1 Corinthians 15:20-28

²⁰ But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. ²³ But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. ²⁸ Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Commentary

Vs. 20 "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

The Lord Jesus Christ was the first to rise from the dead; specifically He is the firstfruits of all who have fallen sleep (i.e. who die believing in Him). And so it is Jesus' own Resurrection from the dead assures us of our own resurrection from the dead to everlasting life with Himself. And so here the Apostle is making a marked distinction between each and every believers resurrection from the dead to be with Christ, and the resurrection from the dead of the all who throughout the ages rejected God's revelation of Himself for themselves; for those who reject God's salvation through Christ now will only rise from the dead to everlasting condemnation at the finial judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

Vs. 21-22 ²¹ For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 

Death came through Adam, the first man God created, yet Adam (and all of humanity who is descended from him) was to bear God's likeness and rule over all of God's creation. And so when Adam sinned by disobeying God, sin entered the world and death along with it, because death is the ultimate consequence of sin (Rom 3:23). And so when Adam sinned all of creation along with himself immediately became separated from the life of God. Thus it is stated here that through man, i.e. Adam, death came to us all. For all people everywhere die in Adam, that is we suffer both spiritual death and bodily death because of sin entering the world through him. Even so in Christ all shall be made alive (vs. 22). 
And so it is that just as death entered the world through one man, Adam, so too the resurrection from the dead came through One Man, Jesus Christ. So that all who believe in Him will be brought to life with God again, never to die again (John 11:25; 14:6). Therefore Jesus Christ entered the world to take the place of Adam as the Head of all of God's creation, so that He Himself might restore humanity back to life with God Himself. All which began with His own Resurrection from the dead. 

Vs. 23 "But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming."

The resurrection from the dead then for believers everywhere has it's origins with Christ's own Resurrection from the dead, which He and the Scriptures foretold (Matt 20:19; Luke 24:25-27; Heb. 2:9-10), and which He fulfilled three days after first suffering Crucifixion death for us all. Thus with atonement made for all our sins and transgressions Jesus Christ rose from the dead, thus becoming the firstfruits of all who will rise from dead at His second Coming. Until then His Spirit is being poured into us all who believe as the seal of our redemption as we wait on Christ's return, when He will come and take all believers everywhere in every generation, who have died, or are living at His return, and we shall be taken up in the air to be with Christ forever at His return (1 Thess. 4:15-18). And so it is then we shall forever be with the Lord in our glorified bodies, just as He now is in His. 

Vs. 24-25 ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 

When Christ Returns and we go to be with Him forever then comes the end when the Lord Jesus Christ has gathered all His own to Himself. And so it will be at the end of Christ's Millennial Reign when He has defeated Satan and his forces once and for all and forever that He will deliver the Kingdom to God the Father and put an end to all rule and all authority and power. Thus Christ must reign until God has put all of His enemies under His feet. 

Vs. 26 "The last enemy that will be destroyed is death."  

The last enemy that God will destroy is death itself. For Christ has already defeated death through His own Resurrection from the dead (Rom 6:9), and thus He has now brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel (2 Tim 1:10). And so it is on the last Day when Jesus' sets up His everlasting Kingdom the finial enemy of God, death will be destroyed forever. Never again will we ourselves suffer it, or see our loved ones go through it (Hosea 13:14; Rev. 21:4). 

Vs. 27 "For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted."

And so it is when God has put all things under the Lord Jesus Christ's feet, meaning placed all things into subjection to Himself, He Himself of course will be excepted. God's position as Father in the GodHead is unalterable just as Jesus' position as the Son is. 

Vs. 28 "Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."

And so when all things are made subject to the Son, then the Son Himself will be subject to the Father, so that God may be all in all. Now the functional subordination of the Son of God to God the Father does not deny the equality of the Father, Son, Spirit in the Godhead at any time. It merely is the means of restoring believing humanity back to God, to what has always been, and will always be. 

Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19

¹² Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴ And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. ¹⁵ Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁷ And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! ¹⁸ Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

Commentary

Vs. 12 "Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?"

If Christ's resurrection from the dead is being preached everywhere by all the apostles' and preachers and evangelists and every believer who believes and wants to obey the Gospel of Christ. How is it then that some amongst the Corinthians are now saying there is no resurrection from the dead? The Apostle Paul's question then is poignant, because as he will go on to demonstrate, if there is no resurrection from the dead then everyone's faith in Christ would be futile, all would simply perish and die in their sins and transgressions, and thus be separated from God forever. Yet because there is not only a Scriptural promise of a resurrection of the dead, but verifiable proof of it through Christ's own Resurrection from the dead, all can now have hope of it for themselves through Christ Himself (Phil. 3:11). Thus the Apostle's Paul question is specifically directed towards the Corinthians so that they themselves would all consider the implications of denying the resurrection from the dead. 

Vs. 13 ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴ And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 

And so it is you cannot preach the Lord Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen from the dead and then say there is no resurrection from dead. For Christ Himself is the firstborn of us all who will rise from the dead to spend eternity in the Kingdom of heaven with Himself. Now if there is no resurrection, (as some were saying in Corinth), then Christ is not risen, and if Christ is not risen, then our preaching (meaning all the Apostles and prophets and evangelists) preaching would be empty, and their own faith would then also be futile. And so the Apostle Paul is leaving no room for such an evil doctrine to take root amongst them, because the resurrection from the dead is foundational to our redemption. 

Vs. 15-16 ¹⁵ Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 

The Apostle Paul continues on by saying that if there is no resurrection from the dead then he himself would also be found to be a false witness of God (vs. 15). As well if there is no resurrection from dead then Christ Himself could not have Risen from the dead (vs. 16). Now there is a resurrection from the dead, because Scripture itself not only foretells it, but the Apostle Paul has already testified to it, of not only his own eye witness account of Christ's Resurrection from the dead, but of the other Apostles and five hundred or so witnesses of it as well (vs. 5-8). Now if that does not convince you of it, consider that throughout the centuries since it, men and women's persons and lives have been transformed by it, by Christ's Holy Spirit regenerating and indwelling both us and them because of it. 

Vs. 17-19 ¹⁷ And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! ¹⁸ Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

Therefore to deny the resurrection of dead, is only to deny ones own possibility of being redeemed, and not just ones own redmeption, but also anyone else's! And that is why the Apostle Paul is using such language here, to stress the importance of the Corinthians not doing that. Instead they are all to have full assurance of not only their own resurrection from the dead, but also their loved ones who died believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Resurrection from the dead. For one day all will rise from the dead; both believer and unbeliever; yet it will only be those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ while they lived that will rise to everlasting life with Himself (John 5:24-30; 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 12:48). And so what we learn from the Corinthians is the age old principal that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump." That is a little false doctrine or sin tolerated in any assembly, or amongst any group of believers, inevitably effects and ultimately corrupts the whole. Which is why we must in every generation not only believe and affirm the Gospels truths, but we must also contend earnestly for them, as these are foundational to the faith. Indeed our keeping the Lord's Supper is not so that we practice some sort of ceremonial religious ritual, (by which we seek God's favor in observing it), rather it is so that we remember Jesus' own Crucifixion death and Resurrection from the dead for our being redeemed from our own sins and death (1 Cor 11:23-26). Therefore don't let anyone lesson the Resurrection from the dead importance to us all, because without it no one could be redeemed.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. ³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. ⁶ After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. ⁸ Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹ Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Commentary

Vs. 1-2¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

The Apostle now reminds the Corinthians of the Gospel which he preached to them has at the heart of it the bodily Resurrection of the dead through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For it is through the Gospel of Christ that God has abolished death and brought light and immortality to life to us all (2 Tim 1:10). And so just as Christ rose from the dead in bodily form, so will every believer be transformed (Job 19:25-27; Psalm 16:9-10; 49:15; Isaiah 25:8; 26:19; Hosea 13:14; John 6:39-40, 44, 54; 14:19; 1 Cor 6:14; 2 Cor 4:14; Phil 3:21; 1 Thess 4:13-18 etc.). The Holy Spirit being the seal and assurance of this to us all until then (Rom 8:11; 23; 2 Cor 1:21-22; 5:1-5; Eph 1:13-14). Now the unbelieving world will also rise from the dead, but their Resurrection will be to everlasting condemnation at the finial judgment (Isaiah 26:20-21; 66:14-16, 24; Daniel 12:1-3; Matt 13:38-43, 47-50; 24:31; 25:31-46; 24:35-36; John 5:24-30, Rev 20:4-6, 11-15 etc.). And so the Apostle Paul's stating all this is to refute the false teachers in Corinth who were denying this. First denying Christ's own Resurrection, and then by default that we also would experience the Resurrection from the dead with Himself (1 Thess 4:15-18). And so by their doing so they were denying the very Gospel which Paul preached to them, and to all. The very Gospel which the Corinthians themselves had believed and been saved by! And so to prevent the Corinthians from having their own faith undermined anymore by them (see 2 Tim 2:18), the Apostle Paul will now give a glorious discourse on the Resurrection of dead. For the Resurrection of the dead is not just foundational for ones salvation (Rom. 10:9-10), but it is foundational for how we now live. For the Gospel's promise of the Resurrection of dead not only effects the lives we live down here as God's redeemed people, it will effect the lives we will live and experience there (Matt 16:27; Luke 14:12-14; Acts 24:15; 2 Cor 5:9-11; Eph 6:8 etc.).  

Vs. 3-7 ³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. ⁶ After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. ⁸ Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

The Apostle Paul begins his discourse by stating the three main parts of the Gospel. First is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture. Now this is foundational. For if Christ does not suffer the atoning Crucifixion death for every persons sins and transgressions; that God has foretold through the prophets (Psalm 22:6-8, 17, 18; Isaiah 53; Zechariah 13:7 etc.); then no-one could be saved. And that is why John 3:16 is so powerful a verse, for in it the Lord Jesus Christ Himself promises that because He was going to do just that, that salvation from sin and death and everlasting life would be given to all who believe in Him. Now Jesus' didn't just suffer Crucifixion death on the cross, if that was all that He had done then He would've accomplished salvation for us all; because sin atoned for in of itself does not bring anyone everlasting life, it only provides atonement for us so that we might be restored back to God. Everlasting life on the other hand must come by first conquering death. And this Jesus did when He was first buried according to the Scriptures, and then He was raised from the dead according too the Scriptures. All which is clearly portrayed and prophesied in the Scriptures (see Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 26:19; Hosea 13:14; also see Matt. 12:40; 20:17-19; Heb 2:9-10 etc.). And having risen from the dead the Lord Jesus Christ then went on to appear to first the Apostle Peter (i.e. Cephas), then Jesus was seen by the twelve, that is the other Apostles with Peter present (vs. 5). After that the Risen Lord Jesus Christ was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, which the Apostle Paul states here as many remaining alive at the time of his written this epistle to them, while some had fallen asleep (i.e. died, vs. 6). After that Jesus was seen by James (i.e. Jesus' half-brother), then by all the apostles again (vs. 7). And finally the last person the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to was the Apostle Paul himself, as he says as one born out of due time, that is commission him as His last Apostle in the full sense of the word (vs. 8). And so we have here many eye witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ's Resurrection. Thus if the false teachers within the Corinthian ranks were going to deny the Lord Jesus Christ's Resurrection, they were going to do so alone, because there simply were to many living witnesses to it. 

Vs. 9-11 ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹ Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Paul now humbly addresses his own calling as an Apostle of Christ. In spite of the Paul's own misguided zeal in persecuting the church of God, the Lord knew him and choose him to be His Apostle. Thus Paul's humility and sense of unworthiness here comes from his knowing that he did nothing to deserve either the Lord's salvation, or the Lord calling him to be His Apostle (vs. 9). Instead as Paul states here, "by the grace of God I am what I am". Thus it was God's grace that not only saved him, but it was through that same grace that Christ called him, and then Spirit equipped him to serve Him as His Apostle. Now it was because of having experienced God's grace that the Apostle Paul will now say that that it was not in vain, rather because of it, he then set his life course to the glorious work of the Gospel. And thus though he himself was the last Apostle called by Christ, and was himself considered the least amongst them all, yet he would labor more abundantly then them all. And yet it was not I, (i.e. Paul himself in his own zeal), but the grace of God which was in me. Thus whether the Corinthians believed the Gospel through the Apostle Paul, or one of the other Apostles is all basically irrelevant, because it was the grace of God working through them all that made it available to them all. And so the Apostle Paul says, "so we preach; because of the grace of God which they had all experienced; and so you believed" (vs. 11). And that is what the Gospel is all about restoring sinners, even the worst of sinners and enemies of God back to God Himself when they repent and believe in the Gospel. Yet that is not the end of salvation, but just the beginning of our new life with Christ. For God does not reconcile people to Himself, and then tell them to go sit in the corner, rather He has plans for everyone of us to to serve the Lord Jesus Christ here and now! And that is what I hope you do with the grace of God given you. Serve Christ through the Spirit gifts and talents given you so that the grace of God and the love of God through the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ maybe made known to one and to all through you. 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

1 Corinthians 14:26–40

²⁶ How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 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. ³⁵ 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. ³⁶ Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. ³⁸ But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. ³⁹ Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. ⁴⁰ Let all things be done decently and in order.

Commentary

Vs. 26 "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification." 

Given that tongues and prophesy are to serve Christ's purposes either as a sign, or as a means of teaching, or bringing to light Spiritual truths, or giving an exhortation etc. The Apostle Paul now asks the Corinthians how can it be then that they were all trying to demonstrate some sort of Spirit giftedness at the same time? Yes all Spirit gifts and revelation and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19) are given by the Spirit of God, but these are not given by the Spirit to overwhelm the congregation with all kinds of ecstatic utterances, rather so that the church might receive edification. And so the Apostle Paul again reiterates that whenever Spiritual gifts are exercised, they are to be done for the church's edification, not ones own. Therefore if what you are doing in the church is not in accord with the fruits of the Spirit, or being done for the edification of others, than you should not be doing it. 

Vs. 27-28 ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 

And so it is if anyone speaks with a tongue, there must be no more than two or three people who do so at any one gathering. And these are to speak in turn, and each tongue is to be interpreted. If there is no interpretation, then they are to speak silently to themselves and God alone. 

Vs. 29-30 ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 

From tongues to prophesy the same rule applies, two or three prophets are permitted to speak at any given gathering, yet what they speak is to be judged by the others there. Now if something is revealed to another, then the person who was speaking is to keep silent, and yield the floor to them (vs. 29-30). 

Vs. 31 "For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged." 

The Apostle Paul's exhortation that all can prophesy must be understood as following his previous verses injuction (vs. 29-30). And thus all can prophesy, meaning proclaim spiritual truths by Holy Spirit illumination, just as those who have the gift of prophecy can prophesy (not that all will), but no one so Spirit moved or gifted is absolutely forbidden from doing so, unless of course they were abusing the privilege. And so this was to be done "one by one" so that all may learn and be encouraged. Now in regards to how collectively edifying and profitable such orderly speech and prophesy truly is consider how the Apostles conducted themselves in Acts fifteen when considering the pressing issue of believers and our relationship to the the Law, that each one spoke in turn, and then what was spoken by each speaker was then judged by those present. Similarly consider how then the prophets Judas and Silas in the church at Antioch, upon receiving the written decree from them, affirmed it, and then encouraged all the believers there to follow it. Thus any true Spirit given prophesy in any church assembly is never a disruptive or dividing force amongst God's people. 

Vs. 32 "And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." 

If anyone prophesies, and yet will not submit themselves to have what they say be judged by those who prophesy there, then what they say should be disregarded (1 John 4:1-3). Second and more to contexts point, those who do prophesy by the Holy Spirit have control over their own spirits.

Vs. 33 "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."

This verse makes it very clear that any sort of Spirit tongues speaking or prophesy that does not exemplify the fruit of the Spirit of self control is not coming from God. Just as any tongues speaking, or prophesy that brings confusion into the assembly, and or divides brethren, is not coming from the Spirit of God, because the Spirit of God is not a disruptive force amongst God's people, He is a uniting force. And His uniting us is always in accord with God's Word. 

Vs. 34 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. 

The Apostle Paul's commandment here is that all believing woman keep silent (gr. siago) in the churches. Now this must be understood in the light of 1 Cor 11:5 where believing women were permitted to prophesy if they maintain God's ordained roles for them, and thus are in subjection to their head (1 Cor 11:3). And so Paul's injunction here is similar to his command in 1 Tim 2:11-15 (vs. 12) in that both passages entail a woman remaining silent and in subjection to her head, i.e. husband, father, or the male church authority etc. and not exalt themselves above them. Thus woman are to remain silent in the churches as this pertains to addressing the whole congregation, or speaking as one exercising authority over the entire assembly (consider Rev 2:20-29). Since in the law this is firmly established through the order of creation, as well as through the woman's part in the fall (The two reasoning's the Apostle uses in his 1 Tim 2:11-15 exhortation). Thus all woman in the church are to be submissive as the Law also says. Now the thought here is not just one passage in the Law, but the Law as a governing body of work, which gives us many examples and principals of this God ordained subjection, outside of the Genesis 3:16 command. Such as found in Numbers 30 regarding the father or the husband being able to override his daughter or wives vow. Or in Lev. 22:12-13 where a priests daughter who returns home to her fathers care is again permitted to eat of the sacrifices because she is again subject to him. Or in Deuteronomy 22:13-21 where a daughter being in subjection to her father is measured by her remaining a virgin in his house until she marries, and then she is under her own husbands authority (Num 5:11-31). For a further discussion on this see 1 Tim 2:8-15 Extended Commentary.

Vs. 35 "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."

The Apostle Paul goes onto say that even if they want to learn something they are to ask their husbands at home, if they do not understand what was preached or prophesied or interpreted etc.; and thus they are not to interrupt those who are preaching/teaching with questions by which they may only be asserting their own persons or opinions. Therefore if they have any questions, they are to ask their own husbands or fathers at home, "for it is shameful for women to speak in church." Now it is shameful for woman to speak in the church because when they are permitted to do so they are only circumventing God's ordained designs for the genders. For the woman was never called by God to lead her head the male, whether in the home or the church (1 Cor 11:3). And judging by this world which has cast off not only the distinct roles, duties, and responsibilities of the genders towards God and each other; and thus has now degenerated so far as to believe that people can now even change their genders altogether, or be gender "neutral!" Is it any wonder then that when one circumvents the Word of God that personal and societal degeneracy is the inevitable result. And that is what the Apostle is trying to prevent here in the churches, the lies of this world and the ruler of it, which always lead to more and more confusion and chaos, and thus tear down societies, not establish them (Prov. 14:34). 

Vs. 36 "Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?" 

If the Corinthians thought that they themselves were recipients of the Word of God, they themselves should remember that it was the Apostle Paul who was chosen by Christ to be His witness and bearer of His Word to all the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; 26:17-18; Gal. 1:15-16; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11 etc.).

Vs. 37 "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord."

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that if anyone thinks themselves a prophet or spiritual they must acknowledge that the things the Apostle Paul is writing to us all are the commandments of the Lord (vs. 37). Therefore what the Apostle Paul taught and commanded to the Corinthians he taught and commanded everywhere (see 1 Cor 4:14; 7:17).  And so it is whenever we look into any of the N.T. we must first look at it all as coming from the Lord, and thus applicable to us all now.

Vs. 38 "But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant."

Thus if someone chooses to be wilfully ignorant of Christ's commandments given us through the Apostle then let them be ignorant. That is "if anyone ignores the Apostles commandment then they themselves should be ignored and thus they should have no part in the active communities worship or service if they will not submit themselves to them. Louw-Nida renders this as, ‘but if he does not pay attention to this, pay no attention to him’

Vs. 39 "Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues." 

Throughout chapter fourteen the Apostle Paul has made it clear that prophesy is to be preferred over tongues. Thus if believers are desiring Spirit gifts prophesy is the gift to be earnestly desired not speaking in tongues. That said we are not to forbid tongues speaking where interpretation exists for it, and it is being done in accord with the previous injunctions regarding it. Only where it is a disruptive or disunifying force should such things be forbidden. 

Vs. 40 "Let all things be done decently and in order."

And so it is the Apostle Paul sums it all up by saying, "let all things be done decently and in order." The gathering of believers then is never to be a place where noise and confusion reigns. 


Scriptural Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted 

Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.

1 Corinthians 14:20–25

²⁰ Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. ²¹ In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord. ²² Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ²⁵ And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Commentary

Vs. 20 "Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature."

From babes in the faith, to mature believers in Christ, is where the Apostle Paul is wanting to lead the Corinthians, and us all too. Now to do that the Apostle Paul will explain to us the primary purpose the Spirit gift of tongues was given. 

Vs. 21  In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.

The Apostle Paul now quotes from or paraphrases Isaiah 28:11-12. A prophecy given to the Jews so that God's people when they saw the Holy Spirit given sign of tongues languages (i.e. Acts 2), would receive the refreshing and the rest for themselves, that is only found by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Vs. 22 "Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe."  

Tongues were first and foremost given as a sign too unbelieving Jews that God has fulfilled His Word concerning His Son, just as Isaiah, and the other prophets prophesied about His coming to them. Therefore tongues are not given as a sign to those who already believe, (here specifically the reference is too the Jews who believe), rather they are given as a sign to the Jews who do not. Similarly prophesying is not for unbelievers; that is those unbelieving Jews (or anyone else) who has already hardened their hearts to the Word and Revelation of God given them through it; rather prophesy is for those who already believe. For by it, both the individual believer and church collectively are edified (that is built up in their faith). 

Vs. 23 "Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?"

The Apostle Paul now moves into the realm of the Gentiles, the realm where the Corinthians dwelt and were practicing their faith. Now there's no doubt that the Corinthians believed the Gospel and had a great zeal for God. Yet in their zeal for Him, they had let certain practices amongst themselves get out of hand. And so the Apostle Paul wants them to understand that tongues speaking, just like any other given Spirit gift, can do more harm than good if it is not properly exercised and governed. Therefore to demonstrate this to them, Paul now says to them, "Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?" vs. 23 

Here the reference is primarily to the uninformed and the unbelieving Gentiles, who would know little or nothing of Isaiah's prophecy, or what had occurred at Pentecost in fulfillment of it. And so if they came into their assembly, and saw the whole assembly or congregation practicing tongues, of course they would think that they were all out of their minds, because they would have no context in which it should be framed, and thus they would leave having never heard the Gospel preached to them, which is great tragedy, because that is why the church exists, to forward the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and through it make disciples of Jesus Christ of all people everywhere. 

Vs. 24-25 ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ²⁵ And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Here the superiority of prophesy is again self-evident because through it God can not only teach and instruct those who are believers already (as in vs. 22), but He can as is being emphasized here is verses twenty four and five, bring conviction of ones sin to them through it, and thus bring about the unbelieving persons repentance, and hopefully their turning to God through Christ because of it. For often it's not until one becomes aware of ones own sin/s, and or sinful condition, and thus their separated state from God (Isaiah 59:2), that they than see their need for God, and thus truly open their hearts to God and receive Christ for themselves (John 1:12). And so having come under the conviction of God, they can now come into the salvation of God, and truly experience His saving grace for themselves through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

I don't know where your at today, but I know this that today is the day of your salvation. For you don't have to live under the conviction and coming judgment of all your sins, rather you can have remission of them all, the moment you repent and believe and thus receive the Lord Jesus Christ for yourself. Therefore if you would like to do that, confess to God that you have sinned against Him, and then ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart and life, to not only save you from your sins and transgressions (and thus the judgment to come), but also to change your person and life, and thus direct your person and life from now on. I you then believe and want to have remission of all your sins and everlasting life with Christ then pray this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus I believe that You suffered Crucifixion death so that I can have remission of all my sins and everlasting life. Therefore I now invite You Jesus into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior, amen. 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

1 Corinthians 14:6–19

⁶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? ⁷ Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? ⁸ For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. ¹¹ Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. ¹³ Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷ For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸ I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Commentary

Vs. 6 "But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?" 

The Apostle Paul now asks us all to consider that tongues speaking which are merely making a discordant noise are useless and unprofitable for one and for all. For the Apostle Paul says in the second half of verse six, "...what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?" 
And so if anyone speaks with tongues the question must be asked what are they speaking? Are they bringing forth any sort of revelation and knowledge, prophesying or teaching? For all these bring God's truth too light so that men maybe saved and church maybe edified. And so any speaking in tongues which does not forward that, really need to be called into question, because publicly speaking in tongues is not just an activity that one does for oneself, rather Spirit given tongues speaking is always to be about the churches edification (which is the main thrust of the Apostles exhortation in these verses), which again comes through revelation, knowledge, prophesying, teaching etc. 

Vs. 7-9 ⁷ Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? ⁸ For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 

The Apostle Paul's point here by way of analogy is that unless one speaks in such a way so as to be understood by all they are profitable to no one. For again "...unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air." Therefore words that are easily understood by one and by all are to always be the priority of any speaking within any church assembly. 

Vs. 10 "There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance." 

All languages have significance because it is through them that God communicates to us all His Word and His Will for us. This verse then serves as a strong reminder and endorsement of having the Gospel rendered into every known language, so that all people everywhere might be saved.

Vs. 11 "Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me." 

The Apostle Paul continues his point that easily discernible speech is to be paramount in building up the church and being a witness for Christ. Otherwise as the Apostle says here we only become foreigners (gr. barbaros, lit. barbarians) to one another if we do not speak to each other in an easily discernible tongue. Now in light of Paul's choice of that specific word this also indicates he does want believers acting out wildly in any church assembly, for a fruit of the Spirit is self-control.

Vs. 12 "Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel."

In light of the Corinthians zeal for spiritual gifts, the Apostle Paul wants the Corinthians to focus their zeal for Spiritual gifts on the edification of church. Thus seeking Spiritual gifts for the sake of practicing them is not what we are to do. For Spirit given gifts are not given for the individuals sake, but for the churches edification in love. Therefore if speaking in tongues is not interpreted and done in an orderly fashion how will the church be edified, or bless God along with you through it? 

Vs. 13 "Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret." 

Again because the edification of the church (not just the individual), and thus the Spiritual growth of all is the goal, the Apostle Paul says that those who speak in tongues should pray that they may interpret. For in moving the emphasis away from the individual speaking in tongues, to the individual seeking interpretation, both the individual believer, and church collectively, will be edified if they do so. 

Vs. 14 "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful." 

Even prayer in a tongue is nominal at best because as the apostle Paul says here, "my spirit prays but my understanding is unfruitful." Thus your spirit maybe edified, but your understanding is unfruitful without interpretation.

Vs. 15 "What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."

The Apostle Paul in not wanting to discourage the Corinthians now says, "I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." Notice the balance between the two activities. Yet as we will see the Apostle Paul keeps the emphasis squarely on the "understanding" aspect of all spiritual activities. 

Vs. 16-17 ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷ For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

And so if one blesses God in the spirit (meaning via a tongue), how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen", since he does not understand what you say. And thus you may be edified in your doing so, but the other is not edified, and it's the edification of others that has priority over ones own (consider Rom 15:2; 1 Cor 10:24, 33; 2 Cor 12:19). For that is the mark of a Spiritual mature individual and assembly, when they seek the edification of one another (1 Thess 5:11).

Vs. 18-19 ¹⁸ I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

From the beginning the Corinthians had placed an inordinate emphasis on speaking in tongues. They had made it the mark of their being filled with the Spirit. And so the Apostle Paul now says, "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all."  For if speaking in tongues was the Corinthians mark of being Spiritually endowed with gifts, and or being Spiritually "mature", than Paul was glad that he spoke with tongues more then them all, so that though an Apostle of Christ he would be unequivocally qualified in their sight to instruct them all on this gifts proper usage. Yet in saying that he spoke with tongues more then them all, that Apostle Paul makes it clear that tongues speaking was never his pursuit, nor his priority, for he says, "yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue."

Thus five words spoken with understanding are of far more value than ten thousand words spoken in a tongue. Because with five or six words one can easily say, "repent and believe in the Gospel", and thus at least teach the fundamentals of salvation which God can use, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue spoken to the speakers own exhaustion, and yet they would've communicated nothing.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Word Studies 
foreigners, Str. 915; GK 975; TDNT 1.546; TDNTA 94; LN. 11.94-95

Additional Resources Consulted
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.

Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.