SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:23
De manera que, si toda la Iglesia se juntare en uno, y todos hablan lenguas, y entran indoctos o incrdulos, ¿no dirn que estis locos?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:23
Verse 23. Will they not say that ye are mad?] So they well might, finding a whole assembly of people talking languages which those who had most need of instruction could not understand.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. If therefore the whole church , etc.] The whole congregation of believers incorporated together in a Gospel church state, consisting of its officers and private members; the church at Corinth is particularly designed: be come together in one place ; to worship God, to pray unto him, sing his praise, preach and hear the word, as were usually done. Hence may be observed the custom of the primitive churches to meet together, in some certain place, for divine worship; nor did the members of them in common forsake the assembling of themselves together on that account, though it was the evil practice of some of them; the whole church, all the members of it, met together: and it may be seen from hence, that the church, and the place where it met, are two different things: and all speak with tongues ; divers tongues, languages not understood; meaning, not that all that came together spoke with tongues; but that as many as did speak, should they speak with such, and without an interpreter. And there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers ; either private Christians, who, though they have learned Christ, and understand the doctrines of the Gospel, yet are ignorant of languages; or rather the same persons with unbelievers, Heathens that have no knowledge of Christ, nor faith in him, and who also understood no other language but the Greek: if any such persons should come into the place where the church was met together, and should hear him or them that spoke, speak in a language they understood not, and which they were very well assured was equally unknown to the whole congregation, and so could be of no service to them: will they not say ye are mad ? act like men in a frenzy, that have not the use of their reason; since speaking in a strange language to a congregation that know not one word of what is said, is speaking to the air, and to no profit at all to them that hear; and who but a madman would do this? The apostle here argues from the scandal and contempt that would be poured upon them by such a practice; and the rather he mentions this, because it seems as if their governing view was the glory and applause of men, in which, he suggests, they would be sadly disappointed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-25 - There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A trul Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men' souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is provin 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 righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did wh delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray of preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the grea truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person migh become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderfu power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.
Greek Textus Receptus
εαν 1437 COND ουν 3767 CONJ συνελθη 4905 5632 V-2AAS-3S η 3588 T-NSF εκκλησια 1577 N-NSF ολη 3650 A-NSF επι 1909 PREP το 3588 T-ASN αυτο 846 P-ASN και 2532 CONJ παντες 3956 A-NPM γλωσσαις 1100 N-DPF λαλωσιν 2980 5725 V-PAS-3P εισελθωσιν 1525 5632 V-2AAS-3P δε 1161 CONJ ιδιωται 2399 N-NPM η 2228 PRT απιστοι 571 A-NPM ουκ 3756 PRT-N ερουσιν 2046 5692 V-FAI-3P οτι 3754 CONJ μαινεσθε 3105 5736 V-PNI-2P
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:23 {Will they not say that ye are mad?} (ouk erousin hoti mainesqe?). These unbelievers unacquainted (idiwtai) with Christianity will say that the Christians are raving mad (see on Ac 12:15; 26:24). They will seem like a congregation of lunatics.
