1 + 2 Corinthians | Reading Plan + Study QuestionsSample

1 CORINTHIANS 14

PAUL GIVES DIRECTION FOR ORDERLY CHURCH GATHERINGS

Paul encourages the believers to listen to the Holy Spirit and speak words of truth, building up the church. For those who do speak in the hidden language, they need someone who is able to interpret, or the message will fall on deaf ears. While Paul values all of the spiritual gifts, his greatest priority is encouraging the growth of the church.

The concept of speaking in tongues is heavily debated within the Church today, some believing it is the ability to speak other languages and some believing it is a unique prayer language between God and humanity. Despite these differences, Paul’s message is clear: use the gifts of the spirit to further the message of Jesus.

Giving directions for speaking in tongues and conducting orderly church gatherings, Paul states that God is not a God of confusion, but of peace and clarity. Paul gives instructions for women within the church not to speak and instead later ask their husbands about the teachings. Although this sounds misogynistic and harsh, it is important to remember that Paul considered Priscilla a co-laborer and leader in the church in Corinth (Acts 18, Romans 16:3). When talking about customs in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul says that women are able to pray and prophesy, two things he cares about deeply.

One explanation for this passage is that these specific women were being disruptive or disrespectful at the time. Based on Paul's overall message, his focus primarily addresses creating orderly, peaceful places of worship. It's crucial to consider Paul's support for women in leadership roles elsewhere in his writings and acknowledge that his instructions in this chapter might have been addressing specific situations of disruption or disorderliness rather than a general mandate against women speaking in church.

STUDY QUESTIONS

How did Paul describe speaking in tongues? What were the believers instructed to do if there was no interpreter present?

What aspects of Paul’s message do you believe apply specifically to the intended audience of Corinth? Which aspects are universal to all believers?