5-Day Commentary Challenge - 1 Corinthians 13-14 Sample

When You Assemble, Edify, 14:26–33a

All for edification (14:26). “When you assemble” refers back to the many mentions of the Corinthians’ coming together in chapter 11:17–18, 20, and 33–34. Paul summed up (“what is the outcome then”) the exercise of the various things done in the assembly in one phrase: “Let all things be done for edification.” Earlier in the chapter, edification was defined by how clear the message was (14:9). Here edification was viewed from another but related aspect, assembly order.

Order for tongues (14:27–28). Paul advised a limit (three) and an order (“in turn”) for tongues speaking. If no interpreter was present, the individual was asked to remain silent and do his speaking to himself and God. That most likely related to tongues speaking in private homes.

Order for prophets (14:29–33a). A limit was also placed on prophets (three [14:29]) and their order (“one by one” [14:31]). No interpreter was needed, but the others were to “pass judgment” (14:29) upon the content of the revelation. Just as with tongues, so with prophecy: content, not fervor, was the standard for the presence of the Lord. The spirits of the prophets were under their control (14:32); there was no excuse for uncontrolled prophetic outbursts. Verse 33 explained that further. Peace, not confusion (uncontrolled outbursts), was God’s way. But there was also another problem with people speaking in inappropriate ways, as 14:34–36 explained.

The All-Churches Position on Silent Women, 14:33b–36

Major English and Greek versions support taking 14:33b as the first part of the sentence that continues into 14:34. That placed the discussion of women into a universal, all-church custom.

Women were not permitted to speak in the assembly (14:34). Whether such speaking referred to tongues, prophecy, or simple asking of questions (14:35), it was not allowed. In that light, the praying and prophesying mentioned in 11:5 is best seen as done outside the formal assembly. The question was not that women could not have those gifts, but simply that they were not to be exercised in the assembly, much as untranslated tongues were not to be exercised in the assembly.

The silence of women was simply an extension of the silence of males that Paul commanded earlier. Without a translator, a tongues speaker was to “keep silent” in the church (14:28). When a revelation was made to another prophet, the first prophet was to “keep silent” (14:30). The point was to give a chance for all to learn (14:31), the extension of which would have to proceed in the home for married women (14:35). The male prophets’ spirits were subject to themselves (14:32). The women, following the Old Testament order of creation, were to be subject to their husbands (14:34). Therefore, Paul’s discussion of silence, learning, and subjection of women followed very logically out of his discussion of the same subjects for men. To end that discussion, Paul laid claim once again to common church practice, much as he did with the question of women in 11:3–16. But that claim carried more than a little bit of sarcasm as Paul asked them if they considered themselves the sole source and recipients of God’s Word (14:36).

The Lord’s Command and a Final Summary, 14:37–40

Lest any think that Paul was giving his personal opinion, he stated that he had delivered the “Lord’s commandment” (14:37) and that a spiritual person would recognize it as such. Paul was not being sarcastic here, however. He was subjecting himself to the same rules he had laid down (by the Lord’s commandment) in 14:29. Paul as prophet gave what he claimed to be a commandment of the Lord, spoken by revelation of the Spirit. He then asked for the other prophets and spiritually mature to pass judgment. So great was his confidence that he spoke for the Lord, however, that he dismissed any negative vote as not worthy of recognition (14:38).

His final words on the subject keep the balance that could so easily have been broken. The Corinthians were to “desire earnestly to prophesy” (14:39), thus achieving the edification of love. They were also, however, not to “forbid to speak in tongues,” a potentially severe backlash in light of the problems created by the misuse of tongues apart from interpretation. Possibly, the forbidding of tongues was what initiated the question of 12:1 in the first place. Certainly what Corinth did not need was the development of “for tongues” and “against tongues” factions. They had enough schisms already. For the time being, Paul commanded that “all things must be done properly” (the aspects of edification, 12:1–14:25) and “in an orderly manner” (the patterns of order, 14:26–36).

Note from the Publisher: We hope that you have been encouraged by this 5-day commentary challenge from Robert B. Hughes. You can pick up a copy of 1 Corinthians - Everyday Bible Commentary at moodypublishers.com