1 Corinthians 14 16

1 Corinthians 14:16 kjv

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

1 Corinthians 14:16 nkjv

Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

1 Corinthians 14:16 niv

Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?

1 Corinthians 14:16 esv

Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?

1 Corinthians 14:16 nlt

For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don't understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don't understand what you are saying?

1 Corinthians 14 verses

1 Corinthians 14 16 Meaning

First Corinthians 14:16 underscores the necessity of intelligibility in public worship. It addresses the situation where an individual blesses God or gives thanks in an uninterpreted spiritual language (tongues). In such a scenario, Paul argues, an unlearned person or an inquirer present in the assembly cannot meaningfully affirm the prayer or blessing by saying "Amen" because they do not comprehend what is being said. This highlights Paul’s core principle that all public expressions of spiritual gifts must contribute to the edification and understanding of the entire congregation, including new believers and those unfamiliar with Christian practices.

1 Corinthians 14 16 Context

The broader context of 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 concerns the use and abuse of spiritual gifts within the Corinthian church. Paul addresses issues of disunity, competition, and disorder, particularly regarding prophecy and speaking in tongues. Chapter 12 emphasizes the diversity and unity of gifts, functioning as one body. Chapter 13 highlights love as the preeminent quality without which gifts are meaningless. Chapter 14 directly contrasts prophecy (speaking for edification) with tongues (speaking to God) and regulates the public use of tongues, asserting that it must be accompanied by interpretation for the edification of the congregation. Verse 16 specifically addresses the communal act of blessing or giving thanks, reinforcing Paul's argument that public worship should be comprehensible to all present, including those who are not fluent in spiritual languages or who are new to the faith. The Corinthian assembly, marked by enthusiastic spiritual expressions, needed clear guidance on how to conduct their gatherings in an orderly and edifying manner, avoiding chaos and ensuring the participation and understanding of every member.

1 Corinthians 14 16 Word analysis

• Else (Ἐπεὶ - Epei): This conjunction introduces a logical consequence or a strong rhetorical question, indicating the unavoidable negative outcome if the preceding counsel (regarding interpretation) is ignored. It functions as "otherwise," or "if not."
• when thou shalt bless with the spirit (εὐλογῇς ἐν πνεύματι - eulogēs en pneumati):
  • "Bless" (εὐλογῇς - eulogēs): To speak well of, praise, laud, often directed towards God in acts of thanksgiving or worship. This can encompass prayer, praise, or blessing in a general sense.
  • "with the spirit" (ἐν πνεύματι - en pneumati): Refers to praying or speaking through the supernatural gift of tongues, where the speech is Spirit-inspired but not understood by the speaker's own mind, nor by listeners unless interpreted. It differentiates from speaking with one's understanding (νῷ - noi), as mentioned in verse 15.
• how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned (ὁ ἀναπληρῶν τὸν τόπον τοῦ ἰδιώτου - ho anaplērōn ton topon tou idiōtou):
  • "he that occupieth the room" (ὁ ἀναπληρῶν τὸν τόπον - ho anaplērōn ton topon): Literally, "the one filling the place," implying someone who is present in the assembly in the position of a bystander or observer. It suggests their role or station within the worship context.
  • "the unlearned" (τοῦ ἰδιώτου - tou idiōtou): The Greek idiotēs (whence English "idiot," but with a vastly different meaning here) referred to a "private person" as opposed to one in public office, an "unskilled person," a "layman" as opposed to a professional or expert, or an "uneducated" or "ignorant" person in a specific field. In this context, it designates someone unfamiliar with the language of tongues, perhaps an uninitiated convert, an inquirer, or a new believer who lacks understanding of the spiritual utterances. They are not intellectually deficient but are unlearned in the context of this specific spiritual manifestation.
• say Amen (ἐρεῖ τὸ Ἀμήν - erei to Amēn):
  • "Say" (ἐρεῖ - erei): To utter, speak.
  • "Amen" (τὸ Ἀμήν - to Amēn): A Hebrew word (אָמֵן) adopted directly into Greek and many languages. It means "so be it," "truth," "surely," or "truly." In Jewish and early Christian communal worship, saying "Amen" was a critical act of affirmation, agreement, and participation by the congregation after prayers, blessings, or declarations. It signified corporate assent and shared conviction. Without understanding, this affirmation is rendered hollow or impossible.
• at thy giving of thanks (τῇ σῇ εὐχαριστίᾳ - tē sē eucharistia):
  • "Giving of thanks" (εὐχαριστίᾳ - eucharistia): This word is the root for "Eucharist." It refers to an act of thanksgiving or a prayer of thanks, likely a public and formal expression within the worship assembly, possibly even in connection with the communal meal or Lord's Supper, where congregational participation and agreement were paramount.
• seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest (ἐπειδὴ οὐκ οἶδεν τί λέγεις - epeidē ouk oiden ti legeis):
  • "seeing" (ἐπειδὴ - epeidē): Since, because, given that. It presents the causal reason.
  • "he understandeth not" (οὐκ οἶδεν - ouk oiden): He does not know, is not aware, does not comprehend. This is the crucial barrier: the inability to grasp the meaning of the utterance.
  • "what thou sayest" (τί λέγεις - ti legeis): What you are speaking or declaring.

1 Corinthians 14 16 Bonus section

The phrase "giving of thanks" (eucharistia) specifically connects this instruction to acts of communal blessing, which were foundational to early Christian worship. Some scholars suggest a specific reference to the thanksgiving prayers over the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper, an occasion where the communal "Amen" would be absolutely essential for signifying the congregation's participation and acceptance of the blessing. If this prayer were unintelligible, it would fundamentally undermine one of the most sacred acts of Christian corporate worship. This verse also implicitly affirms the deep rootedness of the "Amen" in the worship practices inherited from Jewish tradition, underscoring its role as more than just a word, but a solemn act of communal witness and agreement with divine truth or blessings.

1 Corinthians 14 16 Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:16 powerfully illustrates Paul's guiding principle for public worship: everything done in the assembly must aim for communal edification, intelligibility, and order. When someone offers a blessing or thanksgiving in an uninterpreted tongue, it might be personally meaningful to the speaker and spirit-led, but it completely bypasses the understanding of those who do not comprehend the language. For "the unlearned" or inquirer present, unable to grasp the content, the communal "Amen" becomes an impossibility. This prevents active participation and hinders the spiritual growth of those who cannot discern what they are affirming. Paul is not disparaging the gift of tongues, but asserting its proper application in corporate settings; individual spiritual expression should not undermine collective comprehension and participation, especially if it hinders new believers or non-believers from understanding and responding to the truth. Worship, Paul insists, is not a private demonstration but a communal act that builds up the entire body of Christ.