Reflections on 1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14 (Contemporary English Version)


1. Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy.
2. If you speak languages that others don't know, God will understand what you are saying, though no one else will know what you mean. You will be talking about mysteries that only the Spirit understands.
3. But when you prophesy, you will be understood, and others will be helped. They will be encouraged and made to feel better.
4. By speaking languages that others don't know, you help only yourself. But by prophesying you help everyone in the church.
5. I am glad for you to speak unknown languages, although I had rather for you to prophesy. In fact, prophesying does much more good than speaking unknown languages, unless someone can help the church by explaining what you mean.
6. My friends, what good would it do, if I came and spoke unknown languages to you and didn't explain what I meant? How would I help you, unless I told you what God had shown me or gave you some knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7. If all musical instruments sounded alike, how would you know the difference between a flute and a harp?
8. If a bugle call isn't clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?
9. That's how it is when you speak unknown languages. If no one can understand what you are talking about, you will only be talking to the wind.
10. There are many different languages in this world, and all of them make sense.
11. But if I don't understand the language that someone is using, we will be like foreigners to each other.
12. If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church.
13. When we speak languages that others don't know, we should pray for the power to explain what we mean.
14. For example, if I use an unknown language in my prayers, my spirit prays but my mind is useless.
15. Then what should I do? There are times when I should pray with my spirit, and times when I should pray with my mind. Sometimes I should sing with my spirit, and at other times I should sing with my mind.
16. Suppose some strangers are in your worship service, when you are praising God with your spirit. If they don't understand you, how will they know to say, "Amen"?
17. You may be worshiping God in a wonderful way, but no one else will be helped.
18. I thank God that I speak unknown languages more than any of you.
19. But words that make sense can help the church. That's why in church I had rather speak five words that make sense than to speak ten thousand words in a language that others don't know.
20. My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies.
21. In the Scriptures the Lord says, "I will use strangers who speak unknown languages to talk to my people. They will speak to them in foreign languages, but still my people won't listen to me."
22. Languages that others don't know may mean something to unbelievers, but not to the Lord's followers. Prophecy, on the other hand, is for followers, not for unbelievers.
23. Suppose everyone in your worship service started speaking unknown languages, and some outsiders or some unbelievers come in. Won't they think you are crazy?
24. But suppose all of you are prophesying when those unbelievers and outsiders come in. They will realize that they are sinners, and they will want to change their ways because of what you are saying.
25. They will tell what is hidden in their hearts. Then they will kneel down and say to God, "We are certain that you are with these people."
26. My friends, when you meet to worship, you must do everything for the good of everyone there. That's how it should be when someone sings or teaches or tells what God has said or speaks an unknown language or explains what the language means.
27. No more than two or three of you should speak unknown languages during the meeting. You must take turns, and someone should always be there to explain what you mean.
28. If no one can explain, you must keep silent in church and speak only to yourself and to God.
29. Two or three persons may prophesy, and everyone else must listen carefully.
30. If someone sitting there receives a message from God, the speaker must stop and let the other person speak.
31. Let only one person speak at a time, then all of you will learn something and be encouraged.
32. A prophet should be willing to stop and let someone else speak.
33. God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order. When God's people meet in church,
34. the women must not be allowed to speak. They must keep quiet and listen, as the Law of Moses teaches.
35. If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands when they get home. It is disgraceful for women to speak in church.
36. God's message did not start with you people, and you are not the only ones it has reached.
37. If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know that I am writing only what the Lord has commanded.
38. So don't pay attention to anyone who ignores what I am writing.
39. My friends, be eager to prophesy and don't stop anyone from speaking languages that others don't know.
40. But do everything properly and in order.
    
    

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    Paul's discussion of spiritual gifts continues in chapter 14. Apparently the self-indulgent attitudes of the Corinthian Christians led to rather chaotic worship services. It seems they were more concerned about flaunting their verbal gifts for personal attention than of building up each other. Meanwhile, unbelievers who came to those services were turned off and turned away by the chaos and lack of understanding.
    
    To bring order out of the chaos, Paul addressed three issues. He gave instructions regarding the first two issues for orderly conduct but no prohibition. Concerning the third issues, however, he gave a prohibition. The first issue was the exercise of the spiritual gift of other languages in worship. This gift was intended "as a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers." (14:22) Therefore, its primary purpose is not for use in the worship service. Paul allowed, even encouraged, its use in worship, but only if used in moderation -  only 2 or 3 speakers - and only if there is someone present who has the gift of interpretation. If there is no interpreter, "that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God." (14:28)
    
    The second issue Paul addressed was the exercise of the spiritual gift of prophecy in worship. He upheld prophecy as a gift to be desired. It is a gift that "speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation." (14:3) Whereas the person who has the gift of other languages "builds himself up," the one who prophesies "builds up the church." (14:4) Although prophesy is preferred in worship to other languages, it also should be used in an orderly fashion. Again, there should be only 2 or 3 speakers and then it should be evaluated by the congregation. If one is prophesying and another receives a prophesy while he is speaking, the first speaker should yield to the second. Though orderliness is a goal, love is a motivating factor.
    
    A third issue Paul spoke to was women speaking publicly in the church. To this issue Paul gave a prohibition - don't speak. Remain silent. Paul's full meaning is controversial. Interpretations of his meaning are often approached with an agenda which is not the best approach for gaining understanding. Paul relates his statement on silence for women to submission and the law, though it is uncertain to which law he refers. Of primary concern in the context, however, is self-control aimed at orderliness in worship. This was the overarching concern Paul was addressing, and the women were evidently contributing to the problem. It is possible they were the primary ones misusing the gifts of other languages and prophesy in worship. Or were they raising questions to the point of disrupting the speakers? We can't know the problem exactly, but Paul told the women to take their questions to their husbands at home. Thus he was evidently primarily addressing married women. Does this infer that the men knew more about spiritual matters than their wives? I wouldn't jump to that conclusion, but I would say that it places a responsibility on a conscientious husband to seek proper answers with and for their wives, thus pushing him to grow.
    
    In conclusion to this matter, Paul asks, "Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?" (14:36) This is an attitude that can be seen with many Christians in their approach to spiritual matters, somewhat implying they have the inside track with God. To such an attitude Paul speaks strongly, "recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command. But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored." (14:37-38)