What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
Read Chapter 14
Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Paul issued the Corinthians with this reproof because they were so elated with vanity. The suggestion was that if they did not obey the words of the faith, there would be no one who would believe. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
What! came the word of God out from you? This is a sarcasm, concluding what had been said in this chapter and the preceding. Did not the Churches of Judæa, Samaria, and Syria believe before you? Look, then, at the order and custom of those Churches, whether they are so contentious about their gifts or make such boasting of their tongues as you do. So Ambrose and Anselm.
Did the word of God first come out from you? This he says, to check these new preachers, by putting them in mind, that they are not the first, nor the only Christians, and so must conform themselves to the discipline practised in other Churches, especially since, as their apostle, he hath delivered them the commandments of the Lord. And if any man know not, will not acknowledge, and follow these rules, he shall not be known; God will not know, nor approve his ways. The pretended reformers, from the expressions with which the apostle blames the abuse some new converts made of the gift of tongues, think they have found a plausible argument to reprehend Catholics, for using the same Latin tongue in the Mass, and in the public liturgy. They consider not, whether they have the same reasons to find fault with the present discipline of the Church, as St. Paul then had to blame the Corinthians: whether the circumstances be the same or different: they think it enough that Latin, which is used i...
Thus he brings in the other Churches also as holding this law, both abating the disturbance by consideration of the novelty of the thing, and by the general voice making his saying acceptable. Wherefore also elsewhere he said, Who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in all the Churches. 1 Corinthians 4:17 And again, God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the Churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33 And here, What? Was it from you that the word of God went forth? Or came it unto you alone? i.e., neither first, nor alone are you believers, but the whole world. Which also writing to the Colossians he said, even as it is bearing fruit and increasing in all the world, Colossians 1:6 speaking of the Gospel.
But he turns it also at another time to the encouragement of his hearers; as when he says that theirs were the first fruits, and were manifest unto all. Thus, writing to the Thessalonians he said, For from you has s...
