1 Corinthians 14:15-17 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

What is it then? What is my duty in these circumstances? What must I do when the Spirit moves me to pray in the church in an unknown tongue? Why this: I will pray with the Spirit Under his influence, uttering the words which he suggests; and I will pray with the understanding also So that my meaning, being interpreted into the common language, may be understood by others, 1 Corinthians 14:19. I will sing with the inspiration of the Spirit And with my meaning interpreted also. I will use my understanding as well as the power of the Spirit. I will not act so foolishly as to utter in a congregation what can edify none but myself, and leave it uninterpreted. Else, when thou shalt bless God with the inspiration of the Spirit in an unknown language, how shall he that occupieth the room That filleth the place; of the unlearned That is, any private hearer; say amen at thy giving of thanks Assent to and confirm thy words, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest Can form no idea of thy meaning. The word ιδιωτης, here rendered unlearned, is used by Josephus, ( Antiq., 3. c. 9,) to denote a private person, as distinguished from the priests. In like manner it here denotes those of the assembly who had not the gift of languages, and who were not teachers, but hearers only. The apostle's question, How shall he say Amen? implies that it was the custom in the Christian church from the beginning, for all the people, in imitation of the ancient worship, to signify their assent to the public prayers by saying amen, at the conclusion of them. Of this custom in the Jewish Church we have many examples. See Deuteronomy 27:15, &c.; Nehemiah 8:6; Esd. 9:47. For thou verily givest thanks well We will grant that there is nothing improper either in thy sentiments or expressions, if they were understood. But the other is not edified In order to which it is absolutely necessary that he should understand what is spoken.