THE USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE GATHERINGS OF GOD'S PEOPLE (14:1-40). Having raised us up to heaven Paul now brings us abruptly back to earth as he continues to advise on the use of spiritual gifts. But before doing so he urges once more that in the light of what he has just said, all follow afte... [ Continue Reading ]
COMPARISON OF TONGUES AND PROPHECY (14:1-25) 'Go on following after love, and go on being earnestly desirous of what is spiritual (spiritual things). But rather that you may prophesy.' So they are first of all to go on pursuing love. And yet all he has said about love is not to put them off seeking... [ Continue Reading ]
'For he who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God. For no man understands, but in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks to men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.' This is because the man who speaks with tongues, which has been their favourite test of sp... [ Continue Reading ]
'He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.' For this is the nature of these gifts. Tongues are for self-edification, prophecy is in order to edify all. Thus, in church, prophecy should have preference.... [ Continue Reading ]
'Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that you should prophesy. And greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.' This preference for prophecy, Paul stresses, is not to demean tongues, for he would be hap... [ Continue Reading ]
'But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?' He asks them to consider. What profit can he be to them when he comes to them speaking in tongues and nothing... [ Continue Reading ]
'Even things without life, giving a voice (noise), whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?' Let them consider the example of worldly things which make noises. Even though they are without life we still expect them to make in... [ Continue Reading ]
'For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for battle?' The same is true of the war trumpet as is true of musical instruments. Different ways in which it is sounded indicate different things. If it blares out just anything who will know what it is saying? The army and th... [ Continue Reading ]
'So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech easy to understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you will be speaking into the air.' The same is true of speaking to the church. Unless members speak in easily understandable speech, how will others know what they are saying? How will... [ Continue Reading ]
'There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification. If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him who speaks a barbarian, and he who speaks will be a barbarian to me.' Indeed the world has many voices that speak (he avoids the word 'to... [ Continue Reading ]
'So also you, since you are zealous of spirits, seek that you may abound to the edifying of the church.' Now he turns to apply his words directly to his hearers. He recognises that they are 'zealous of spirits'. 'Spirits' must have in mind their own spirits, through whom the Spirit operates. Compare... [ Continue Reading ]
'Wherefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.' So if someone does pray in a tongue in the church publicly he should pray that he might interpret, that all may benefit. Otherwise he should keep silent.... [ Continue Reading ]
'For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.' For praying in a tongue does not benefit the church at all. Indeed, says Paul, it is not only the church which does not understand me when I pray in tongues, I also do not understand myself. My mind is not involved. P... [ Continue Reading ]
'What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.' So what shall his choice be? This could be interpreted one of two ways. Firstly, that he will choose to pray in both ways. Sometimes... [ Continue Reading ]
'Else if you bless with the spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the unlearned say the Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing that he does not know what you are saying? For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not edified.' He confirms the point made in 1 Corinthians 14:15 by pointing... [ Continue Reading ]
'I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all. Howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.' He sums up the point from his own example. It is not that he is against tongues, in fact he uses... [ Continue Reading ]
'Brothers, do not be children in mind. Yet in malice be you babes, but in mind be men.' He then appeals to them to think in an adult way. Children mainly think totally selfishly and without fully considering what they are saying (compare Jeremiah 4:22), not because they are totally selfish but beca... [ Continue Reading ]
'In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak to this people, and not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord.' He now turns to the Scriptures quoting from Isaiah 28:11, either from some version that we do not have (it has similarities with Aquila'... [ Continue Reading ]
'Wherefore (‘so that') tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving. But prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.' The ‘wherefore' (so that) connects back to the previous verse. In the same way, he says, if you speak to the unbelieving... [ Continue Reading ]
'If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that you are mad?' Then he brings a second argument, taking the worst case scenario, which confirms what has been said. Suppose there is a gathering of... [ Continue Reading ]
'But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all, the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.' But what a different situation it will be if al... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSEQUENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CHURCH MEETING (14:26-33). 'What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to edifying.' So being satisfied that he has satisfactorily dealt with t... [ Continue Reading ]
'If any man speaks in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself, and to God.' So if a man does come with a tongue, it should be by two, or at the most th... [ Continue Reading ]
'And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern.' The same was to apply to the prophets. Two or three would speak while others judged what they said. This may mean that the whole congregation would 'discern', but the connection of the word with 'discernment' of spirits sugge... [ Continue Reading ]
'But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted, and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.' Whatever these verses mean they cannot mean blatantly that 'all can prophes... [ Continue Reading ]
'For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.' This confirms our view of 1 Corinthians 14:30. It is difficult to think of anything more confusing (or unhelpful) than prophets constantly standing to prophesy, and constantly being interrupted by other prophet... [ Continue Reading ]
'Let the women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted to them to speak. But let them be in subjection, as also says the law. And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.' That women were allowed to p... [ Continue Reading ]
'What? Was it from you that the word of God went forth? or did it come to you alone?' This refers back to the reference to 'all the churches'. Are the Corinthians going to set themselves up as different from all the others? Do they really consider that the word of God originally went forth from the... [ Continue Reading ]
'If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant (or 'he is not recognised').' Manuscripts of equal weight contain either the present passiv... [ Continue Reading ]
'Wherefore, my brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. But let all things be done decently and in order.' So he now summarises the position to them as his 'brothers' in Christ. This is the fourth time he has used this word in the chapter. He is seeking to be... [ Continue Reading ]