What does 1 Corinthians 14:17 Mean?

Context Summary

The Apostle here gives two practical directions, in order to restore the rule of the understanding above the babble of incoherent sounds, which was confusing the Corinthian church.

The first was that worship should be conducted in a form that the assembled congregation could understand. To utter prayer or thanksgiving to which the audience could give no assent; to utter sounds which were meaningless, was inconsistent with the true nature of Christian worship. It was therefore from this chapter that the Reformers drew their arguments against the practice of conducting the services of the Church in Latin. The second was that instruction was a most necessary part of worship, 1 Corinthians 14:19.

The effect of prophesying, that is, preaching, is set forth very forcibly and beautifully in the closing verses of our reading. We must always have in mind the unbelieving and the unlearned. If he hears the solemn voice of God speaking through human lips to his conscience, stirring its depths, moving it to repentance and faith, he will bear speedy testimony to the truth of what he has heard. We must seek to have in our assemblies the convincing power of God's Word, accompanied by the corroborating witness of the unhindered Spirit. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 14

¹  Prophecy is commended,
²  and preferred before speaking in tongues,
⁶  by a comparison drawn from musical instruments
¹²  Both must be referred to edification,
²²  as to their true and proper end
²⁶  The true use of each is taught,
²⁷  and the abuse rebuked
³⁴  Women in the churches