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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:8

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound - The trumpet was used commonly in war. It is a well-known wind instrument, and was made of brass, silver, etc. It was used for various purposes in war - to summon the soldiers; to animate them in their march; to call them forth to battle; to sound a retreat; and to signify to them what they were to do in battle, whether to charge, advance, or retreat, etc. It therefore employed a “language” which was intelligible to an army. An uncertain sound was one... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 14:7-9

1 Corinthians 14:7-9. And even Greek, ομως , in like manner, (the word, it seems, being here used for ομοιως , as it sometimes is by the poets, see Beza and Macknight,) things without life Inanimate things; whether pipe or harp Or any other instrument of music; except they give a distinction Greek, διαστολην φθογγοις , a difference to the notes. “Among musicians, the former word signifies the measured distance between sounds, according to certain proportions, from which the melody... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

The gift of tongues (14:1-25)In the light of his teaching on the variety of spiritual gifts and the importance of love, Paul now considers the problem that had arisen in the Corinthian church concerning tongues. The gift is allowable, but prophecy is preferable. This is because those who speak in tongues speak to God, not to their fellow worshippers, and therefore are of spiritual help only to themselves (unless someone interprets for them). Prophets, however, speak to all and so build up the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 14:8

uncertain . Greek. adelos. Only here and Luke 11:44 (appear not). to the battle = for (Greek. eis . App-104 .) war. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:8

For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?The meaning of this is exactly the same as in 1 Corinthians 14:7, the repetition of the thought using another illustration was for emphasis. Uninterpreted tongues were as disastrous as the efforts of a military bugler whose unintelligible blasts could not be distinguished either as a call to charge, a call to retreat, or a call to go to bed! read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:8

8. Translate, "For if also," an additional step in the argument. uncertain sound—having no definite meaning: whereas it ought to be so marked that one succession of notes on the trumpet should summon the soldiers to attack; another, to retreat; another, to some other evolution. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

4. The need for intelligibility 14:1-25"Paul had discussed the gift of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and the graces of the Spirit; and now he concluded this section by explaining the government of the Spirit in the public worship services of the church. Apparently there was a tendency for some of the Corinthians to lose control of themselves as they exercised their gifts, and Paul had to remind them of the fundamental principles that ought to govern the public meetings of the church.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 14:6-12

Supporting analogies 14:6-12Paul illustrated his point that hearers do not benefit at all from what they do not understand. He used musical instruments as examples and clarified more about foreign languages. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 14:7-8

Even the sounds people make using inanimate musical instruments need to be intelligible to profit anyone. This is especially obvious in the case of a call to battle. If the bugler blows a confused tune, the army will not know whether to attack or retreat. The harp and the flute, as well as the bugle, were commonplace in the Greco-Roman world. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

(e) Spiritual Gifts(iii) The Gift of Tongues subordinate to ProphecyThe Apostle in this chapter deals with the abuse of the gift of tongues which characterised the Corinthians, and declares that it is inferior to the gift of prophecy, though valuable enough in itself if kept in proper control. Speaking with tongues is a phenomenon we meet with in the NT. only here and in the Acts of the Apostles. The gift as recorded in Acts 2 seems to have been the power to speak in foreign languages. We are... read more

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