12. Uvsv/xdrco^ of spirits) [of spiritual gifts]. Plural as ver. 32, xii. 10. As there is one sea, and many seas, so there is one spirit, and many spirits ; one trumpet gives many sounds. — vpog 7Y\v oixodofAqv, to edification) that the Church may be as much as possible edified.
1 3. Upoatvyjadu) let him pray ; and he will do this with such fruit and effect, that the interpretation shall be added to the unknown tongue ; see the following verse. It is implied that this will be obtained by prayers.
14. To vviv^a. 6 d's vovg /aov, my spirit — but my understanch- ing) The spirit is a faculty of the soul, when it becomes the passive object of the Holy Spirit’s delightful operations ; but voDc, the understanding , is a faculty of soul, when it goes abroad, and acts with our neighbour i1 as also when it attends to objects placed beyond itself, to other things and persons, although its reasonings may however be concealed, uvoxpvtpog Xoynrfxog (Ammo- nius) ; comp. ver. 20, note. So understanding , ver. 19 ;
the inmost shrine of the understanding, rov voog, Eph. iv. 23 ; comp. Heb. iv. 12 : vovg from vsu, on account of its agitation or movement :2 comp. Alexand. Aphrodit., 1. 2, vspi -\J hjyfig, f. 144, ed. Aid. — axapKog, without fruit) It has fruit, but does not bring it forth. Respecting this word, see Matt. xiii. 22.
15. Upogixj^ofxai, I ivill pray) with the voice ; the first person singular for the second person plural. — <v|/aAw, I will sing) with the voice, or play on an instrument.
16. ’’Em/) if that be done with the spirit only. — ibXoyfayg, thou shalt bless) The most noble kind of prayer. — 6 dmvXripuv rbv rovov toj ididrov, he that filleth the place of the unlearned) This expres- sion is not a mere paraphrase of the word unlearned , but com- prehends all, who, how much soever they may excel in gifts, did not at least understand the tongue, in which the person was speaking, any more than an unlearned man ; and therefore Paul puts him more to shame, whom he here shows to be wrong. It is a common phrase among the Hebrews, he fills the place of his fatlierSyi.e ., he shows himself worthy of his ancestors. — vug tps? r'o d/jbrjVj how shall lie say amen) This was their usual practice even at that time ; not only the unlearned, but all the hearers spoke,
1 i.e. wzvpca. is passive , when said of man : vovg, active. — Ed.
2 Rather from the same root as yvuvai, and noscere. — Ed.