1 Corinthians 14:16, Saying Amen With Understanding

1 Corinthians 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

It is unprofitable for one to say amen at the end of a prayer uttered by someone although he does not understand. It is better to say “amen” when one understand than to say “amen” to a prayer that one does not understand. It does not benefit his soul when he does know the content of the prayer. How can his soul be helped and edified? Surely he can’t be!

As such, in the congregation of God’s people, it is therefore imperative that the people present may be directed and guided have the Word of God and prayer spoken in the language the congregation understands.

The 16th Protestant Reformation was a movement to ensure that the Word of God reached the people through the translation of God’s Word in the language of people. There was a spiritual awakening when God’s Word is made available in the language they understood. We continue today to remember, this year, the 500th year of the Protestant Reformation. May the spirit of the Reformation continue to bear witness in our generation. Amen.