1 Corinthians 14:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

From things that are not necessary, the Apostle passes to what is more necessary and more useful. He says that the same thing can be seen not only with harps, but also with the trumpet. It too produces ordered sounds, indicating now war, now something else, now calling to attack, now to retreat. The one who does not know this is exposed to the greatest danger. To explain this and point out the danger, he says: “Who will prepare himself for battle?” And the one who does not do this ruins everything.

From things that are not necessary he passed to what is more necessary. He mentioned the trumpet and says that it too produces ordered sounds. Some prepare for war, while others call back from war. If it gives an unclear and indefinite sound, the soldiers will not be ready. What benefit is there from an unclear sound?

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.

“From things that are not necessary, the Apostle passes to what is more necessary and more useful. He says that the same thing can be seen not only with harps, but also with the trumpet. For it too produces ordered sounds, signifying now war, now something else, now a call to attack, now retreat. The one who does not know this is exposed to the greatest danger. To explain this and point out the danger, he says: who will prepare himself for battle? And the one who does not do this ruins everything” (Saint Chrysostom).