Lessons From 1 Corinthians – Lesson 16
In Chapter 12 Paul deals with them wrongly desiring certain spiritual gifts. We have seen before that they were carnal Christians and had a problem with look at what I can do or look who baptized me.
And in Chapter 12 Paul teaches that God uses different men different ways. Not everyone gets the same gift, and what we get is not up to us. God makes those decisions. We should not be questioning the wisdom of God in that decision and we should not be coveting what someone else received. Then Paul says there is a more excellent way than spiritual gifts.
And that is Charity. Chapter 13 has sometimes been called the Great Love Chapter. As you go thru the description of this love you start to see that this is a love far greater than man. This is a description of the Love of God.
And we are instructed to love this way. That means it is possible to do it. But you cannot do it thru the flesh. You cannot manufacture this great love on your own. Jesus said without me ye can do nothing.
The detailed description of this love is given in Chapter 13 as a measuring stick. We can see when we miss the mark, when we get off track.
And when we do and find that we are not loving like God wants us to, then the solution is to confess it, and ask for Him to help us let His love flow thru us.
So Chapter 14:1 is not a clean break in topic but just a continuation, Paul says follow after charity. It is the summary statement to the topic.
That means you put some effort into it, that you know what the high mark is and then start walking that way.
1 Cor 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Charity is so important that God says without it you are nothing. And it is ok to have and use and be thankful for spiritual gifts. It is ok to desire your gift, not someone else’s.
And now Paul is getting back to the misuse of tongues issue. They had a huge problem with this in Corinth.
And the first thing Paul says is rather that ye may prophesy. That is declaring God’s Word. It covers both foretelling and some of that was still going on. Most of the N.T. has not been written yet. But it also covers preaching the Word that has already been given.
So put preaching over spiritual gifts. Put it all together and you get this order of priorities.
- Charity
- Preaching
- Spiritual gifts behind those.
It is made so plain and clear, all you have to do to see it is let God’s Word say what it says and look not only at just one verse or two, but look at all of 1st Cor. and that is clearly God’s priority.
Many will get this wrong. I mean most actually.
Pentecostals and Charismatics will put priority 3 as priority 1. That is the same thing that this church in Corinth was doing and getting strongly rebuked for.
I have seen some put priority 1 on the bottom. Johnathan was an example of this. He boldly stated that not one dollar of God’s money will ever go to help anyone. The poor and fatherless will never get anything.
In the 2 years we were there he only made one small exception one time and did it grudgingly.
He was the worst example of that I have seen. Charity covers far more than giving to the poor, it is a love that does. It is longsuffering and patient and thinks the best and gives grace to people and so on. But it definitely does also include helping others.
I have seen other churches not go to that extreme but they do put priority number 2 as number 1 and Charity as number 2 or even number 3.
And there is an impact of doing this on the preaching. If love is not your number 1 thing then it will show in your preaching. The preaching can become cold and hard and actually against God’s command to give the truth in love.
Remember without charity you are nothing.
1 Cor 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Cor 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
So if you are preaching without charity working in your life, then you are actually grieving the Holy Spirit. You do that long enough and you will start not seeing the scriptures correctly. You will fall into error. The Scriptures are spiritually discerned.
We need the Holy Spirit illuminating the scriptures to us.
Johnathan had charity not even on the priority list at all and over time he made more and more mistakes. Like quitting all types of work on Friday at 6pm. And not eating ham. And teaching performance based Christianity which is you are only saved if you have a long list of people you have led to the Lord.
All of those mistakes which kept getting worse and worse, all started with not having God’s priorities as we see laid out in 1st Corinthians.
- Charity
- Preaching
- Gifts
Charity will affect your preaching and it will affect the effectiveness of your gifts. It needs top priority.
Paul now starts getting specific with the problems with tongues and how they are using them.
The first problem is tongues are worthless if no one understands what you are saying.
1 Cor 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
The power of tongues has already declined. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit automatically translated. A man would speak in tongues which are known languages and the hearers would hear in their own language.
Now say a man in Corinth gets up and starts speaking in a language that he does not know. Say Italian. The Spirit of God knows what is said but no one else does in a room of people who only know Greek.
So it does nobody any good. No one learns anything. On the other hand preaching does help.
1 Cor 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1 Cor 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
It is preaching that that edifies the people. And so Paul would rather that they preached.
1 Cor 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
The only way that tongues at this time did anything is if there was a translator. So back to my example. We are in Corinth and everyone speaks Greek. A man starts speaking in Italian, a language that is unknown to him. It only does any good if someone there knows Italian and Greek and translates what is said into Greek so people can understand.
1 Cor 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1 Cor 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
1 Cor 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1 Cor 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
1 Cor 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
Without understanding the meaning of what is being said, it is worthless. It accomplishes nothing.
1 Cor 14:11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
In fact if you do this without a translator then you are like a barbarian to those there.
So don’t seek this. Instead seek plain preaching that edifies the church.
1 Cor 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
1 Cor 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
1 Cor 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
1 Cor 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
1 Cor 14:17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
1 Cor 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
1 Cor 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
This is pretty strong. Paul would rather have 5 words that teach, than 10,000 words that no one understands. 5 is better than 10,000.
1 Cor 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Kind of saying, grow up. In understanding be men. Put understanding first.
1 Cor 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
It was foretold in the O.T. that God would speak with men of other languages. And that they would not hear me. That is hear as in listen as in believe. As in turn their hearts.
So wherefore. Because of this then, tongues are a sign to unbelievers and not a sign to believers.
1 Cor 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
And that is what happened at Pentecost. It was a sign to unbelievers. It confirmed the word that Peter preached and 3,000 got saved that day.
Tongues were given for the lost. So the point being made here is why then do it in a room that has nothing but believers in it.
Preaching is for them that believe. Paul is saying even at that time where tongues had not completely stopped, that they should not do tongues in a room full of Christians. Instead they are to preach to Christians.
And even though tongues were a sign to unbelievers, even if an unbeliever comes in, and especially if there is no translator, they will think you are crazy.
1 Cor 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
That does not happen with plain preaching. It is vastly superior.
1 Cor 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
1 Cor 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Plain preaching of the Word of God pierces the heart. God bears witness to the truth of His Word being plainly preached.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
So stick with preaching, and of course preaching with Charity being practiced.
And that is not what they were doing.
1 Cor 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
O’ what a mess. What confusion. What a look at me competition. Everyone comes with something. Every one of them has a teaching, or a revelation, or a psalm. Everyone wants to speak.
Every one of them wants the attention and the praise and the eyes of others on them.
Paul has been hammering it home over and over here in a strong way. Preaching is what works. Tongues, even though they are still in effect are far less effective. But since that gift is still in use because so little of the N.T. is written Paul is going to give rules for their use.
1 Cor 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
1 Cor 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
1 Cor 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1 Cor 14:30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
So let one speak and no interrupting.
I have lived this. All preachers will mess up sometime. Only Jesus is perfect. And I have caught a mistake and would just let it go. If it was just an honest mistake on a small matter, just drop it.
But if the mistake is serious and if he keeps making it over and over, then I would talk to him about it. But not while he is preaching. You do that in private later.
1 Cor 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1 Cor 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
A local Church service should not be chaos. It should be done in a way that is conducive to learning and building people up.
The last thing in this chapter has been miss taught by many, even abused by some, and has caused confusion to others.
Before we read it, I want to remind us of some of the most important principals of Bible study.
The first one you should know from our verses that we have memorized.
For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations.
And without faith it is impossible to please him.
God gave His word to man, and God promised to preserve it. And the Lord is good. He is holy and perfect and does not make mistakes. He cannot lie. So since He gave us His Word and because of His character and because of His promise.
The 1st most important Bible study principal is this. Have faith in His Word. Believe that it is correct as it should be and that it is true and right.
All of it. The parts that I understand and those that I do not understand. Don’t pass judgment on God’s Word. Chalk up the parts that you don’t get to your limited knowledge. And maybe in God’s wisdom He knows you just are ready for something yet.
Maybe God will give understanding at a later time.
The 1st most important principal is have faith in His Word.
The 2nd most important principal is don’t grieve the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is our teacher and that He illuminates the scriptures. The scriptures are spiritually discerned.
The 3rd most important principal is Context, context, context. Do not look at just one verse. Take into account the context of the surrounding verses, which may be in the chapter before or after. The chapter breaks are not inspired. And then you have to take the context of the book. So in our case all of 1st Corinthians. And then you have to take the context of the entire Bible.
So local context, book context, Bible context.
Those are the top 3 in order of importance. 1 Have faith in His Word, 2 don’t grieve the Spirit, and 3rd all 3 context’s
But those are not the only Bible study principals. The rest all fall under the big 3 in no particular order of importance.
Another Bible study principal that affects the end of chapter 14 is by 2 or 3 witnesses shall a matter be established. Never build a belief or practice off of only 1 verse. For example baptism for the dead is only mentioned once and there is zero clarification of what Paul was talking about.
There always needs to be at least 2 witnesses to build a belief or practice on. And along with this, there must not be any scripture that teaches the opposite.
This is of major importance. If you have other scripture teaching the opposite, we know the problem is not with the scripture. The problem is that you are looking at something the wrong way.
So let’s look at the end of Chapter 14 and apply these Bible study principals.
1 Cor 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1 Cor 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1 Cor 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
1 Cor 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
1 Cor 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
1 Cor 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Some teach that this means that a woman cannot speak at all in the church. In any setting for any reason.
But there are huge problems with that teaching. 1 there is no second witness that says that. And 2 there is scripture that teaches the opposite.
It is now 3 days from the cross and Jesus is risen. And who does he send to the church to tell them that He is risen. Women.
Mat 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mat 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
Mat 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Mat 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Mat 28:10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Luk 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
So the disciples and apostles were gathered together someplace. The local church is not a building but people. And when they are gathered, assembled together in one place, that is a church gathering.
And 1st Jesus had the angels tell the women to go to this gathering and tell and then Jesus meets them on the way and tells the women to go to this gathering and also tell them to go to Galilee.
Here you have God telling women to speak at a church gathering.
So what Paul is saying in Chapter 14 cannot mean what some falsely teach that a woman cannot open her mouth at a church gathering. Those that teach that are way off.
Look at the local context.
1 Cor 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak
The verses before this has been a discussion on preaching over tongues. And the importance of preaching and the need for order during preaching. That is the context. Preaching. This section is not talking about general speaking, but preaching.
Bring in Bible context now. The Bible does teach that one of the qualifications to be a preacher is that you have to be the husband of one wife. So the Bible does teach that women are not to be preachers.
And the context here is preaching. The let your women keep silence is given in the context of preaching.
So we have The Context of the Bible backing up that women are not to be preachers and we have the local context tell us that this statement is given in the context of preaching.
Now let’s add the 3rd context and that is the context of the book of 1st Corinthians.
This book was written to Carnal Christians who were mostly gentile believers who were idol worshippers before. And we know that the Temple prostitutes would shave their heads.
And we know that Paul had to address the women shaving their heads thing. He taught in 1st Cor. That a woman’s hair is a gift from God and that they should not shave their heads.
And a part of the context of the book principal would include that primarily this book was written to the Corinthians. Yes, the book was given to all Christians in all the ages since. And yes it is for our teaching.
But that does not remove the fact that Paul was writing this letter to a specific church with specific problems.
Paul was addressing their specific issues that was going on with their specific people at that specific time. Read the whole book and I think it becomes clear that the women in this church were a problem.
Notice the wording Paul uses very closely.
1 Cor 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches:
Let your women. Paul did not say all women. This is specifically targeted to those problem carnal women in that church. And yes it does also go along with the teaching that women are not to be preachers. Absolutely true.
But the primary target being addressed here is let your women, the women in that church. They were a problem.
Read the other letters that Paul writes other churches and you will not find this again. Why? The women in those other churches were not causing the same issues.
And notice Paul has to tell them to let the specific women in that church ask questions and learn at home. Why?
Well that plainly tells me that these women had a serious lack of knowledge. It tells me that they had much to learn. And we know they were carnal. And I think they were causing issues and disrupting the local church services.
Local context a few verses before Paul is having to teach them to not interrupt the preaching.
I have seen some teach that a woman is not allowed to ask a question of anyone at church. She has to ask her husband and only at home. She cannot ask the pastor or the Sunday school teacher.
That is a serious error that does not have any second witness in the Bible. They are taking an instruction that was given about disruptive carnal women who were a problem in the local services at that one church in Corinth and applying it to all women in every church. Huge mistake.
Taking an instruction that was needed for a specific local problem that was given to specific problem women and apply that to all women is a huge error. Especially when there is scripture that goes against it.
The only time that you would ever apply this is if you have the same issue. If you have a husband and wife join and the wife was carnal and disrupting the services and interrupting the preaching asking questions.
For the sake of everyone else so that others can be edified, and God honored, you would have to put a stop to the disruption. That is what I believe was going on in Corinth and that was specifically what Paul was addressing.