Paul had just gotten done with an exhortation on how to love as a Christian. It means a sacrificial generous love - one that is more concerned with the neighbor than with the self. Now Paul goes on another application of love - in how we desire our gifts and how we use those gifts we have been given.
J. The Proper Use of Spiritual Gifts in Public Worship
Read 14:1-5. What gift was the greatest to have?
AnswerWhat does it mean to “prophesy?”
AnswerThese tongues are either one of two kinds -
<1) A different language you have never heard - Japaneze, Swaheelee, etc. - as used in Acts
2) An angelic dialect
What in these verses would suggest that this is a different kind of tongues than Acts?
AnswerWhat would suggest that these tongues were the same as those in Acts?
AnswerBraun: Many readers see major differences between the tongues at Corinth and those in Acts. At Corinth, no one could understand the tongues, and an interpreter was needed. The purpose of the Corinthian tongues was not to confirm the Word to others but for personal edification. (Not necessarily the purpose of the tongues - but the reality of it in 1 Corinthians.) In Acts, tongues came on Pentecost and at other pivotal moments. But no special circumstances accompanied the Corinthian tongues. On Pentecost, the Spirit fell on all the disciples, unrequested and beyond their control; at Corinth, not all received tongues, but those who did could exercise control over them. (NL September 96) The only other place the New Testament discusses this gift is in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Although some commentators suggest that tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 is a form of ecstatic speech, or a heavenly language even the speaker couldn’t understand, it’s more likely this was the same gift as described in Acts. (NL May 1996)
If what Braun says is true, that these tongues were the same as in Acts, then the Corinthians must have been speaking in tongues - or different languages - to those who didn’t know the language they were speaking. For instance, if I spoke in Greek during the service - it might be impressive to some - but it certainly wouldn’t edify you any if you didn’t understand it. The only way it would benefit would be if someone understood Greek, but then - why would I do it other than to try and be impressive, which isn’t a God pleasing motive?
Read 6-12. What may have been another problem according to vs. 6?
AnswerWhat illustration does Paul use repeat his point in vs. 7-9?
AnswerWhat does vs.12 insinuate about the attitude of the Corinthians toward tongues?
AnswerWhat was the main reason Paul preferred prophesying to tongues?
AnswerHow does this connect with the idea of love?
AnswerShouldn’t we teach our peaple that they should pray for the gift of tongues? After all, it is included in vs. 1, it benefits the individual, it benefits the church if interpreted, and Paul wants all to speak in tongues?
(We wouldn’t object to this, but we wouldn’t go so far as to teach people how to do it. Church history must also be taken into account. Even tongues speakers’ most passionate advocates must grant that during the eighteen hundred years between John’s death and 1901, reports of other tongues are sporadic, surrounded by centuries of silence. St. John Chrysostom (345-407) agreed tongues “used to occur but now no longer take place.” Even during Paul’s day he was losing the gifts of healing. The apostles could identify genuine gifts of the Spirit, so tongues would have been a sure tongue for the people back at that time. We no longer have that surety. If you can’t identify a gift, what good will it serve? Faith demands certainty - so if we couldn’t be sure if someone speaking in tongues was from God, what good would it do? Even if they performed miracles, but strayed from the message of the Bible, they would do no good - Deuteronomy 13: 1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. (NIV)
Braun: Tongues occur in spiritism, Voodoo, and the cult of Santeria; etc. It has been associated with demon possession and satanic worship. Not every person who speaks an unlearned language is demon-possessed, but neither can every occurrence of tongues be embraced as the gift of the Spirit. God can still give supernatural gifts, but we cannot dictate when and where he should give them. Satan can masquerade as an angel of light, and so God calls on us to test the spirits. (NL Sept 96)
Since tongues were still a gift of the church back in Paul’s time, he needed to instruct them on how to use them in love.
Read 13-19. What was absolutely necessary if tongues were going to be used?
AnswerWhy?
AnswerSo what was Paul’s attitude toward speaking in tongues -
a) in general?b) in the Christian worship assembly?
Paul seemed to draw a distinction between being edified with your mind and your spirit. For instance, your spirit could be edified by preservice music - even if no words were sung. But if the mind does not eventually become involved, you will not be completely edified in a God pleasing way. The two are separate and yet intimately connected. Paul wanted the best of both worlds for the Corinthians - and if speaking in tongues left the mind out - which it seemed to do, then five intelligible words would be preferred.
How is there a danger of separating the two yet today?
AnswerBraun: The charismatic movement is oftencredited with “adding spice” to worship. Charismatics like to contrast their lively, free form assemblies with what they see as cold, lifeless worship in liturgical churches. But liturgical forms don’t cause dull worship. The fault lies with its practitioners. When worship leaders retreat to the safety of dull routine, or when worshipers regard the ritual as a spectator sport, vitality dies. And “charismatic” worship isn’t automatically more joyful, spontaneous, or moving. Unimaginative, repetitive guitar strumming and unrehearsed prayer hardened into predicatable patterns become just as lifeless as ill-prepared, unfeeling reruns of the historic rite. In worship, the headbone’s connected to the heart bone. (NL October 96)
With this concept of edification in mind, Paul explains himself more. Read 20. The Corinthians were thinking like childish with their fascination with tongues. Children always prefer the brilliant to the solid. This is a message that Americans need to hear yet today - stop seeking after the sensational - and be happy with the solid truth of God’s Word.
How can you be an infant in regard to evil, but think like an adult?
AnswerRead 21-25. Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11-12. The “strange tongues” was the Assyrian language used by the soldiers when they invaded Israel. God originally used tongues are a sign of judgment on unbelievers - not for believers. Even during and after the captivity, many of the Israelites still didn’t come to repentance. Instead, the foreign language only hardened them. What was Paul’s conclusion about the true and original purpose of tongues, therefore?
AnswerSince this was so, were they being used correctly by the Corinthians?
AnswerWhat would be a better tool for the same purpose of having more come to repentance?
AnswerWhat more can we learn about “prophecy” from this section?
AnswerRead 26-28. You might think that Paul would just outlaw tongues with all of the abuses, but what does Paul instead say?
AnswerHow would you know if there was an interpreter present before you spoke in tongues?
AnswerFrom reading this chapter, these are some apparent truths that come out -
- tongues edify the spirit of a man who speaks in a tongue
- without interpretation, tongues do not edify the mind
- prophecy is better than tongues
- tongues should be used to reveal God’s will - his law and gospel - just as in Acts - if it is to edify the spirit and mind of others
- tongues should be used in moderation - it shouldn’t be the only focus of worship
- when used in public, they should edify the church or not be used
If someone spoke tongues in our service, would it fulfill that purpose?
AnswerWhat did they need to be careful to do in vs. 29?
AnswerLenski said that the order of speaking that Paul listed here was in accordance with the old Jewish synagogues. Notice how Paul was concerned about proper order. These were not supposed to be chaotic worship services with people flying all over the place and jumping up and down. They could control their emotions in a way that would lead to good order and edification for all.
Read 33b-38. This might seem contrary to 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul seems to acknowledge that women can prophesy. In this case Paul may be addressing a public kind of prophesying or prayer that would exercise authority over a man. So, whereas it wouldn’t be wrong for a woman to do so in private or in a meeting with other women, it would be wrong if she did such things in a way that would undermine the authority of the man.
What should women who have no husbands do, when they have questions?
AnswerThe Law which Paul refers to would be -
a) Genesis 2 - the facts of creation themselves
b) Genesis 3:16 - the situation after the fall
c) the oral tradition of the law as passed on through the ages
How does Paul answer those who would find issue with what Paul says here?
AnswerToppe: As Christian women listen to the voice of God in Scripture, they acknowledge God’s will in this matter. They will recognize that the effort of feminists and their supporters in the church to justify changing the role of women in the church is not only vain; it is also dishonest manipulation of the Word of God. The problem is not that God’s Word isn’t clear. The problem is that respect for God and His Word is becoming rare. (137)
Read 39-40. This is Paul’s overall conclusion on the whole issue. Prophecy was of first importance. Tongues speaking was also permissable. But all of these things needed to be done in a fitting and orderly way. What if someone wanted to join church and claimed to speak in tongues? Consider the following comments:
Brug: We really do not have the need or responsibility to judge the nature of alleged tongues. Our duty is to judge the doctrine of every teacher of religion, charismatic or non charismatic, and to base our fellowhip with him on agreement in all the doctrines of Scripture. For that duty we have both explicit sciptural directives and clear criteria of judgment.
Gerlach: If a person comes to me and claims to have the gift of tongues, the important thing for me is not to hear a demonstration so that I can determine whether or not it is of the Spirit. I want to know how that person understands and confesses the gospel. If anyone comes to me, and does not bring “this doctrine,” then I am not to receive him into my house nor bid him God speed (2 John 10). In such a case there is no need to determine whether his ecstatic speech is of the Spirit or not. His doctrine certainly is not. On the other hand, if someone comes to me and claims to have the gift of tongues, and confesses with me the whole doctrine of the gospel, then I am going to extend the right hand of fellowship to that person. As for the tongues, I still may not be certain whether it is a thing of the Spirit or not. I am not certain that it is, but neither can I be certain that it is not. I will simply withhold my judgment. Meanwhile I will counsel that person with regard to the restrictions St. Paul imposes upon the use of this gift in the church. He will use it privately, not publicly without an interpreter. And if it is ecstatic rather than a legitimate language, there will be no interpreter available. He will not encourage others to seek the gift because Christians are to desire prophecy rather than tongues, and because Christians are to desire prophecy rather than tongues, and because in all authenticated cases it was not given to individuals seeking it or even expecting it. I will also warn him about the abuse of the gift as in the case of the Corinthians lest he become “puffed up” as did many of them. (WLQ Oct 73:249)
Any questions? Email Pastor at bslc@birch.net