1 Corinthians 14:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What profit is there from words you do not understand? And what am I saying, he continues, that this is unprofitable among us, and that only what is clear and intelligible to the hearers is profitable?

The same can be seen even in soulless musical instruments. If, for example, you blow into a flute or strike a harp without proper rhythm and harmony, but confusedly and at random, you will give pleasure to none of the hearers.

For even from inarticulate instruments a certain clarity is required. If you strike a harp or blow into a flute without skill, you will accomplish nothing.

If we require such clarity, order, and distinctness from soulless objects, and if we strive and labor to give great meaning to meaningless sounds, then much more is meaningfulness required from living and rational men, and from spiritual gifts.

And why, he says, do I say that what is unclear among us is useless, while what is clear is useful? If even lifeless instruments do not produce distinct tones, that is, clear ones, but everything is mixed together, then one can neither recognize what is being played nor receive pleasure and joy.

Shall I not be like a lifeless flute or harp? For if they do not give some distinction of sounds, how will one know what is played on the flute or on the harp?

You yourselves know that both flute and harp need a certain measure and skill. For then, though inanimate, they produce a certain ordered sound. But if someone uses them without this, the performance has no meaning. So also, if the trumpet sounds in an unwarlike way, it does not arm the soldiers.

The uselessness, for those present in church, of speaking in unfamiliar tongues, even by inspiration from the Spirit, may be compared with the discordant and confused sounds of different instruments instead of pleasant music. Or it may be compared with the uncertain sound of a military trumpet instead of signals intelligible to soldiers (1 Cor 14:7-8). Or again, it will be speaking into the air (1 Cor 14:9), or speaking as a foreigner to another such foreigner (1 Cor 14:11).

In order not to grieve any of those who abused the gift of tongues, the Apostle says that it would not be good if, for example, he himself came and began speaking among them in an incomprehensible language. Of course this could not happen and did not happen, as they well knew.

Then, persuading them not to abuse the gift of tongues, the Apostle shows that even soulless objects, which serve as means for expressing human thoughts and feelings, produce intelligible sounds. Such are the flute, the harp, and the trumpet.

“What am I saying,” the Apostle continues, “that this is unprofitable among us, and that only what is clear and intelligible to the hearers is profitable? The same can be seen even in soulless musical instruments.

If, for example, you blow into a flute or strike a harp without proper order and harmony, but confusedly and disorderly, you will give pleasure to none of the hearers. For even from inarticulate instruments a certain clarity is required.

If you strike a harp or blow into a flute without skill, you will accomplish nothing. If we require such clarity, order, and distinctness from soulless things, then much more is ready intelligibility required from living and rational men, and from spiritual gifts.

If we strive and labor to give great meaning to meaningless sounds, then intelligibility is required all the more from ensouled and rational men, and from spiritual gifts.” Chrysostom.