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.
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.
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'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.
No comments:
Post a Comment