>1. What two things should Christian's desire? (1a)
* 1 Corinthians 14:1a "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts"
* Chapter 14 Overview.
Paul continues and concludes his point about the gifts of the Spirit by explaining how they are to be used when they come together as a group. Some congregations call the gathering a mass, a worship service, a joyful celebration, a Bible study, or simply a gathering.
First, he states that speaking in tongues should not be done when they are gathered as a group unless someone can interpret what they are saying. The reasons are that tongues are for self-edification, and if a stranger came in during the gathering, they would think they are all drunk. (1-25)
Second, only a few are to sing a hymn or song. He does not specify the style or the meaning of the lyrics. He neither includes nor excludes instruments. He does say it should be done in turn. (26-28)
Third, he says that two or perhaps three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. A prophet, then, is called today a pastor, priest, shepherd, missionary, evangelist, and speaker. Those who speak should speak in turn, not all at once. (29-33a)
Fourth, Paul wrote that women should remain silent. Today, this is shocking and labeled as anti-women. The reason Moses wrote this and Paul agreed was not that women are unintelligent. Rather, they were not educated in ages past and therefore, could not read the Bible. The speakers should be able to read. I have great respect for two ladies who taught the Bible for many years at church. I spoke to one yesterday who went to the same seminary as Billy Graham. Her knowledge of the Bible and 60 years of teaching are clearly a gift of the Spirit. (33b-40)
* "Follow the way of love"
* "eagerly desire spiritual gifts"
>What is the gift of prophecy? (1b)
* 1 Corinthians 14:1b "...especially the gift of prophecy."
* "especially the gift of prophecy."
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>What is speaking in tongues? (2a, 10; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:5-6, 10:44-47)
* 1 Corinthians 14:2a "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God."
* 1 Corinthians 14:10 "Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning."
* Mark 16:17 "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;"
* Acts 2:5-6 "Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language."
* Acts 10:44-47 "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 'Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.'"
* Acts 19:1-7 "While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?'
They answered, 'No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.'
So Paul asked, 'Then what baptism did you receive?'
'John's baptism,' they replied.
Paul said, 'John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.' On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all."
* "Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world"
* "yet none of them is without meaning."
* Two types of speaking in tongues are presented in the New Testament. The Old Testament has none. Generally, both are the same, they are speaking in a language that is not the native language of the person and is not learned. Speaking in tongues was never taught by men, but given by God for a specific purpose. One is like at Pentecost, so others could hear the gospel. Another is talked about in this letter, speaking another language in a gathering of Christians. The start of the later is not documented except perhaps when a person first accepts the gospel as in the case of Cornelius's household to show the Messianic Jews that the Gentiles were given the Holy Spirit when they believed without following any Jewish traditions or the Mosaic Laws. (Acts 10:44-46) The speaking in tongues continued after conversion to faith in Jesus and as this letter shows they were speaking in tongues during the worship service. Paul's words to them, especially in this chapter, hints that some of then were faking it.
* Granted on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), in fulfillment of a promise Christ had made to his disciples (Mark 16:17). What this gift actually was has been a subject of much discussion. Some have argued that it was merely an outward sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit among the disciples, typifying his manifold gifts, and showing that salvation was to be extended to all nations. But the words of Luke (Acts 2:9) clearly show that the various peoples in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost did really hear themselves addressed in their own special language with which they were naturally acquainted (Compare Joel 2:28-29).
Among the gifts of the Spirit the apostle enumerates in 1 Corinthians 12:10-14:30, "divers kinds of tongues" and the "interpretation of tongues." This "gift" was a different manifestation of the Spirit from that on Pentecost, although it resembled it in many particulars. Tongues were to be "a sign to them that believe not." (Illustrated Bible Dictionary: And Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature)
* The wonder of the day of Pentecost is, in its broad features, familiar enough to us. What views have men actually taken of a phenomenon so marvelous and exceptional? The prevalent belief of the Church has been that in the Pentecostal gift the disciples received a supernatural knowledge of all such languages as they needed for their work as evangelists. The knowledge was permanent. Widely diffused as this belief has been it must be remembered that it goes beyond the data with which the New Testament supplies us. Such instance of the gift recorded in the Acts connects it not with the work of teaching, but with that of praise and adoration; not with the normal order of men's lives but with exceptional epochs in them. The speech of St. Peter which follows, like meet other speeches addressed to a Jerusalem audience, was spoken apparently in Aramaic. When St. Paul, who "spake with tongues more than all," was at Lystra, there is no mention made of his using the language of Lycaonia. It is almost implied that he did not understand it. Acts 14:11 Not one word in the discussion of spiritual gifts in 1 Cor 12-14 implies that the gift was of this nature, or given for this purpose. Nor, it may be added, within the limits assigned the providence of God to the working of the apostolic Church, was such a gift necessary. Aramaic, Greek, Latin, the three languages of the inscription on the cross were media, of intercourse throughout the empire. Some interpreters have seen their way to another solution of the difficulty by changing the character of the miracle. It lay not in any new character bestowed on the speakers, but in the impression produced on the hearers. Words which the Galilean disciples uttered in their own tongue were heard as in their native speech by those who listened. There are, it is believed, weighty reasons against both the earlier and later forms of this hypothesis.
1. It is at variance with the distinct statement of Acts 2:4 "They began to speak with other tongues."
2. It at once multiplies the miracle and degrades its character. Not the 120 disciples, but the whole multitude of many thousands, are in this case the subjects of it.
3. It involves an element of falsehood. The miracle, on this view, was wrought to make men believe what was not actually the fact.
4. It is altogether inapplicable to the phenomena of 1 Cor 14. Critics of a negative school have, as might be expected, adopted the easier course of rejecting the narrative either altogether or in part. What then, are, the facts actually brought before us? What inferences may be legitimately drawn from them?
(a) The utterance of words by the disciples, in other languages than their own Galilean Aramaic, is distinctly asserted.
(b) The words spoken appear to have been determined, not by the will of the speakers, but by the Spirit which "gave them utterance."
(c) The word used (?????) has in the LXX. a special association with the oracular speech of true or false prophets, and appears to imply a peculiar, perhaps physical, solemn intonation. Comp. 1 Chr 25:1; Ezek 13:9.
(d) The "tongues" were used as an instrument not of teaching, but of praise.
(e) Those who spoke them seemed to others to be under the influence of some strong excitement, "full of new wine."
(f) Questions as to the mode of operation of a power above the common laws of bodily or mental life lead us to a region where our words should be "wary and few." It must be remembered then, that in all likelihood such words as they then uttered had been heard by the disciples before. The difference was that before the Galilean peasants had stood in that crowd neither heeding nor understanding nor remembering what they heard, still less able to reproduce it; now they had the power of speaking it clearly and freely. The divine work would in this case take the form of a supernatural exaltation of the memory, not of imparting a miraculous knowledge of words never heard before.
(g) The gift of tongues, the ecstatic burst of praise, is definitely asserted to be a fulfillment of the prediction of Joel 2:28 We are led, therefore, to look for that which answers to the gift of tongues in the other element of prophecy which is included in the Old Testament use of the word; and this is found in the ecstatic praise, the burst of sang. 1 Sam 10:5-13; 19:20-24; 1 Chr 25:3 (h) The other instances in the Acts offer essentially the same phenomena. By implication in ch. 14:15-19 by express statement in Acts 10:47; 11:15, 17; 19:6 it belongs to special critical epochs.
* The First Epistle to the Corinthians supplies fuller data. The spiritual gifts are classified and compared arranged, apparently, according to their worth. The facts which may be gathered are briefly these:
1. The phenomena of the gift of tongues were not confined to one church or section of a church.
2. The comparison of gifts, in both the lists given by St. Paul-1 Cor 12:8-10, 28-30-places that of tongues and the interpretation of tongues lowest in the scale.
3. The main characteristic of the "tongue" is that it is unintelligible. The man "speaks mysteries," prays, blesses, gives thanks, in the tongue, 1 Cor 14:15, 16 but no one understands him.
4. The peculiar nature of the gift leads the apostle into what at first appears a contradiction. "Tongues are for a sign," not to believers, but to those who do not believe; yet the effect on unbelievers is not that of attracting, but of repelling. They involve of necessity a disturbance of the equilibrium between the understanding and the feeling. Therefore it is that, for those who believe already, prophecy is the greater gift.
5. The "tongues," however, must be regarded as real languages. The "divers kinds of tongues." 1 Cor 12:28 the "tongues of men," 1 Cor 13:1 point to differences of some kind and it is easier to conceive of these as differences of language than as belonging to utterances all equally mild and inarticulate.
6. Connected with the "tongues" there was the corresponding power of interpretation.
* Finally,
1. Traces of the gift are found in the Epistles to the Romans, the Galatians, the Ephesians. From the Pastoral Epistles, from those of St. Peter and St. John, they are altogether absent, and this is in itself significant.
2. It is probable, however, that the disappearance of the "tongues" was gradual. There must have been a time when "tongues" were still heard, though less frequently and with less striking results. For the most part, however, the pierce which they had filled in the worship of the Church was supplied by the "hymns and spiritual songs" of the succeeding age, after this, within the Church we lose nearly all traces of them. The gift of the day of Pentecost belonged to a critical epoch, not to the continuous life of the Church. It implied a disturbance of the equilibrium of man's normal state but it was not the instrument for building up the Church.
The above three comment points (*) is from Smith's Bible Dictionary: Comprising Antiquities, Biography, Geography, Natural History, Archaeology and Literature.
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>Why is prophecy the most desirable of the gifts? (2b-5)
* 1 Corinthians 14:2-5 "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. "
* "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God."
* "Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit."
* "But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort."
* "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself"
* "he who prophesies edifies the church."
* "I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy."
* "He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues
* "unless he interprets"
* "so that the church may be edified"
* Edification of the Church.
The basic principle Paul insists on is that whatever is done in congregational meetings must contribute to the edification, that is, building up, of the congregation (3, 5b). He first stated this in 12:7, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." This also agrees with the previous chapter concerning the way of love. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." (13:1)
What is spoken in congregational meetings, then, must be intelligible to the listeners, in the style and language they would understand, or at least interpreted. Even if the message is in the same language, if it is not in a style and dialect they are familiar with, it could hinder the message.
Years ago, I gave messages in countries where I did not speak the native language, and they did not speak mine. So I was given an interpreter. If I had not used one, my message would not have been received, and so I and my message would have been useless to them. The principle applies to speaking in tongues. Therefore, prophecy that is understood is better than tongues that no one understands.
The message is not only what I say, but how I say it. If a message is to be received, it needs to be conveyed in the best possible way. Communication is more than words. Communication involves dialect, style, and body language. Conviction and heart from the messenger is as much, if not more, of the message as the words. Even actors practice their art before they perform on a stage in front of an audience. Therefore, I should seek the gift of prophecy, present God's messages to other, doing so in a manner that in a way that is best received by the audience. They should fall in love with Jesus, not fall asleep.
>2. How can speaking in tongues be as important as prophecy? (6)
* 1 Corinthians 14:6 "Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?"
* "unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?" -These can only happen if they understand what is being said.
>Why was the Corinthian Christian practice of speaking in tongues all wrong? (7-8)
* 1 Corinthians 14:7-8 "Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?"
* "Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds"
* "Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?"
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>How has some modern day congregations followed the Corinthian congregation's error? (9-11)
* 1 Corinthians 14:9-11 "So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me."
* "So it is with you." -They must be understood, what is said must be organized, said one at a time. Paul says this later.
* "yet none of them is without meaning." -Paul is implying even speaking in tongues must have meaning behind it.
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>How might one excel at a spiritual gift? (12)
* 1 Corinthians 14:12 "So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church."
* "eager to have spiritual gifts"
* "builds up the church"
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>3. If given speaking in tongues what should be my motive in doing it publicly? (13, 16)
* 1 Corinthians 14:13 "For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says."
* 1 Corinthians 14:16 "If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified."
* "should pray that he may interpret what he says.""
* "say "Amen"" -Acceptable to say in a meeting. Many congregation are to "stiff" and "formal" to permit the "Amen".
* Paul is saying consider others. He said this about eating meet offered to idols too.
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>What should be recognized if done in private? (14-15)
* 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind."
* "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays"
* "my mind is unfruitful" -Not even the one who speaks tongue understands what they are saying without an interpretor.
* "I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit" -Both are needed. Jesus said, "True worshippers will worship in spirit and truth," to the Samaritan women by the well.
* "but I will also sing with my mind"
>What did Paul personally practice? (18-19)
* 1 Corinthians 14:18-19 "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue."
* "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." -Not publically. Most likely they did not know.
>4. What kind of thinking should be part of the Christian life? (20)
* 1 Corinthians 14:20 "Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."
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>How does the word of God support the use of tongues and prophecies? (21-22)
* 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 "In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord." Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers."
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>5. Who should we consider when we conduct a worship service? (23-24)
* 1 Corinthians 14:23-24 "So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all,"
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>What should be the outcome of an unbeliever if he is brought or enters our worship service? (25)
* 1 Corinthians 14:25 "and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"
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II. Orderly Public Worship (14:26-40)
>6. How did personal enthusiasm get out of control in the Corinthian worship services? (26)
* 1 Corinthians 14:26 "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church."
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>7. What kind of personal control must a person have if they have the gift of tongues? (27-28)
* 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 "If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God."
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>What kind of personal control must a person have if they have the gift of prophecy? (29)
* 1 Corinthians 14:29 "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said."
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>What kind of mutual respect should a speaker and a listener have? (30-31)
* 1 Corinthians 14:30-31 "And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged."
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>8. What does verse 32 mean?
* 1 Corinthians 14:32 "The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets."
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>What is the conclusion about way to conduct a worship service? (33a)
* 1 Corinthians 14:33a "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace."
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>9. Why might the direction in verses 33b-35 be given?
* 1 Corinthians 14:33b-35 " As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."
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>How might these verses be applied in a congregation today?
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>10. What should all congregations remember and publicly acknowledge? (36-37)
* 1 Corinthians 14:36-37 "Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command."
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>Why?
* 1 Corinthians 14:38 "If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored."
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>What is the three directions we should follow then? (39-40)
* 1 Corinthians 14:39-40 "Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."
