one place, and
all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or infidels,
will they not say that you are mad?
Be come together into one place. For public worship.
And all speak with tongues. All speak with a variety of unknown tongues; all speak foreign languages. The idea is, that the church would usually speak the same language with the people among whom they dwelt; and if they made use of foreign languages which were unintelligible to their visitors, it would leave the impression that the church was a bedlam.
And there come in those that are unlearned. Those that are unacquainted with foreign languages, and to whom, therefore, what was said would be unintelligible.
Or unbelievers. Heathen, or Jews, who did not believe in Christ. It is evident from this, that such persons often attended on the worship of Christians. Curiosity might have led them to it; or the fact that they had relatives among Christians might have caused it.
That ye are mad? They will not understand what is said; it will be a confused jargon; and they will infer that it is the effect of insanity. Even though it might not, therefore, be in itself improper, yet a regard to the honour of Christianity should have led them to abstain from the use of such languages in their worship when it was needless. The apostles were charged, from a similar cause, with being intoxicated. See Acts 2:13.
