First Corinthians 14 Part 8 Paul Brings Order Out Of Chaos.

Seeds of confusion and chaos were sown at Corinth. 

1 Corinthians 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. 

The final phase of Paul's corrections regarding speaking in tongues is connected with right worship and orderliness in Christ's church.

He was guided by the Spirit of God to emphasize the need for all things to edify or build up the faith of Christians at Corinth.

The words "How is it then, brethren?" is like saying "What is going on here brothers?"

Paul cites five elements that were causing disorder in the Corinthian church. 

When the church met, every person had some spiritual gift that they were displaying, and this appears to have been done to gain attention.

The Corinthians were a people puffed up with pride and they caused divisions that led to severe problems in that church.

Everyone claimed to have their own "psalm." This does not refer to the Old Testament book of Psalms.

Rather, it refers to Spirit inspired praises such as those recorded in the gospel of Luke. 

Mary praised the Lord when she learned that she would give birth to the Messiah (See Luke 1:46-55). 

Zechariah praised the Lord when John the Baptist was born (See Luke 1:67-79).

Simeon and Anna both praised the Lord when they were blessed to see the Christ child (See Luke 2:34-38).

Knowing that the Corinthians imitated speaking in tongues like the pagan glossolalia, some pretended that they spoke a new psalm.

More troubling is that everyone had their own doctrinal views that they pushed forward. 

Pretending to speak in tongues was an issue that plagued this church. In addition, different people gave different interpretations of tongues.  

Others claimed to have new revelation from God.

Imagine stepping into that church and hearing people speaking in psalms, speaking in tongues, giving their own doctrinal views, claiming new revelation, interpreting tongues, all at the same time.

It would be a scene of complete chaos, dysfunction and disorder.

A loud cacophony of competing voices would foster confusion and this is why Paul said visitors would think the Corinthians were out of their minds. 

They could not worship or pray or hear teaching from the Bible in this kind of chaos.

Paul lays down clear rules of conduct from the Spirit of God. All things in the church must be undertaken for the express purpose of edifying the body.

Holy Spirit rules to govern speaking in tongues. 

1 Corinthians 14:27-28  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. 28)  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 

God's intent for speaking in tongues was that the gospel of Christ could be preached in foreign languages that the speaker never acquired.

The first rule from God's Spirit is that no more than two or three may speak in unknown languages. They must speak separately, not at the same time.

Second, someone must be present to interpret what is said in tongues. If there is no interpreter available, then those who speak in tongues must be silent. 

If another was present who could interpret then two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and the church edified. 

But, if there were none to interpret, he was to be silent in the church, and only exercise his gift between God and himself, that is in private, at home.

Spirit rules to govern prophets who spoke in church. 

1 Corinthians 14:29-32  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30)  If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31)  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32)  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 

Prophets were necessary until the New Testament was completed. Some prophets like Agabus, spoke of impending events the church needed to prepare for.

Some would have been speaking about how the church fit into God's redemptive plan. 

The church was a mystery that God kept hidden until Jesus Christ finished His work on earth. 

Thus, prophets and apostles could help Christians understand what God was doing.

In like manner, only two or three prophets were permitted to speak in the church, and each must wait his turn. 

Another clear rule that the Spirit supplied through Paul, was that the "spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."

Bible commentators have a variety of ways to interpreting this verse.

The plainest meaning seems to be that whatever a New Testament prophet was speaking, it must be subject to or in harmony with the Old Testament prophets. 

If one claimed to be a prophet speaking for Jehovah with a message that was at variance with the Old Testament prophets, then his message was suspicious.

New Testament prophets must align with the Old Testament prophets. 

2 Peter 1:19-21  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20)  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

The apostle Peter emphatically teaches us that no prophecy of scripture is subject to some new or novel interpretation. 

When the plain sense of scripture makes perfect sense, seek no other sense.

The Old Testament prophets spoke as the Holy Spirit came upon them. Revelation from a New Testament prophet cannot contradict what the Old Testament prophets wrote. 

1 John 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

This is why the Spirit of God moved John to tell us that many false prophets have gone out into the world. Therefore, we must try the spirits to see if they be of God or not.

Any New Testament prophet who preached a message that did not harmonize with the Old Testament prophets, must be rejected.

Orderliness and peace prevails when the Holy Spirit works in the church.

1 Corinthians 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 

Paul rebuked the Corinthians for the disorder and confusion that existed in the church.

The Spirit of God is not like that at all. He never does anything to create instability, cause a disturbance or foster confusion in the Church.

Thus, Paul demonstrated that the Corinthians were doing that which dishonored God.

When the Holy Spirit is having His way, Christ's church will have unity and peace within. 

Paul has some more truth to teach us about orderliness in the churches that we will study in our next post. 

It helps to remember the temporary nature of some spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, prophesying, or having a word of knowledge from God.

These gifts passed away as the Bible was completed. 

When Matthew through Revelation was complete, there was no longer any need for tongues, interpretation, prophecy or words of knowledge.  

May the Lord grant us understanding of these truths and may we try the spirits since there are many false prophets in the world. 

They claim to speak for God, yet their message is contradicted by scripture.

We must learn to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

We must reject those who say something different from what God plainly says in His Word.

Bob