哥林多前書讀經筆記 14(1)

十四章1-19

14:1 你們要追求愛，更要切慕屬靈的恩賜，尤其要切慕申言。
14:2 那說方言的，原不是對人說，乃是對神說，因為沒有人聽出來，然而他在靈裡卻是講說各樣的奧祕。
14:3 但那申言的，是對人講說建造、勉勵和安慰。
14:4 那說方言的，是建造自己，但那申言的，乃是建造召會。
14:5 我願意你們都說方言，但我更願意你們申言；說方言的，若不繙出來，使召會得建造，那申言的，就比他強了。
14:6 弟兄們，我到你們那裡去，若只說方言，與你們有甚麼益處？除非我用啟示，或知識，或豫言，或教訓，對你們講說。
14:7 就是那無生命而發聲之物，或簫、或琴，若發出來的聲調沒有分別，怎能知道所吹所彈的是甚麼？
14:8 若吹無定的號聲，誰能豫備打仗？
14:9 你們也是如此，若不用舌頭說容易明白的話，人怎能知道你所說的是甚麼？這樣，你們就是向空氣說話了。
14:10 世上的口音，種類或者甚多，卻沒有一樣是無音義的。
14:11 這樣，我若不明白那口音的意思，我對那說話的便是化外之人，那說話的對我也是化外之人。
14:12 你們也是如此，既渴慕靈，就要為著召會的建造，尋求得以超越。
14:13 所以那說方言的，就當禱告，使他能繙出來。
14:14 因為我若用方言禱告，我的靈就禱告，我的心思卻沒有作用。
14:15 這卻怎麼樣？我要用靈禱告，也要用心思禱告；我要用靈歌唱，也要用心思歌唱。
14:16 不然，你若用靈祝福，在場那不通方言的人，既然不曉得你所說的，怎能在你感謝的時候說阿們？
14:17 你固然感謝得好，無奈別人得不著建造。
14:18 我感謝神，我說方言比你們眾人還多，
14:19 但在召會中，我寧願用我的心思說五句話，可以教導人，強如用方言說萬句話。

1.申言，也就是先知講道，不同譯本有不同的翻譯，不過我查了絕大部分的英文聖經譯本，這個字都是"prophesy"，包括恢復本英文版。
2.方言的定位就很清楚了：一是純粹的靈裡恩賜，二是建造自己，三是內容為各式各樣的奧秘，四是需要翻出來才能讓別人/教會得造就。
3.保羅自己有講方言，而且從哥林多前書的文意來判斷，當時的哥林多基督徒會講方言是相當普遍的恩賜。
4.但保羅對方言的看法很明確：不在於講或不講，或是講多講少，乃在於講說方言之後所帶出來的結果。如果有翻出來就使教會得建造，但如果不翻出來，"我對那說話的便是化外之人，那說話的對我也是化外之人"。
5.關於這"化外之人"，KJV、恢復本的用字是"barbarian"，RSV是"foreigner"，其他英文譯本大概也都是用這兩個英文單字。
6.靈裡禱告，心思也要禱告；靈裡唱歌，心思也要唱歌。
7.所以，從語言的溝通性質來說，在聚會中，用大家聽得懂的語言講話，勝過方言說萬句。
8.附上RSV版本英文經節，讀起來應更可抓到這段經節的感覺：

14:1 Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
14:3 On the other hand, he who prophesies speaks to men for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
14:5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless some one interprets, so that the church may be edified.
14:6 Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how shall I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
14:7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will any one know what is played?
14:8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
14:9 So with yourselves; if you in a tongue utter speech that is not intelligible, how will any one know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
14:10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning;
14:11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
14:12 So with yourselves; since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
14:13 Therefore, he who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
14:16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how can any one in the position of an outsider say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
14:17 For you may give thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all;
14:19 nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.