Chapter 14

1 Corinthians: -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- -13- -14- -15- -16-

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14:1 Pursue love earnestly. • Inside of love, then, earnestly desire the spirituals, especially that you might prophesy. 2 Indeed, speaking in tongues is not for speaking to humans but to God, not for others to hear, but to speak Spirit mysteries. 3 Prophesying, on the other hand, is speaking to other humans what is constructive, for encouragement and comfort. 4 Speaking in tongues is to build up one’s self; whereas prophesying is to build up the church [c]. 5 I want all of you to speak in tongues, yet more than that, you should prophesy. Prophesying is more important than speaking in tongues [in the church service] unless one should interpret so that the church might receive what is constructive.

6 If I should just speak in tongues when I come to you, what would it profit, if I do not also speak either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in teaching? [d] 7 Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether a flute or harp, if they give no distinction of sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or harped? 8 Indeed, if a trumpet gives an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So also you, if you do not speak intelligible words with your tongues, how will it be known what is being spoken? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 There are many kinds of sounds experienced in the cosmos, and none without voice. 11 But if I do not know the power or meaning of the sounds, it will be as speaking to a foreigner and the one speaking as a foreigner to me. 12 So you also, as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, search for the building up of the church that you might cause [God’s dwelling place] to abound.

13 Therefore, if one speaks in tongues [in the church service], let him pray that he might interpret. • 14 For indeed, when I pray in tongues, it is my spirit praying, even though my mind is not benefiting. 15 What then should it be? I will pray with my spirit; and I will pray also with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, and I will sing praises also with my mind. 16 Otherwise, if you speak well of others with the spirit, how will someone who is uninstructed say, “Amen,” at your speaking of good grace, since he has no idea what you are saying? 17 You truly are doing well in speaking good grace [in the spirit, that is by tongues], but the other person is not being built up.

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, 19 but in the assembly, I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I also might instruct others, rather than countless words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brothers and sisters, do not be mental children, yet in regard to evil, be little children. In your thinking, however, be full grown and complete. 21 In the law it was written, “By other tongues and by other lips I will speak to this people, yet even then they will not hear me, says the Lord” (Psalm 131:2).

22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; whereas prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers. 23 Therefore, when you gather the whole assembly together and all are busy speaking in tongues, and either new believers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are mad? 24 But if, on the other hand, everyone is prophesying, and some unbeliever or new believer should come in, he is convicted by all and examined by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart become visible, and thus, having fallen upon his face, he will worship God, declaring that certainly God is inside of and among you.

26 What then is it, brothers and sisters? • When you come together, each one has a psalm, or a teaching, or a revelation, or a prayer in tongues, or an interpretation. Let all be done for the building up of the house of God. 27 If one speaks in tongues [directed towards the assembly], let it be by two or, at the most, three, and in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 If, however, there is not an interpreter, let him be silent towards the church, rather let him speak [in tongues, with his spirit] to God. 29 If there are prophets, then, let two or three speak and let the others discern. 30 If, moreover, a revelation should come to another sitting by, let the first be silent. 31 You are all able to prophesy, one by one, that all might learn, and that all might be exhorted. • 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 Indeed, God is not a God of disorder, but of peace as in all the churches of the devoted ones.

~~~ 34 Let the women in the assemblies be silent, nor is it allowed for them to speak, but to be under submission, as also the law says. [e] 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; it is indeed shameful for a woman to speak in the assembly.” [f] ~~~

36 Or has the word of God gone out from you? Or has it come only to you? 37 If anyone considers himself to be a prophet or to be spiritual, let him acknowledge what I write to you, that the fulfillment is of the Lord. 38 If anyone be ignorant, let him remain ignorant [g].

39 So, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 Let all be done in good form, that is, by good design, and according to order.

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Gospel Word	Notes
• The Form for God through Jesus: Each of us personally, as well as our gathering together, is designed by God to be His dwelling place inside of creation, that the knowledge of God might fill all things. Our knowledge of God must then increase, personally and together, that God might fill that increase. Praying in tongues, in the Spirit, is essential to each of us to know God through the Spirit, whereas speaking Christ in words all can understand is essential to knowing God together. As we gather together, each one gives what each has received from the Spirit of God. • Definition: Spirit is always subject to the mind of the human; we never come under the power of “another spirit.” Liberty and peace, bringing resolution, are the cause of good order, and never the attempt to control.	c. The Greek word, usually translated “to edify” means to construct a dwelling. In every instance, we apply this to a dwelling place for God’s (see Ephesians 2:19-22). d. The exuberant Corinthians were spending their entire service just speaking in tongues. Paul is encouraging them to see the larger picture. e. The law of Moses does not say this, nor anywhere in the Old Testament. It is clear that Paul is referencing Greek ideas. f. Paul is likely referring to the Greek poets, specifically to Sophocles’ line in the mouth of Ajax telling his wife to shut up when she was trying to protect him from his own folly. We cannot know Paul’s purpose in this statement; some assert that he is chiding the Corinthians for ridiculously silencing their women. We must never forget that Paul had a satirical streak in him and that he could speak facetiously. Neither do we know what any private discussion between Paul and the Greeks in Corinth regarding references to Aristotle and Sophocles might have been or what Paul meant in this literary allusion. Paul clearly supported women in ministry elsewhere. What we do not do is use this line carnally, to control women as if the curse spoken against Adam and Eve remains with us. g. In other words, if people don’t get what I am communicating, that’s fine.

Gospel Word

Notes

• The Form for God through Jesus: Each of us personally, as well as our gathering together, is designed by God to be His dwelling place inside of creation, that the knowledge of God might fill all things. Our knowledge of God must then increase, personally and together, that God might fill that increase. Praying in tongues, in the Spirit, is essential to each of us to know God through the Spirit, whereas speaking Christ in words all can understand is essential to knowing God together. As we gather together, each one gives what each has received from the Spirit of God.

• Definition: Spirit is always subject to the mind of the human; we never come under the power of “another spirit.” Liberty and peace, bringing resolution, are the cause of good order, and never the attempt to control.

c. The Greek word, usually translated “to edify” means to construct a dwelling. In every instance, we apply this to a dwelling place for God’s (see Ephesians 2:19-22).

d. The exuberant Corinthians were spending their entire service just speaking in tongues. Paul is encouraging them to see the larger picture.

e. The law of Moses does not say this, nor anywhere in the Old Testament. It is clear that Paul is referencing Greek ideas.

f. Paul is likely referring to the Greek poets, specifically to Sophocles’ line in the mouth of Ajax telling his wife to shut up when she was trying to protect him from his own folly. We cannot know Paul’s purpose in this statement; some assert that he is chiding the Corinthians for ridiculously silencing their women. We must never forget that Paul had a satirical streak in him and that he could speak facetiously. Neither do we know what any private discussion between Paul and the Greeks in Corinth regarding references to Aristotle and Sophocles might have been or what Paul meant in this literary allusion. Paul clearly supported women in ministry elsewhere. What we do not do is use this line carnally, to control women as if the curse spoken against Adam and Eve remains with us.

g. In other words, if people don’t get what I am communicating, that’s fine.