Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues,.... The apostle exemplifies this matter in himself, and supposes it his own case, that should he who was the apostle of the Gentiles, and to be received by them as such, when he came to them, come with this gift of tongues, which he was capable of, as much, or more than any, see 1Co 14:18 and only make use of that,what shall I profit you?
of what use would my ministry be to you? what instruction, comfort, and edification, could you receive by it?except I shall speak to you, either by revelation; by the revelation of Jesus Christ, whereby he received the Gospel he preached; or by the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, and the mysteries of his grace, by which they were made known unto him at first, or by a fresh immediate revelation from heaven:or by knowledge; the word of knowledge, one of the peculiar gifts of the Spirit, 1Co 12:8.