1 Corinthians 14

           I decided a while back to work through the book of 1 Corinthians for two reasons.  First, I was having trouble coming up with topics on which to write, and secondly, I wanted to learn more about the book myself.  By no means do I consider myself an expert in Biblical interpretation, nor am I able in several hundred words to exhaust a chapter that is nearly that long itself.  Never has this been more true than it is today.  My intention as I write on 1 Corinthians 14 - as it always is – is to “keep the main things the plain things, and the plain things the main things.”    

We learned from the previous chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, that love for our Christian brothers and sisters is more valuable than any spiritual gift that we have been given.  In fact, the apostle Paul stated that anyone who speaks in tongues, prophesies, gives generously, or even has strong faith but exercises that gift without love is worth nothing.  God gives spiritual gifts to each of us for the benefit of our fellow saints.

                 Paul continues with the themes of love and spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 14: “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”  Already in the beginning verses of this epistle we were made aware of the Corinthians’ tendency to partiality.  Some favored Paul, some Apollos, some Cephas.  Those who were skilled debaters were held in esteem.  Now in this chapter we learn that there were some in the church at Corinth who elevated highly the gift of speaking in tongues.  We can glean a few things about this tongue speaking from the chapter.  1) The words that the tongue speakers uttered were not understandable by others - verse 2.  2) Paul himself spoke in tongues - verse 18.  3)  Those who spoke in tongues had control over their tongues – that is, they could choose to keep quiet – verse 28.  Ultimately, Paul does not forbid speaking in tongues, but he demonstrates that in desiring to speak in tongues, the Corinthians‘ priorities were out of order: the gift of prophecy was the better spiritual gift.

Why?  What made prophecy valuable?  Often we think of prophets as those who tell the future, but that really is not the main idea of the word prophet, nor was that the chief work of the prophets who lived in Bible times.  A prophet is one who “bubbles over” with the word of God.  Therefore, one who prophesied in the church edified his fellow saints by offering words of instruction, application, or comfort.  In contrast, one who spoke in an unknown tongue benefitted only himself.  Paul qualifies the prophesying that was to be done in the church: others were to judge the words of prophecy that were spoken.  2 Peter 1:20:  “No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.”  Paul also commands that if anyone was going to speak in tongues in the congregation, then they must then interpret what they said for benefit of those around them.

There are several verses in this chapter that I would like to note in passing:  Verse 20: “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.”  How quick we are to be malicious to others; how slow we are to develop our knowledge of God’s Word.  And also verse 34: “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.  And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”  How quick many are today to dismiss this Word of God; how readily most disdain the glorious role for which God designed women.  

Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are a prophet.  Grow up in your understanding of His Word so that you may be a ready vessel, bubbling over with words that edify and comfort.