Devotional Sharing Submitted by Eunice Kim, Gracepoint Berkeley
1 Corinthians 14:1-25
Why might the Corinthian Christians have preferred the gift of speaking in tongues over the gift of prophecy? Assess the degree to which I desire to stand out in some way, and find affirmation for my ego through the expression of spiritual gifts.
The Corinthians might have preferred the gift of speaking in tongues, because it was a powerful and mystical experience, and because it was seen as a mark of spirituality. But at the same time, it was not something that could be challenged or put to the test, since no one could understand it. In contrast, a person claiming to have the gift of prophecy could easily be discredited if their words didn’t make sense or turned out to be untrue, or if their actions and character went against what they taught. I confess that I have these desires for respect and approval within the church. But I know that ultimately I stand before God, and no matter how I appear before people, I need to answer to God for the condition of my heart and that His approval is what matters. Today and yesterday’s DTs convict me again that I need to confess the motives of my heart and be purged of self-seeking desires in the midst of serving God, because spiritual gifts in themselves can be useless or even harmful, if not stewarded with genuine desire to honor God and share in His heart and purpose to love.
1 Corinthians 14:6-12
What can I do to “try to excel in gifts that build up the church?
There is a lot I can do in order to try to grow and excel in gifts that build up the church. I realize how often I have focused on my insecurities and feelings of inadequacy, but the reality is, there is so much that I can do to serve the church and to grow in my ability to serve. First of all, I can know my Bible. In order to be able to speak to people “for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort” (v.3), I need to foremost study the word of God and be able to point people to it. Also, I can cultivate a character of love, maturity, self-denial, and seeking the good of others and myself – because, as yesterday’s DT in 1 Cor 13 pointed out, without love, spiritual gifts amount to nothing. In addition, I can get trained and equipped in many different ways to help the church carry out it’s mission, from apologetics, to evangelism, to things like technical and musical skills. This gives me renewed vision for J-Term, where people can receive exactly this kind of training!
1 Corinthians 14:18-25
What do these verses tell us about how much impact we can make as a church in the lives of people by proclaiming God’s words even though we may lack other “spiritual gifts” or talents?
How is our church fulfilling this goal of “everybody prophesying” leading unbelievers to the conviction of sins and worship of God?
I thought about this past Sunday’s baptism service – it was really powerful to hear the testimonies of God’s work in these brothers and sisters. Just in the simple retelling of their stories, but also the way that people listen so attentively, and the way we value stories of God’s in people’s lives, it is clear how God can use this to impact people. I heard several stories of family and friends of those getting baptized as well as others in the congregation being moved by the gospel message, and coming to a better understanding of it through their testimonies. I realize that our church can fulfill this goal of impacting unbelievers as we together value and honor God’s word.
Devotional Questions:
1 Corinthians 14:1-25
“Prophecy is understandable to the mind (unlike speaking in tongues). Like Old Testament prophecy, New Testament prophecy was intended to challenge and strengthen the church. People see various expressions of prophecy in preaching, teaching and spontaneous exhortations, among others.”[1]
- In what ways have I shown eagerness in pursuing the gift of prophesy?
- Why might the Corinthian Christians have preferred the gift of speaking in tongues over the gift of prophecy? Assess the degree to which I desire to stand out in some way, and find affirmation for my ego through the expression of spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:6-12
- In what ways might modern day Christians be using unintelligible words to communicate God’s truth?
- What can I do to “try to excel in gifts that build up the church?”
1 Corinthians 14:13-17
“The expression ‘my mind is unfruitful’ means that the mind does not intelligently share in the blessing of the man’s spirit. The mind (the nous) is that faculty involved in conscious, meaningful reasoning and understanding of the thinking, reasoning person.”[2]
“There is a proper place for the intellect in Christianity. In praying and singing, both the mind and the spirit are to be fully engaged. When we sing, we should also think about the meaning of the words. When we pour out our feelings to God in prayer, we should not turn off our capacity to think. True Christianity is neither barren intellectualism nor thoughtless emotionalism. See also Ephes. 1:17-18; Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 1:9.”[3]
- Give examples of the mind being “unfruitful” in the midst of spiritual activities. What is the danger of this? Is there evidence of this kind of mindless involvement in spiritual activities in my life?
- Are there some steps I need to take to more actively engage the mind in my prayer and in my praise?
- Against what aspects of contemporary Christian pop-culture does this passage hold warnings?
1 Corinthians 14:18-25
- What do these verses tell us about how much impact we can make as a church in the lives of people by proclaiming God’s words even though we may lack other “spiritual gifts” or talents?
- How is our church fulfilling this goal of “everybody prophesying” leading unbelievers to the conviction of sins and worship of God?
- How am I fulfilling my role as a prophet bringing people to the place of conviction of sin and awareness of God’s presence?
Additional Questions:
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
- Though Apostle Paul says in the first part of chapter 14 that these are spiritual gifts, how did everyone having a hymn, a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation end up conflicting with the “strengthening of the church” at Corinth? What were they missing?
- What parallels can be drawn between today’s worship times (i.e. Bible Studies and Sunday Worship) and the situation in Corinth of multiple people wanting to be heard, resulting in a disruptive environment? What are some ways in which I can have a similar attitude during times of various kinds of gatherings?
- Apostle Paul asserts that God has given all of us spiritual gifts (cf. Romans 12:4-8, 1 Peter 4:10) for the “strengthening of the church.” What are the gifts I have? How can they be used to strengthen the church?
“In the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought that their Christian freedom gave them the right to question the men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship. The purpose of Paul’s words was to promote unity, not to teach about women’s role in the church.”[4]
- As Apostle Paul is addressing order and unity in worship in this section of the letter, how might women speaking out and asking questions in the church (given the cultural background) be disruptive to unity in worship, and what can we learn about exercising freedom as Christians?
- Paul speaks at great length about orderly conduct in Christian worship. How might a “fitting and orderly way” of worship be desirable and beneficial for believers in the church, given the reason he gives in v.33?
- How is a “fitting and orderly way” of worship desirable and beneficial for non-believers observing the church?
- As God wants us to have orderly worship, what does this say about the way that God wants us to live the rest of our lives, and how does this challenge the modern day notion of freedom as the absence of order and structure? Apostle Paul says “everything” should be done in a fitting and orderly way. What are some of the areas of my life that are not conducted in a fitting and orderly way?
[1] Quest Study Bible, notes on v.1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994) 1585.
[2] Frank E. Gaebelein, Gen. Ed. Expositor’s Bible Commentary CD, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992) notes for 1 Corinthians 14:13-14.
[3] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers and Zondervan, 1991) 2084.
[4] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers and Zondervan, 1991) 2085.
Commentary:
Introduction:
“This significant chapter deals with two important subjects: (1) the relative value and use of prophecy and speaking in tongues (vv.1-25) and (2) orderly conduct in public worship (vv.26-40).”[1]
v.1 “What makes prophecy so important? Prophecy is a message that edifies, comforts or encourages the church (v.3). Since Paul places a premium on strengthening the church, he values prophecy highly. Prophecy is understandable to the mind (unlike speaking in tongues). Like Old Testament prophecy, New Testament prophecy was intended to challenge and strengthen the church. People see various expressions of prophecy in preaching, teaching and spontaneous exhortations, among others.”[2]
v.2 “The gift of speaking in a tongue was a concern of the Corinthian church because the use of the gift had caused disorder in worship. Speaking in tongues is a legitimate gift of the Holy Spirit, but the Corinthian believers were using it as a sign of spiritual superiority rather than as a means to spiritual unity. Spiritual gifts are beneficial only when they are properly used to help everyone in the church. We should not exercise them only to make ourselves feel good.”[3]
vv.13-14 “With the possibility of a non-understood tongue before them, Paul now argues that its interpretation be sought. He urges this not only so that those who hear but do not understand may know the meaning, but also that the speaker himself may be benefited by getting an intellectual as well as a spiritual blessing from the exercise. The expression ‘my mind is unfruitful’ means that the mind does not intelligently share in the blessing of the man’s spirit. The mind (the nous) is that faculty involved in conscious, meaningful reasoning and understanding of a thinking, reasoning person.[…] Paul desires the Corinthians to have a complete blessing here, both in their spirits and in their minds.”[4]
v.20 “Verse 20 forms the transition to the last paragraph of this first section of chapter 14. A preoccupation with tongues without concern for their effect on oneself and others is childish.”[5]
vv.22-25 “The way the Corinthians were speaking in tongues was helping no one because believers did not understand what was being said, and unbelievers thought that the people speaking in tongues were crazy. Speaking in tongues was supposed to be a sign to unbelievers (as it was in Acts 2). After speaking in tongues, believers were supposed to explain what was said and give the credit to God. The unsaved people would then be convinced of a spiritual reality and motivated to look further into the Christian faith. While this is one way to reach unbelievers, Paul says that clear preaching is usually better (1 Cor. 14:5).”[6]
v.25 “When Paul imagines that outsiders who are converted by the word of prophecy will declare, ‘God is really among you,’ he is recalling a scenario long envisioned by Israel’s prophets: the Gentiles will come to acknowledge that the God of Israel is the one God of the whole world. First Corinthians 14:25 echoes the language of Isaiah 45:14, which says Gentiles from Egypt and Ethiopia will come and bow down before Israel, saying, ‘God is with you alone, and there is no other; there is no god besides him” (cf. also Zech. 8:22-23; Isa. 49:23; 60:10-16). Thus when the church prophesies authentically, it becomes the instrument through which God accomplishes the eschatological conversion of the nations—or at least a foretaste of that final event. In short, Paul sees prophecy as a powerful tool of evangelism, but he sees tongues (in public worship) as a hindrance to making the gospel understood.”[7]
vv.26-30 “The third person imperatives ‘it must be done’ in these verses show that Paul is not so much addressing his remarks to particular individuals as to the corporate entity, the church, which itself should maintain this decorum. All these imperatives are in the present tense, indicating that the church was to keep a constant supervision over all these aspects of its service.”[8]
v.26 “Everything done in worship services must be beneficial to the worshipers. This principle touches every aspect—singing, preaching, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. Those contributing to the service (singers, speakers, readers) must have love as their chief motivation, speaking useful words or participating in a way that will strengthen the faith of other believers.”[9]
vv.34-35 “Does this mean that women should not speak in church services today? It is clear from 1 Cor. 11:5 that women prayed and prophesied in public worship. It is also clear in 1 Cor. 12-14 that women are given spiritual gifts and are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ. Women have much to contribute and can participate in worship services.
“In the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought that their Christian freedom gave them the right to question the men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship. The purpose of Paul’s words was to promote unity, not to teach about women’s role in the church.”[10]
v.40 “His final word on the matter is directly connected with the number one priority of edification: all things should be done decently and in order (40). The first word focuses on the way Christian worship appears to onlookers, the second on the ability of each individual Christian to function properly in his or her own place. As the latter is encouraged in an atmosphere of true love, so the net result will be a community life which attracts outsiders by its harmony and beauty.”[11]
[1] Frank E. Gaebelein, Gen. Ed. Expositor’s Bible Commentary CD, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992) notes for 1 Corinthians 14.
[2] Quest Study Bible, notes on v.1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994) 1585.
[3] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers and Zondervan, 1991) 2083.
[4] Frank E. Gaebelein, Gen. Ed. Expositor’s Bible Commentary CD, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992) notes for 1 Corinthians 14:13-14.
[5] Craig Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, The NIV Application Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994) 270.
[6] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers and Zondervan, 1991) 2084.
[7] Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, Interpretation Series (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1987) 239.
[8] Frank E. Gaebelein, Gen. Ed. Expositor’s Bible Commentary CD, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992) notes for 1 Corinthians 14:26-30.
[9] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers and Zondervan, 1991) 2084-2085.
[10] Life Application Study Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers and Zondervan, 1991) 2085.
[11] David Prior, The Message of 1 Corinthians, The Bible Speaks Today Series (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity, 1992), 253.