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 14:5
In fact, I wish all of you [during the pre-canon period] to speak in tongues [in foreign languages] were it possible, but preferably that you all [during the pre-canon period] may have the gift of prophesy, indeed, greater [is] the one who is prophesying than the one who is speaking in tongues [in foreign languages] with the possible exception if he interprets [the language of the tongue] in order that the church may receive edification.
5a] θέλω δὲ πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις " In fact, I wish all of you [during this pre-canon period] to speak in tongues [in foreign languages] were it possible.
We begin with the emphatic use of the postpositive conjunction DE [1161] IN FACT.
Next is the present active indicative 1st person singular of THELO [2309] which means TO WILL, TO WISH, TO DESIRE, TO PREFER.
The present tense is a perfective present indicating what has begun in the past continues as a present reality. Since Paul's conversion, he has had a constant desire to see those of his race saved, in fact, it is a present desire as he writes the Corinthians. The active voice means that Paul decided at the beginning of his ministry that in every city he would go to the Jew first with the message of the gospel. The Indicative mood indicates this is a real desire and purpose, not just wishful thinking, IN FACT, I WISH.
Then we have the accusative plural of the adjective PAS [3965] ALL modifying the accusative plural 2nd person personal pronoun SU[ 5209] meaning YOU. This desire of Paul is directed toward the entire church, ALL OF YOU.
Next is the present active infinitive of LALEO [2980] TO TALK, TO SPEAK. The complimentary use of the infinitive helps to complete the thought of the verbal idea. The content of the wish is now given, TO SPEAK IN TONGUES. The instrumental plural of manner from the noun GLOSSA [1100], IN TONGUES [IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES]. IN FACT, I WISH ALL OF YOU TO SPEAK IN TONGUES [IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES] WERE IT POSSIBLE.
Remember this gift's purpose was to be a sign to the Jew of the coming destruction of the nation. He knew the time of the 5th cycle was drawing near. It was 15 years away when he wrote 1 Corinthians. The nation would be destroyed in 70 A.D., and the Jews would be scattered throughout the Roman Empire. This weighed heavily on the heart of the Apostle. Yes, he wished with all his heart that everyone had the gift because it was an extraordinary and powerful sign to them and met their greatest need which was the gospel. Paul's wish was not possible. He was not in charge of the dispensing of spiritual gifts, that was up to the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11), but were it possible he would give every believer the gift of tongues.
5b] μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε "but preferably that you all [during the pre-canon period] may have the gift of prophecy."
MELLON DE is an idiom for preference, as in verse 1, BUT PREFERABLY.
We also have HINA which introduces the content of the desire, THAT.
Next is the present active subjunctive 2nd person plural of the verb PROPHETEUO [4395] which means TO PROPHESY, but here it comes to means YOU ALL MAY HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHESY.
Present tense is the progressive present used to indicate the present of past action still in progress. In the past, the church had great teachers, and he hoped that would continue. The potential mood is used here to express Paul's doubt. Maybe they will, maybe they won't, it depends on other factors.
The 2nd person plural of the verbal idea addresses the entire church. The church must have teachers if the people are to grow spiritually, but will they eagerly desire teachers [subjunctive mood]?
We must note that Paul's preference for Corinth, and also for all the churches, is that they are characterized by the teaching of the Word of God. Now we know the rest of the story for in the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul does not mention speaking in tongues at all. It ceased to be a problem.
5c] μείζων δὲ ὁ προφητεύων ἢ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις "indeed, greater [is] the one who is prophesying than the one who is speaking in tongues [in foreign languages]."
We start the clause with the emphatic use of the postpositive conjunction DE [1161] introduces the comparison, INDEED.
From a preference, we now move to a comparison with the use of the comparative adjective. A comparison between the gift of prophecy and the gift of tongues is now made. The nominative plural comparative use of MEGAS [3787] GREAT becomes meaning GREATER.
Again, Paul repeats the substantival use of the present participle as in verse 3, THE ONE WHO IS PROPHESYING.
Then we have the comparative use of the conjunction Eh [2228] meaning THAN.
Another participial phrase following the same pattern as in verses three and four. When the participle has an article but is not modifying a noun the construction is called substantival. In fact, it is the subject of the sentence we know this for both article and participle are in the same case, the nominative singular masculine and the subject is placed in the nominative. In this type of format, the article acts as a relative pronoun, and we translate it THE ONE WHO. Next is the present active participle nominative singular of LALEO [2980] meaning THE ONE WHO IS COMMUNICATING.
Next is the instrumental of manner from the noun GLOSSA [1100], IN TONGUES [IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES]. The example is a believer communicating to the congregation through the spiritual gift of tongues.
5d] ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ "with the possible exception if he interprets [the language of the tongue]."
Now we have an exception clause made up of the adverb EKTOS [1622] plus EI [1487] and the negative adverb ME [3361]meaning WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION.
Then we have the present active subjunctive 3rd person singular of the verb DIERMENEUO [1329] TO INTERPRET, TO TRANSLATE FROM ONE LANGUAGE TO ANOTHER. This is a reference to the gift of interpreting tongues, see 1 Corinthians 12:10,30.
The present tense is a stative present indicating the persistence of a condition. If someone speaks in tongues during worship service, someone must translate that language into the vernacular of the congregation. The active voice indicates "the one speaking with tongues" must find someone with the gift of interpreting tongues. The subjunctive mood indicates this is possible, but Paul is uncertain that this would occur IF HE INTERPRETS.
The reason for this directive is now given.
5e] ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ "in order that the church may receive edification."
We start with the adverbial use of the conjunction HIMA [2443] meaning IN ORDER THAT. This is followed by the subject of the purpose clause the articular nominative singular of EKKLESIA [1577], THE CHURCH.
This is followed by the aorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular of LAMBANO [2983] TO TAKE, TO RECEIVE. Robinson thinks this is an ingressive aorist which stresses the beginning of an action or the entrance into a state, MAY RECEIVE. The subjunctive mood indicates that uncertainty in the mind of the Apostle. The object of the verb is the accusative singular of the noun OIKODOME, meaning edification, IN ORDER THAT THE CHURCH MAY RECEIVE EDIFICATION.
The true purpose for us to worship together is so that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ might growingly become more like our Lord.