Paul
the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “there
are so many kinds of voices in the
world, and none of them is
without signification”,
and in chapter fourteen and verse eleven
of First Corinthians, Paul wrote , “if I
know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaks as
a barbarian”, where
we read:
Therefore
if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that
speaks a barbarian,
The
verse begins, “Therefore
if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that
speaks a barbarian, ...”. Paul
began with the word, “therefore” or
“then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “if
I know not”
or “if Paul did not perceive, notice, discern, pay attention to and
observe” “the meaning”
which refers to “the strength, power and ability” “of
the voice”
or “of the sound or tone of uttered language or words”, “I
shall be unto him”
or “Paul would come to pass and follow to be to the person” “that
speaks”
which means “who utters a voice or emits a sound to articulate
sounds, use the tongue or the faculty of speech” “a
barbarian” or
“as one whose speech is rude, rough and harsh and who speaks a
foreign or strange language with is not understood by another”.
Paul concluded that he would be like “one whose speech is rude and
rough” if he couldn't understand the “language” of the person
speaking.
The
verse goes on to say, “... and
he that speaks shall be
a barbarian unto me.” Paul
continued with the words, “and he
that speaks” which
means “the person who utters, articulates sounds and and words to
declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts” “shall
be a barbarian”
or “will be as one whose speech is rude, rough and harsh and who
speaks a foreign or strange language with is not understood by
another” “unto me”
which means “toward Paul”. The person who would “speak”
to Paul would be like “one whose speech is rude and rough” toward
Paul as well.
When
we think through these words from Paul, we see how he emphasizes
“understanding” to be a key component to an “unknown tongue”
or “language”. Without understanding, each person, both the
speaker and the hearer, and as foreigners to one another. Jesus
Christ desires unity and edification within His church, and if a
person speaks in an “unknown tongue”, the church is not
“built up” without understanding it. As we continue to learn
about this “spiritual gift” of tongues, let us keep in
mind the purposes of Jesus for His church, and realize the importance
of “understanding” lest we be as “barbarians” with one
another.
Next
time Paul recognizes the church members are, “zealous
of spiritual gifts...to the edifying of the church”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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