By Pastor Dave Farmer
Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to the Strong's numbering system whereby Greek words are assigned a number "Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship." Those who study the Scripture from the original languages are familiar with this lexicon.
1 Corinthians 14:2
For you see the one communicating in a tongue [in a foreign language] does not communicate to the advantage of the people in the congregation but to God; for no one, not one person in the congregation understands the sound, even though he is communicating by means of the Holy Spirit mysteries [the doctrines of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ].
14:2a] ὁ γὰρ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ ἀλλὰ θεῷ "For you see the one communicating in a tongue [in a foreign language] does not communicate to the advantage of the people in the congregation but to God;"
The verse begins with the explanatory use of the postpositive conjunction GAR. It means FOR YOU SEE. It introduces an example or an illustration and is similar to our saying "for example or for instance." This is followed by the present active subject nominative participle of LALEO [2980] which means TO SAY, TO SPEAK, TO COMMUNICATE. The present tense is a descriptive present illustrating what is now occurring and why he prefers prophesy over tongues, THE ONE COMMUNICATING. Next is the instrumental of manner from the noun GLOSSA [1100], IN A TONGUE [IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE]. The example is a believer communicating to the congregation through the spiritual gift of tongues.
The verb is repeated so again we have the present active indicative 3rd person singular of the verb LALEO [2980]. The descriptive present indicates what is now occurring. The believer produces the action of the verb by speaking in tongues. The indicative mood is a statement of fact. Then the negative OUK [3756] plus the dative plural of disadvantage from the generic noun ANTHROPOS meaning people in general. The dative of advantage plus the negative changes the advantage into a disadvantage. The people are disadvantaged because the language of the Tongue is foreign to them "NOT OF THE PEOPLE."
Because we are talking about worship in the church and because it is directed toward the congregation, the translation should state it so, PEOPLE IN THE CONGREGATION. The entire sentence is, FOR YOU SEE, THE ONE COMMUNICATING IN A TONGUE [IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE] DOES NOT COMMUNICATE TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CONGREGATION. Whenever a believer speaks in a tongue, during public worship, that communication fails to bless the people of the congregation.
The final thought starts with the adversative use of the conjunction ALLA introducing a contrast meaning BUT and this is followed by the dative of interest of THEOS [2316] which refers to our Heavenly Father. The people in the congregation do not understand the sound, but God does. Paul sarcasm here is humorous; that is if you are not at Corinth receiving this letter. He says, "God is the only one who could understand what was being said. He will say later, with wit and humor, "tongues is like speaking into the air." The gift of tongues was never to be exercised for the benefit of believers. It was an evangelistic gift directed toward those who knew not Christ, specifically Jews and also Gentile proselytes.
14:2b] οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει "for no one, not one person in the congregation understands the sound"
Again, the explanatory use of the postpositive conjunction GAR and then the negative OUDEIS [3762] a very strong negative which becomes, FOR NO ONE, NOT ONE PERSON. Then the present active indicative 3rd person singular of AKOUO [191] which means to hear, to get the sense, to understand. We are translating it UNDERSTANDS THE SOUND.1
The descriptive present looks at the action as it is occurring right now. It indicates a matter of urgent concern. Whenever a believer speaks with the gift of tongues, as they are worshiping the Lord, the results will be the same. The congregation does not understand the words. In the active voice, the members of the congregation produce the action of the verb; they do not speak or think in the language of the tongue, it is foreign to them. The indicative mood is a statement of fact. This is a real problem, and it has to be nipped in the bud, FOR NO ONE, NOT ONE PERSON IN THE CONGREGATION UNDERSTANDS THE SOUNDS.
[14:2c] πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια· "even though he is communicating by means of the Holy Spirit mysteries [the doctrines of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ]."
The last phrase is variously interpreted. It reads in the NASB, "but he speaks in his spirit mysteries." I am not in agreement with this translation as will be noted. Another point, the translator places the possessive pronoun in italics his which means the word has been added. The possessive pronoun is not there, and a footnote appears giving an alternative translation "by the Spirit" which is the correct one. This indicates the problem of understanding how Paul is using the word PNEUMA [4151] which means spirit. If he is talking about the human spirit then "in his spirit" would be appropriate. However, if he is talking about the Holy Spirit, then "by the Spirit" would be correct. I view this as a reference to the Holy Spirit and therefore will translate this last phrase "even though he communicates by means of the [Holy] Spirit mysteries."
We begin with the ascensive use of the postpositive conjunction DE which means even though. It is used to express an addition or final thought.
Then the present active indicative 3rd person singular of LALEO [2980] which means to say, to speak, to communicate, EVEN THOUGH HE IS COMMUNICATING. Paul continues to employ the descriptive present painting a picture of what is taking place at Corinth as he is writing.
Then the instrumental singular of means of PNEUMA [4151] which is a reference to the Holy Spirit, BY MEANS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. It is the Holy Spirit who makes this spiritual gift operate for the glory of God. The final word in our exposition is the accusative plural direct object of MUSTERION [3466] which means mysteries, EVEN THOUGH HE IS COMMUNICATING BY MEANS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MYSTERIES [DOCTRINES OF THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST].
This mystery is something not obvious to the understanding. This truth requires divine revelation. It specifically refers to the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. Without hearing from God, His death would be just another death on a cross, like thousands before Him. He would be another person Rome crucified. It is not until we receive the New Testament revelation do we understand the meaning of the cross. Since the gift of tongues was given for the proclamation of the Gospel, the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross in His death, burial, and resurrection would be the subject of the tongue. 2
ENDNOTES
1 The verb ἀκουω is used either of hearing the sound only or getting the idea (cf. Acts 9:7; 22:9) [Robinson].
2 This word MUSTERION is a special word introduced by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 13:11 and adopted by the Apostle Paul to represent Church Age truth in such passages as Ephesians 3:1-6; Romans 16:25,26; Colossians 1:26,27; 1 Corinthians 4:1.
One of the categories in the doctrine of the mystery is the gospel. Not a new doctrine but now having new content, expressed simply as "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." The content of that gospel during the Church Age emphasizes the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. In the Old Testament, the gospel emphasized the future work of Christ. He was the coming seed as in Genesis 3:15. He was the future king of Israel as predicted in the prophecies of Genesis 49:10 and 2 Samuel 7:13-15, and others. He was to be a suffering Messiah who would become our sin offering and our substitute as in Isaiah 53; Psalm 22. Various prophetic pictures are painted in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah, but it was not until He appeared and declared Himself to be the Son of God that the progressive revelation of the Old Testament gives way to the final and complete picture of Him found in the New Testament. We are no longer looking forward to the coming Redeemer who will save us, but rather we look back on His finished work for us on the cross. Today's gospel message can be summed up as "Faith alone in Christ alone."
We are now to trust the One who fulfilled the Plan of God, John 1:14-18. The One who bore our sins on the cross, dying for our sins, and taking our place on that cross, 1 Peter 2:24. The message is not, He is a Savior, but that He is our personal Savior and that message is for anyone who will believe.
Also, remember that the true purpose of the gift of tongues was the presentation of the gospel to unbelieving Jews. This incredible gift was ministered by the Holy Spirit giving the believer special language skills for the purpose of sharing a magnificent message about the arrival of their Messiah in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a vocabulary study from the Doctrine of Mystery, point 1.
I. Vocabulary
A. The Noun
The main Greek word in the Doctrine of Mystery is the noun MUSTERION (μυστηριον) in the English it is translated "mystery." It is found 27 times in the New Testament. Jesus used it once, but it is found in all the synoptic Gospels. John used it four times in the Book of Revelation. The remaining number of uses, 20 times, appears in the writings of Paul who uses this word in a specialized sense and his texts will form the basic teaching on the Doctrine of the Mystery.
Paul borrowed this word from the mystery-religions of his day. These groups were bound together by the hidden practices and rituals much like modern secret societies today. The Mason's are a group that illustrates how this word was used. They are a secret fraternity with hidden rituals and practices known only to the members. They swear an oath not to reveal their rules and regulations to anyone.
MUSTES is someone who has been initiated in the secret knowledge of the group. Thayer [p. 470] quoting Menander says, "confide only to the initiated [mustes] and not to be communicated by them to ordinary mortals." 2 This statement indicates the difference between how Paul uses the word and the way these religious societies operated. Their knowledge was to be kept from "ordinary mortals" whereas Christian truth is a secret which God wills to make known and has charged His apostles to reveal that truth to all.
Other definitions that are noteworthy 1:
“a hidden purpose or counsel of God which when revealed, is understood by the believer.” Dr. Wuest in Romans 11:24.
The gospel as Paul understood it was a mystery because it could never have been known except through divine revelation.”Dr. Wuest, in Romans 16:25.
“Mystery” is mustērion (μυστηριον), “a secret purpose of God which when uncovered is understood by the Spirit-taught believer.” Dr. Wuest in Ephesus 3:2.
The word “mystery” is mustērion (μυστηριον), the n.t., meaning of which is, “truth which was kept hidden from the world until revealed at the appointed time, and which is a secret to ordinary eyes, but is made known by divine revelation” This truth is understood by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. The words, “the faith,” refer to the Christian system of revelation. 1 Tim 3:8, Dr. Marvin Vincent. 2
B. The Verb
Finally, there is a verb MUEO found only in Philippians 4:12
Philippians 4:12
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
The words “I have learned the secret” are from a technical word in the initiatory rites of the pagan mystery religions, literally, “I have been initiated.” The word is used in the New Testament of something which, while it may be obscure or kept hidden in the past, is now revealed.
The secrets are those doctrinal truths you learn when going through seasons of poverty and plenty when you are loved and heated. Paul explains that these are field training exercises and through them, you learn to trust Him. They draw you close not drive you away. They taught him inner contentment, to be at ease on the inside regardless of external circumstances.
ENDNOTES
1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
The common word μυστηριον [mustērion] (mystery) is from μυστης [mustēs] (one initiated) and this from μυεω [mueō], to initiate, to instruct in secrets. Robinson- Word on Philippians 4:12.
Lightfoot says concerning the word “mystery”: “This is not the only term borrowed from the ancient mysteries which Paul employs to describe the teaching of the gospel. There is this difference, however; that, whereas the heathen mysteries were strictly confined to a narrow circle, the Christian mysteries are fully communicated to all. There is therefore an intentional paradox in the employment of the image by Paul. Thus, the idea of secrecy or reserve disappears when mustērion (μυστηριον) (mystery) is adopted into the Christian vocabulary by Paul, and the word signifies simply a truth which was once hidden but now is revealed, a truth which without special revelation would have been unknown.
2 Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
The word is employed in the New Testament twenty-seven times excluding 1 Corinthians 2:1 (where see R.V. margin). Paul used it twenty-one times himself. The “mysteries” comprise practically all the added truth found in the New Testament supplementing that of the Old Testament, apart from its history (Deut. 29:29). Chafer, L. S. (1993). In Systematic Theology (Vol. 7, p. 240). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.