Speaking into the Air 1 Corinthians 14:9

Paul the apostle asked the church members in Corinth, “if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”, and in chapter fourteen and verse nine of First Corinthians, Paul told the Corinthian church members, “you shall speak into the air”, where we read:

So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood,

how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air.

The verse begins, “So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, ...”. Paul began with the words, “so likewise” or “in the same manner and also” “you” which refers to “the church members”, “except you” which means “unless the church members” “utter” or “give, grant, bestow, supply, furnish and deliver” “by the tongue” which means “through means of the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations” “words” or “speech, saying, decrees or mandates” “easy to be understood” or “well marked, clear, definite and distinct”. Paul challenged the church members concerning the use of “tongues” which were “definite and distinct”.

The verse goes on to say, “... how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air.” Paul continued with the word, “how” which means “in what way” “shall it be known” or “will the tongue or language be perceived, understood and acquainted” “what is spoken” which means “that which is uttered or declared with a voice or emits a sound”? “For” or “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “you shall speak” which means “the church members will utter or declare with a voice or emit a sound” “into the air” or “toward the atmospheric region”. Paul questioned the church members concerning how the “tongue” would be understood if it was not “distinct and definitely” known by the hearers, and their “words” would simply be spoken into the “air” and without value.

When we consider these words from Paul, we see how he compared the “tongue” or “unknown language” to the indistinct “trumpet sound”. There was no value to what was heard by the church members if they did not know what was being said. In other words, the “language” spoken was just “noise”. Jesus Christ gave “spiritual gifts” to the church to “edify” the body of believers, and if a “tongue” spoken is unknown to those people, they cannot be “built up”. As we learn more of the “spiritual gift” of “tongues”, let us be aware of it's reason, and allow the Lord Jesus to help us know how He desires to use this gift in His church.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “so many kinds of voices in the world”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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