1 Corinthians 14:18

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An Exegetical Analysis of 1 Corinthians 14:18: The Scope of Paul’s Glossolalia

This exegetical study of 1 Corinthians 14:18 is based on a b-greek discussion from Tue Sep 23 13:56:05 EDT 2003. The initial inquiry focused on the possible meanings of the adverb μᾶλλον within the verse, particularly questioning whether it implies Paul speaks “more frequently” in tongues than the Corinthians or “more languages” than them.

The main exegetical issue revolves around two primary questions: first, the precise grammatical scope of the comparative adverb μᾶλλον (whether it modifies the verb “to thank” or “to speak in tongues”); and second, the nature of “speaking in tongues” (γλώσσαις λαλῶ) itself, specifically if it refers to a greater quantity (frequency or number of languages) or a higher quality of the spiritual gift, and whether it signifies known human languages or ecstatic utterances. The discussion highlights varying interpretations rooted in grammatical analysis, contextual considerations of 1 Corinthians 12-14, and differing theological presuppositions regarding the phenomenon of glossolalia.

Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ, πάντων ὑμῶν μᾶλλον γλώσσαις λαλῶ·
(Nestle 1904)

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• The SBLGNT capitalizes the noun for God: τῷ Θεῷ, whereas the Nestle 1904 text renders it in lowercase: τῷ θεῷ. Grammatically and semantically, this is an orthographic variation without impact on meaning.

Textual Criticism (NA28), Lexical Notes (KITTEL, BDAG)

The critical edition NA28 largely aligns with the Nestle 1904 text presented above, reading Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ, πάντων ὑμῶν μᾶλλον γλώσσαις λαλῶ· However, the textual tradition presents several noteworthy variants. The possessive pronoun μου (“my”) after τῷ θεῷ (e.g., Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ μου) is attested in the Textus Receptus (TR) and some Byzantine manuscripts (Elzevir 1624), but is omitted in strong early witnesses like א (Sinaiticus), B (Vaticanus), and C (Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus), leading NA28 to omit it as secondary. Regarding γλώσσαις (“in tongues,” dative plural), some minor variants exist for the singular γλώσσῃ, but the plural is overwhelmingly supported and generally adopted by critical editions. The most significant textual variation concerns the final verb: NA28, supported by א, B, C, D, F, G, P, Ψ, and a broad range of minuscules and versional evidence, reads the indicative λαλῶ (“I speak”). In contrast, the TR and the Majority Text support the present participle λαλῶν (“speaking”), while P46 uniquely presents the infinitive λαλεῖν (“to speak”). The indicative λαλῶ is generally favored in critical scholarship due to strong and diverse manuscript support, and the difficulty of explaining how it would have arisen from the other variants, whereas `λαλῶν` or `λαλεῖν` could be scribal attempts to smooth the grammatical flow or clarify the relationship to `εὐχαριστῶ`.

Lexically, the crucial terms are μᾶλλον and γλώσσαις λαλῶ. According to BDAG, μᾶλλον is a comparative adverb meaning “more, to a greater degree” or “rather, instead.” In this context, its comparative sense is clearly indicated by πάντων ὑμῶν (“than all of you”). The debate centers on whether it qualifies Paul’s act of thanking God or his act of speaking in tongues. The phrase γλώσσαις λαλῶ (“I speak in tongues”) employs γλῶσσα, which BDAG defines as ‘tongue’ (body part), ‘language’, or ‘speaking in tongues’ as a spiritual phenomenon. In 1 Corinthians 12-14, the term specifically refers to the spiritual gift of glossolalia. The nature of this phenomenon—whether it constitutes known human languages (as in Acts 2) or unintelligible utterances—is a subject of interpretive debate among scholars. Some contributors to the discussion explicitly reject the characterization of this speech as “ecstatic,” noting that the Greek term ἔκστασις (‘trance, ecstasy’) is not used in this passage to describe glossolalia, suggesting that such a description is a theological imposition rather than a direct textual inference.

Translation Variants

The interpretation of 1 Corinthians 14:18 hinges significantly on the grammatical scope of μᾶλλον. The primary interpretations can be categorized as follows:

1. μᾶλλον modifies γλώσσαις λαλῶ (“I speak in tongues more”): This is the most widely accepted grammatical construction. The adverb μᾶλλον directly modifies the verbal phrase γλώσσαις λαλῶ, indicating that Paul’s proficiency or frequency in glossolalia surpasses that of the Corinthians. The comma after τῷ θεῷ, as placed in NA27/USB4, reinforces this reading by separating the initial thanksgiving from the subsequent declaration about speaking in tongues. Proponents of this view argue that it aligns best with the immediate context of 1 Corinthians 14, where Paul is establishing his authority and competency in spiritual gifts (including tongues) before advocating for their proper and orderly use. It addresses the Corinthian overemphasis on tongues by acknowledging Paul’s own experience, thereby allowing him to critique their practice more effectively from a position of authority. The rhetorical purpose would be for Paul to assert his preeminence in glossolalia, immediately followed by a qualification in v. 19 emphasizing the greater value of intelligible speech for congregational edification (e.g., “but in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words…”). This interpretation is strongly supported by the majority of English translations.

Within this reading, there’s a secondary nuance concerning whether “more” refers to frequency or number of languages. While γλώσσαις is plural, suggesting multiple languages, the adverb μᾶλλον typically quantifies the *act* of speaking, not the *number* of languages. As noted in the discussion, to specify “more languages,” a construction like πλειόσιν γλώσσαις λαλῶ would be more explicit. Therefore, “more frequently” or “to a greater degree” in the act of speaking in tongues is often understood as the primary intent, rather than an explicit boast of multilingualism.

2. μᾶλλον modifies εὐχαριστῶ (“I thank God more”): This alternative reading proposes that Paul is declaring his thankfulness to God to be greater than that of the Corinthians, *because* he speaks in tongues. While grammatically challenging given the word order, this interpretation posits that μᾶλλον could extend its scope to the primary verb. However, a significant rhetorical hurdle for this interpretation is identifying Paul’s purpose in boasting about his level of thankfulness. As argued in the discussion, such a statement seems incongruous with Paul’s typical humility and the overall thrust of his argument in 1 Corinthians 14, which focuses on the proper exercise of spiritual gifts for communal edification, not on personal piety comparisons. The verses immediately preceding (14:16-17) discuss giving thanks in tongues, but Paul’s point is the *intelligibility* of such thanks for the benefit of others, not the *quantity* of the thanksgiving itself. Therefore, while grammatically explored, this interpretation is generally deemed less plausible due to contextual and rhetorical considerations.

The textual variant λαλῶν (participle) instead of λαλῶ (indicative) would offer a slightly different nuance. If read as Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ, πάντων ὑμῶν μᾶλλον γλώσσαις λαλῶν·, the participle λαλῶν could function adverbially, indicating the *means* or *circumstance* of Paul’s thanksgiving, or even a causal relationship (“I thank God, speaking in tongues more than all of you”). However, even with this variant, the comparative μᾶλλον is most naturally understood as modifying the activity of “speaking in tongues,” maintaining the sense of Paul’s superior engagement in glossolalia. The context, particularly verse 19, heavily favors Paul’s acknowledgment of his own robust practice of glossolalia as a setup for his emphasis on intelligible speech.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

Based on a thorough grammatical and rhetorical analysis, the most defensible interpretation of 1 Corinthians 14:18 is that μᾶλλον modifies Paul’s act of speaking in tongues, signifying his extensive practice of this spiritual gift. This reading is strongly supported by the preferred textual variant (λαλῶ), the placement of the comma in critical editions, and Paul’s overarching rhetorical strategy in 1 Corinthians 14 to acknowledge his own gifts before providing instruction and correction to the Corinthians regarding the priority of intelligible speech for communal edification. The suggestion that μᾶλλον refers to Paul being “more thankful” is largely rejected on contextual and pragmatic grounds.

Three suggested translations reflecting the nuanced understanding:

1. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
   This translation directly reflects the critical text reading, understanding μᾶλλον to qualify the extent of Paul’s glossolalia, whether in frequency or degree. The “that” clause expresses the content of his thankfulness.
2. I thank God, for I speak in tongues more than all of you.
   This version emphasizes a causal relationship for Paul’s thanksgiving, where his extensive practice of glossolalia is the reason for his gratitude, while still maintaining the primary focus of μᾶλλον on his speaking in tongues.
3. I thank God; indeed, I speak in tongues more than all of you.
   This translation uses a semi-colon and “indeed” to indicate a strong affirmation of his proficiency in glossolalia following his expression of thanks, setting the stage for the subsequent contrast in verse 19.

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