Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of I Corinthians Chapter 14
Metaphysically Interpreting I Corinthians 14:1-25
14:1Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 14:2For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 14:3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation. 14:4He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 14:5Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
14:6But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? 14:7Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?14:8For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war? 14:9So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air. 14:10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification.14:11If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me. 14:12So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.
14:13Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14:14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 14:15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 14:16Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest? 14:17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 14:18I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all: 14:19howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
14:20Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men. 14:21In the law it is written,
By men of strange tongues
and by the lips of strangers
will I speak unto this people;
and not even thus will they hear me,saith the Lord. 14:22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe. 14:23If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad? 14:24But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all; 14:25the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
September 2, 1917: I Cor. 14:15
God has given all of his transcending powers to man, and it rests with us whether we will express them or not. We may connect ourselves with the light of God or with the outer darkness, or with the realm of reflected light. There are many philosophies but only one truth; that is light, Divine understanding. The light of truth resolves everything into ideas. Those in understanding look upon the phenomenal world and interpret it from the ideas it represents, and not as it appears.
When Jesus Christ said: “I am the light of the world,” he was not talking about the lights of this planet. It is true his light shall light the minds of all men, but in reality he was saying that I AM is the light of its own world. When he spoke about raising the “temple” he meant his own body; so in talking about the “light of the world” he meant his world. Each of us has his world. No two of us see alike the things about us. Man's first concept of the external is all wrong. He judges of things as they appear, and later must learn the principle and figure everything out by it. Time was when men thought the earth was flat, and that the sun rose in the east and set in the west. This was the appearance, but it did not accord with the facts; so there are many things which appear the very opposite of what they are in reality, and when the light of Truth shines in, we begin to change our concept of them to fit the Truth instead of the appearance. This is especially true of our concept of man. He appears the opposite of that which he is in reality. When we say, “Let there be light,” then we begin to see him as he is.
Light is the Understanding Principle in mind, and in Divine Order always comes first, into consciousness. lt is the first step of the first day. When we take the second step, we should not let go of the first. If we are in the principle, we will carry all steps along together.
As a race we are coming into the understanding of wonderful laws of mind. We have a parallel in the laws of the air. Jesus compared the spiritual man to the air. Aviators find there are currents of air they know little about. In the race's mental atmosphere there are many currents of thought, and if you would keep abreast of the knowing quality, you must continually declare, “I do know.” Then you will be able to handle all those thought currents and keep above every adverse wind.
Men know little about light. Theories about it have changed many times. Light is something which has to do with energy in the Universal Ether, but just what It is nobody knows. It has been discovered that there is no light outside of the eye. The whole air may be full of vibrations that turn to light in the eye, but there is no light without the eye to see it. Our eyes only receive certain vibratory rates of energy, consequently only a little of the great universe is seen, and no two people see things alike. By high statement the mind opens up and takes in more light.
Light depends upon the consciousness, as sound is sound only when it is heard. Light is Principle. It is the I AM in man. We make our own world and everything In it. The proclamations of the One Infinite Mind are going forth through its lawful avenue, man. We are individualized by our wills, and have the power to manifest the One Mind and Will in its fullness, or its opposite. We can remain in darkness by thinking and speaking of our ignorance, or become illumined by proclaiming our union with the great Source of Light. Follow Jesus Christ and declare with him, “I am the light of the world,” and keep on declaring it, whether the light shines into your consciousness all at once or not.
– UNITY magazine
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1917: I Cor. 14:[?]
What is Man? Man is God concentrated. All qualities of God are in man, awaiting expression.
What is the real world? The real world is the realm of Divine ideas in perfect expression.
What is Truth? Truth is the expression of Divine Mind in harmony with and according to Divine Law.
What is man's relation to the world of forms? The world of forms is the product of man's thoughts as related harmoniously or inharmoniously to the One Primal Mind. Man can by the power of his thought make forms that are not real.
What is the first step in establishing the Divine consciousness? The first step is declaring with Creative Mind, “Let there be light.”
What does Light typify in the consciousness? Light typifies the Understanding Principle of Mind.
How is spiritual understanding developed? First, through recognizing that man is Intelligent Being, and then affirming that Intelligence is manifest in all that we think and do.
How does Infinite Mind carry on its creation? Infinite Mind is constantly carrying on its creations through Nature, with man at the head.
How is Mind individualized as man? It is through consciousness that Mind individualized as man.
What is freedom of will? Through the will man is free to manifest the One Mind and Will in its fullness, or he may ignore the Divine Will and bring into manifestation a false ego and a false world.
How may we attain to true Light? We may attain the true Light through following the example of Jesus Christ and declaring, ”I am the Light of the world.”
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 11-17-2013
