Verse 5. I would that ye all spake with tongues. "It is an important endowment, and is not, in its place, to be undervalued. It may be of great service in the cause of truth, and if properly regulated, and not abused, I would rejoice if these extraordinary endowments were conferred on all. I have no envy against any who possess it; no opposition to the endowment; but I wish that it should not be overvalued; and would wish to exalt into proper estimation the more useful but humble gift of speaking for the edification of the church."

Greater is he that prophesieth. This gift is of more value, and he really occupies a more elevated rank in the church. He is more useful. The idea here is, that talents are not to be estimated by their brilliancy, but by their usefulness. The power of speaking in an unknown tongue was certainly a more striking endowment than that of speaking so as simply to be useful; and yet the apostle tells us that the latter is the more valuable. So it is always. A man who is useful, however humble and unknown he may be, really occupies a more elevated and venerable rank than the man of most splendid talents and dazzling eloquence, who accomplishes nothing in saving: the souls of men.

Except he interpret. However important and valuable the truth might be which he uttered, it would he useless to the church, unless he should explain it in language which they could understand. In that case, fire apostle does not deny that the power of speaking foreign languages was a higher endowment and more valuable than the gift of prophecy. That the man who spoke foreign languages had: the power of interpreting, is evident from this verse. From 1 Co 14:27, it appears that the office of interpreting was sometimes performed by others.

{+} "tongues" "Different languages" {a} "edifying" 1 Co 14:26