1 Corinthians 14:23
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
1 Corinthians 14:23 in other translations
| BSB | So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? |
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| WEB | If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy? |
| ASV | If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad? |
| YLT | If, therefore, the whole assembly may come together, to the same place, and all may speak with tongues, and there may come in unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? |
| DARBY | If therefore the whole assembly come together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and simple persons enter in, or unbelievers, will not they say ye are mad? |
| BBE | If, then, the church has come together, and all are using tongues, and there come in men without knowledge or faith, will they not say that you are unbalanced? |
| Webster | If therefore the whole church is assembled in one place, and all speak in languages, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are insane? |
What does 1 Corinthians 14:23 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
And all speak with tongues. All speak with a variety of unknown tongues; all speak foreign languages. The idea is, that the church would usually speak the same language with the people among whom they dwelt; and if they made use of foreign languages which were unintelligible to their visitors, it would leave the impression that the church was a bedlam.
And there come in those that are unlearned. Those that are unacquainted with foreign languages, and to whom, therefore, what was said would be unintelligible.
Or unbelievers. Heathen, or Jews, who did not believe in Christ. It is evident from this, that such persons often attended on the worship of Christians. Curiosity might have led them to it; or the fact that they had relatives among Christians might have caused it.
That ye are mad? They will not understand what is said; it will be a confused jargon; and they will infer that it is the effect of insanity. Even though it might not, therefore, be in itself improper, yet a regard to the honour of Christianity should have led them to abstain from the use of such languages in their worship when it was needless. The apostles were charged, from a similar cause, with being intoxicated. See Acts 2:13.
(++) "tongues" "In unknown languages" (e) "mad" Acts 2:13
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:15-25
There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of…
1 Corinthians 14:23 in the original Greek
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Cross references for 1 Corinthians 14:23
- Acts 2:13
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
- 1 Corinthians 11:18
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
- John 10:20
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
- Acts 26:24
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
- Hosea 9:7
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 1 Corinthians 14:22
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
- 1 Corinthians 14:23
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
- 1 Corinthians 14:24
But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
1 Corinthians 14:23 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | De manera que, si toda la iglesia se juntare en uno, y todos hablan lenguas, y entran indoctos ó infieles, ¿no dirán que estáis locos? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Si donc l’assemblée tout entière se réunit ensemble, et que tous parlent en langues, et qu’il entre des hommes simples ou des incrédules, ne diront-ils pas que vous êtes fous? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wenn nun die ganze Versammlung an einem Orte zusammenkommt und alle in Sprachen reden, und es kommen Unkundige oder Ungläubige herein, werden sie nicht sagen, daß ihr von Sinnen seid? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Si ergo conveniat universa ecclesia in unum, et omnes linguis loquantur, intrent autem idiotæ, aut infideles: nonne dicent quod insanitis? |