And whoever does not understand, let him not understand.

That is: I said; Whoever wants to will believe it. Such a tone of speech shows a person who is not trying to fulfill his own desire, but has in mind the common good. This is what Paul usually does when it is not very necessary to contradict him. For what need is there for Paul to resist and convince that his words are the commandments of God, when he speaks to his disciples, and has already said that whoever is spiritual acknowledges their divinity? Obviously, everyone will hasten to call them divine in order to appear spiritual.

Therefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy, but do not forbid speaking with tongues.

Having spoken of gifts, he inserted a word about women: now he again speaks of gifts, and gives the gift of prophecy the first place, saying, "Be zealous," and the gift of tongues second. He did not say, "Allow," but, "Do not forbid." Thus we usually speak of things that are not necessary, neither permitting nor prohibiting.

Only everything must be decent and orderly.

As it were, he corrects everything at once, and what concerned those who spoke in tongues, and what concerned the wives who spoke in church, and in general everything that happened to them not in order. And everything will be decent and orderly when those who speak in tongues speak with interpretation, and not like demons, when the prophets yield to one another, when the women are silent.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I remind you, brethren, of the gospel which I have preached to you.

He passes on to the doctrine of resurrections, which is the foundation of our faith. For if there is no resurrection, then Christ is not risen; but if He was not resurrected, then He was not incarnate; and thus all our faith will disappear. Since the Corinthians had such hesitations (for external wise men are ready to accept everything but the resurrection), Paul is striving for the resurrection. Very wisely, he reminds them of what they have already taken on faith. Nothing strange, he says, I tell you, but I let you know (γνωρίζω), that is, I remind you of what has already been communicated to you, but has been forgotten. By calling them brethren, he humbled them in part, and in part reminded them of that which made us brethren, namely, the appearance of Christ in the flesh, in which we could cease to believe, and of baptism, which is a type of the burial and resurrection of the Lord. In the name of the gospel, he also reminded us of the innumerable blessings that we received through the incarnation and resurrection of the Lord.

Which you accepted.

He did not say, "Which ye have heard; but: which you have accepted; for they received him not only by word, but also by works and miracles. He said so also in order to persuade them to keep it as accepted long ago.

In which you have been established, by which you are saved.

Though they hesitated, yet he says that they have stood firm in him: he deliberately pretends to be ignorant, and warns them not to deny it, even if they very much desire it. What is the use of standing in it? The one that you are saved.

If you keep what has been taught as I have preached to you.