Chapter 14:26-40 is describing a worship in the early church. Though the
Corinthians had the right ingredients, they lacked orderliness. Thus instead of
being edified, many were confused and disturbed. In the exercise of spiritual
gifts, their self and carnal natures were displayed. So here Paul wrote to
regulate that.
Paul first established the goal of all meetings. All the gifts, be it a
psalm or a teaching or revelation, or tongue or an interpretation, all must be
exercised with the sole purpose of encouraging one another, and to build up the
whole body. He maintained that if the message in tongues was to be exercised,
it must be interpreted. If no one is present to interpret, than that individual
with the gift should just keep quiet and exercise it in private in prayer. Paul
also instructed that when messages are given in tongues, not more than three
should exercise it, and it must be done one at a time and not all at the same
time. Every message he insisted must be interpreted. If there’s no interpreter
around, that individual with the tongue must speak and pray silently to
God
In verses 29-31, Paul urged that the same principle that was used for
tongues must also be applied in the exercise of prophecy. Again, the principle
of edification must be the rule. Only two or three prophets should speak, the
rest of the members should quietly discern the prophecy. However, Paul told
them that if one person is giving a revelation and another one has a word to
add to it, the first speaker should pause and stay silent and allow the second
speaker to add on to the revelation. The whole purpose was to enable all to
listen and learn from the prophecy, it must be spoken one at a time. When the
Spirit is leading the meeting, it should not be out of control. The prophet
himself has a will and he should be able to control his impulses. Order should
not be despised, because God is not a God of confusion but rather of order and
peace.
In verses 33-36, Paul gave instruction in services where women were
present. He said that the women should not participate in the teaching
ministry. This is a tough verse. Was Paul disallowing all women to speak or was
he just referring to the wives? What about unmarried women with prophetic gifts?
Must they keep silent? In the light of verse 35, it seems likely that Paul was
referring to wives who sought to participate in congregational discussion of
what a prophet had said. The question in verse 36 tells us that Paul was aware
that he would have some among them who would protest against what he had said
concerning the wives. Hopefully this rhetorical question would set them
thinking.
Anticipating that his teaching might be undermined, Paul then underscored
his apostolic authority concerning the matters that he had written. He revealed
that he was writing this as commandments from the Lord. Here Paul shows a
principle concerning authority and submission. If one refuses to submit to
authority he has no right to lead. With that Paul reverted to his call to place
priority on prophesying but he also told them not to forbid speaking in
tongues. But all things as he urged, should be done in an orderly fashion.
When we come together in worship, to praise and hear God’s
Word, nothing should be given prominence that draws attention to human
personalities or distracts from concentrating on the Lord himself and His
message to his people. ‘Does it edify?’ is a question to be asked about every
part of any coming together of the church.
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