1 Corinthians 14

Main Body

The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts V. 1-5

• We could have a lengthy discussion of what the word prophesy means in this passage but that is not necessarily productive. What is more important is the answer to the question "What did Paul see at the most valuable aspect of spiritual gifts?"
  • Paul sees the following as key components of the exercise of spiritual gifts.
    • edification
    • exhortation
    • comfort
  • Note: The word προφητευητε that we translate as prophesy in 14:1 appears to have often been used as one who spoke on behalf of a god. The word appears to have originally carried with it the idea of inspiration. According to TDNT, "only much very much later, under Christian influence" does the word take on the idea of delaying future events (TDNT 6.795). TDNT further argues that in 1 Cor. 14:3,31 the word means teaching, admonishing, and comforting. Regardless of the degree to which inspiration is present in the word here in this text what is clear is that Paul intends for the readers to see that edification, exhortation, and comfort are the valuable aspects of the exercise of spiritual gifts.

An Application of the Purpose V. 6-18

4 Illustrations V. 6-9

• In verses 6-9 Paul gives four conditionals, what are they?
  • If come speaking tongues => how will I benefit you?
  • If lifeless instruments do not give a distinctly sound => how will anyone know what is played?
  • If the bugle gives an indistinct sound => who will get ready for battle?
  • If with your tongue you utter intelligible speech => how will anyone know what is said?

• • • Each of these four conditional sentences is in the form of aorist subjunctive protasis followed by a future interrogative apodosis and are hence third class conditional sentences, commonly called "future more vivid". This is interesting because in the future more vivid construction the writer sees the condition as being likely fulfilled. This is purely speculation but I wonder I Paul is not telling the people that he knows they are using gifts but currently they are not using them to edify and he expects them to change that behavior.

Zeal for the Edification of the Church V. 10-12

• According to verse 12, what was it that the Corinthians were Zealous for?
  • They were zealous for spiritual gifts.
• According to verse 12, what did Paul want the Corinthians to be Zealous for?
  • Paul wanted the Corinthians to be Zealous for the edification of the church.

Where the Rubber Meats the Road V. 13-19

• We typically pray for the things we want most. What does Paul command the Corinthians to pray for in verse 13?
  • Paul commands them to pray that they may interpret. This is significant, it appears that they had sought to speak in tongues. Now Paul calls on them to change their desires and to hold interpretation as their highest aim.
• What does the word "Amen" mean?
  • Truly, verily, so let it be. The word amen carries the idea that I place my full endorsement behind what was just said. It is as if I had said it myself.
• According to verse 16, what measure could be used to decide if an utterance was appropriate?
  • There should be a mechanism by which the utterance is ineligible to the entire congregation so that the conjuration has the opportunity to affirm the utterance. It is interesting that in a sense this verse also demonstrates that worship is interactive. We are not to be passive recipients of God's word but actively engaged so that we are processing and evaluating the word.

Tongues As a Sign V. 20-25

• If you were to put together a number line with emotion on the left side, what would you place on the right side?
  • Most people would probably put something like logic or reasoning. In verse 20 Paul calls on the Corinthians to put aside their emotions and experience with evil and instead to think through the use of tongues. To this end Paul will next quiet from Isaiah 28:11,12 and argue that tongues are a sign to unbelieving Israel. Perhaps Israel saw tongues as a sin of the impending judgement that would come in AD 70. If so then this passage is particularly interesting in that tongues served as a sign for the Jews but as Paul addresses in verse 23 for others tongues did nothing more than to further confuse people. In particular, the Gentiles unbelievers would have been familiar with mystery religions of the time and likely would have associated the babbling of tongues with ecstatic worship of mystery religions. In this way, the sign of tongues would have served to negatively portray christianity to unbelievers who were not Jews.
• According to verses 22-25, what difference exists between tongues and prophecy?
  • Tongues served as a sign to the Jews of impending judgement but to other unbelievers tongues seemed like lunacy. Prophesy, on the other hand, served to edify the body and convict unbelievers.

Order During Worship V. 26-40

A Rule of Worship

• What rule does Paul establish in verse 26?
  • Everything should be done for the edification of the church.

Order, not Disorder V. 27-33

• What restrictions does Paul place on the use of tongues?
  • Two or at most three - This is an interesting restriction and probably has nothing to do with the length of service but instead represents just how uncomfortable Paul was with the public use of tongues.
  • One at a time
  • Interpretation is a requirement.
• What requirement is placed on prophesy?
  • Two or at most three.
  • Someone to judge
  • Willing to cede

Closing

• What does is look like to be zealous for the edification of the church?
• What actions can you take this week, month, year to demonstrate your zeal for the church?