1 Corinthians 14:29

Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. TWO OR THREE - at one meeting (he does not add "at the most," as in , lest he should seem to 'quench prophesyings,' the most edifying of gifts), and these "one by one," in turns (; ). Paul gives similar rules to the prophets as he had to those speaking tongues. JUDGE - by their power of "discerning spirits" (), whether the person prophesying was really under the influence of the Spirit (cf. ;...

29._Prophets, two or three. _As to _prophecy, _too, he prescribes limits, because “multitude,” as they commonly say, “breeds confusion.” This is true, for we know it by every day’s experience. He does not, however, restrict the number so definitely, as when he was treating of tongues, for there is less danger, in the event of their applying themselves for a longer time to prophesyings, nay more, continued application would be the most desirable thing of all; but Paul considered what the weakness of men could bear. There still remains, however, a question — why it is that he assigns the like number to prophesyings and to tongues, except that, as to the latter, he adds particularly — at _the most, _for if _tongues _are less useful, there ought assuredly to be a more sparing use of them? I answer, that even in _tongues, _as he takes the term, prophecy is included; for _tongues _were made us...

26-33 Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one meeting, and this one after the other, not all at once. The man who is inspired by the Spirit of God will observe order and decency in delivering his revelations. God never teaches men to neglect their duties, or to act in any way unbecoming their age or station....

Verse 29. _LET THE PROPHETS_] Those who have the gift of speaking to men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort; 1 Corinthians 14:3. _TWO OR THREE_] As _prophesying_ implied psalmody, teaching, and exhortation, Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the meaning of the place is this: Let one _sing_ who has a _psalm_; let another _teach_ who has a _doctrine_; and let a third _exhort_, or _comfort_, who has a gift of that kind. _AND LET THE OTHER JUDGE._] The other prophets, or qualified persons, judge of the propriety of what had been spoken; or let them _discern_, διακριντωσαν, how the revelation under the new covenant confirmed and illustrated the revelation granted under the Old Testament. It appears to have been taken for granted, that a man might _pretend_ to this spirit o

LET THE PROPHETS - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. SPEAK TWO OR THREE - On the same days, or at the same meeting; see the note at 1 Corinthians 14:27. AND LET THE OTHER JUDGE - The word “other” (οἱ ἄλλοι hoi alloi, “the others”), Bloomfield supposes refers to the other prophets; and that the meaning is, that they should decide whether what was said was dictated by the Holy Spirit, or not. But the more probable sense, I think, is that which refers it to the rest of the congregation, and which supposes that they were to compare one doctrine with another, and deliberate on what was spoken, and determine wheth

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 _The_ _gift of preaching superior to the gift_ _tongues_. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 FOLLOW AFTER CHARITY; literally, _chase; pursue. _The word is one of which St. Paul is fond (Romans 9:30, Romans 9:31; Romans 13:13; Romans 14:19;...

LET THE PROPHETS SPEAK, TWO OR THREE,.... The apostle having finished the rules for streaking with an unknown tongue, proceeds to lay down some for the gift of prophesying; and observes, that where there are a number of prophets, as very likely there were in the church at Corinth, two or three of them might prophesy, or explain the prophecies of the Old Testament, or preach the Gospel at one opportunity or meeting: he does not use that restrictive clause, "at most", as before, because if there was any necessity or occasion for it, more might be employed, so that care was taken not to burden the people, and send them away loathing; and this they were to do, as before, in course, one after another, otherwise it would be all confusion, nor could they be heard to edification. Though some have thought that they might speak together at one and the same time, in different parts of the church:...

4. PROPHECY AND SPEAKING WITH A TONGUE. CHAPTER 14 _ 1. Prophecy the better gift. (1 Corinthians 14:1 .)_ 2. Intelligibility demanded. (1 Corinthians 14:14 .) 3. Practical instructions for the public use of these gifts. (1 Corinthians 14:26 .) It is evident from the contents of this chapter that the Corinthians had unduly magnified the gift of speaking in a strange tongue. It had a spectacular aspect which they enjoyed. He therefore shows them that the gift of prophecy is more to be coveted than speaking in an unknown tongue. The speaking in an unknown tongue is intelligible to God, but he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, e

Paul now lays down the rules. At present at their assemblies all are eager to speak in one way or another. But the edification of the Church is to be the governing principle. Two may speak in tongues, three at most and in succession; an interpretation must be given; if no one of them has this gift, the gift of tongues must be restricted to inward utterance, it must not be vocally exercised. Two or three prophets may speak, while the others practise the gift of discernment on his utterance. The communication of a revelation to another is a token that the speaker must close his address. There is no hardship in the restriction of numbers or the abrupt close of an address; there will be future opportunities. Nor is such silence impossible, for each prophet has his gift in his own control. This is clear from the very nature of God; He is a God of peace and order, and can be the source of no i...

THE FALSE AND THE TRUE WORSHIP (1 Corinthians 14:1-19)...