1 Corinthians 14 study guide

1. There are two different purposes for glossolalia :2, 3, 4,

A. Prophecy, spoken in an assembly :3

• For believers, not unbelievers :22
• for the edification, encouragement, instruction, and comfort of the assembly :3 – 5, 18 - 19
• Also convicts unbelievers and the uninstructed :24 - 25
• Prophecy (over tongues) is the greater gift :1, 5, 12,
• Only to be spoken if there is an interpreter :27 - 28

B Tongues, spoken privately between the speaker and God :2

• For the edification of the speaker :2, 4,
• Allows the speaker to pray about unknown things :3, 4
• We may ask to self-interpret that our minds be fruitful :13 - 15
• Can be sung :15
• Also, a sign to unbelievers :22
• Not to be spoken publicly unless there is an interpreter :27 - 28

2. There is a correct time and place for each purpose :1 - 40

• Violating time and place constraints (speaking an uninterpreted tongue in an assembly) creates confusion and misunderstanding :6 – 18, 23,
• Worship is to be orderly :26 – 35, 40
• It is better to not speak than to do so incorrectly :18 - 19

3. Paul wished we would all do it :5
4. We are to eagerly desire it :1, 38
5. We are to acknowledge this word as the Lords command, or be ignored. :36 – 38, 20 – 21
6. We are forbidden to forbid it :39

***

1 Corinthians 14

1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

6Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct? 8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle? 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.

12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church. 13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21It is written in the Law:

“By strange tongues and foreign lips

I will speak to this people,

but even then they will not listen to Me,

says the Lord.”a

22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all, 25and the secrets of his heart will be made clear. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

Orderly Worship

26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should hold his peace. 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.

As in all the congregations of the saints, 34women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.

36Did God’s word originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. 38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.b

39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.

Footnotes:

21 a Isaiah 28:11,12
38 b BYZ and TR let him be ignorant

3 tangental questions came to mind as I studied this...

1 The uninstructed - since these are differentiated from unbelievers, are these uninstructed believers?

2 We are to acknowledge this word or be ignored - is that like shunning believers who refuse correction?

3 What part of DO NOT FORBID do people not understand?

How can anyone forbid that which is already history? Yet another thread on tongues.

What part of cease, fail and vanish away do people not understand........?

Why do many use the Corinthian church as proof in the pudding when it is called carnal, immature and worldly with some 15 errors?

Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

Because they are in the same position as the Corinthians.

If, as several of you assert, tongues, prophecy and knowledge passed away at the completion of the biblical canon, then the time frame between Paul's letter to the Corinthians and the cessation of the gifts was a minimum of about 15-20 years (with an early date for Revelation) to a maximum of about 45 years (with a late date for Revelation). Frankly, that is a lot of verbiage for something that the Holy Spirit knew would not even be relevant less than 50 years later.

So instead of throwing insults at those with whom you disagree, how about presenting a reasonable defense for your assertions.

For out of the heart, the mouth speaks (and the fingers type).

What is...Prophecy (over tongues) is the greater gift?

I loved it when D recently posted one post in a thread about how God is all about love, and in the very next post in the same thread spread anger and hatred towards someone with whom he disagreed.

Since the claimed-to-be-redacted portions of the Bible says we are acknowledge God's command here and ignore the un-instructed, I guess he now goes on the ever-growing ignore list.

But at least, thanks to them, we now know the Holy Spirit's true name ... William Barr!

Yes it is - according to eternal scriptures you believe are no longer true.

36Did God’s word originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. 38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.b

your comment does refute the Biblical points presented LOL Not.

Get your facts straight dude....

Was JESUS loving the people when he drove out the money changers or was calling the Pharisees white washed coffins filled with the bones of dead men?

See.....you assume, mouth, accuse just like the one you referenced and when we fire back you put out the drivel and blather above........and the funny thing......you incessantly whine about God not using you.....maybe look at yourself then start accusing!

I have a question.........based upon a study of the words and using logically deduced conclusions based upon the words

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

When Saul was converted and became PAUL, he was given direct revelation from JESUS and knowledge supernaturally imparted unto him, just like the men who were inspired to write the bible........

NOW that the bible is COMPLETE, and the COMFORTER goes before and LEADS and GUIDES into ALL truth there is no need for KNOWLEDGE to be supernaturally given to MEN...why? BECAUSE we have the written word of GOD, MEN sent to preach and proclaim it and the perfect GUIDE (H.S.) that LEADS us into ALL truth......

THIS points to the fact that 1st Corinthians 13 is CORRECT in it's assessment of KNOWLEDGE and it VANISHING away........as the word of GOD was completed, accompanied by the H.S. there was NO NEED for KNOWLEDGE to be supernaturally imparted to men.......and to say that it is still needed TOTALLY undermines what the word of GOD has to say about the word......

We have the written word completed
We have the Comforter to GUIDE us into the truth
We have God called and placed pastors and teachers to instruct us
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word

This principle rings true as well when it comes to PROPHECY......The book of REVELATION is clear....it is finished...we have NO NEED of some new PROPHECY....we have ALL that we need to understand and GOD states clearly to NOT ADD ONE WORD to the prophetic utterances that have been given in the word..........it is called the BIBLE (BOOK) for a reason.....MEN have added chapters and verses.....it is to be taken in it's collective WHOLE......Think about the concept of the very words....Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail

The word FAIL

katargeó: to render inoperative, abolish
Original Word: καταργέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katargeó
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-arg-eh'-o)
Definition: to render inoperative, abolish
Usage: (a) I make idle (inactive), make of no effect, annul, abolish, bring to naught, (b) I discharge, sever, separate from.

WHY.....BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEED for them with the COMPLETED word of GOD<----IT tells us ALL that we need to KNOW and I dare to say that ANYONE that ADDS a NEW PROPHECY after the FACT is not being led of GOD

SAME word APPLIED to KNOWLEDGE

katargeó: to render inoperative, abolish
Original Word: καταργέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katargeó
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-arg-eh'-o)
Definition: to render inoperative, abolish
Usage: (a) I make idle (inactive), make of no effect, annul, abolish, bring to naught, (b) I discharge, sever, separate from

Same principle rings true...there is NO NEED fro NEW KNOWLEDGE...the BIBLE is complete....it is the MIND of CHRIST and we HAVE all we NEED in IT to be, do, live, as GOD would have us.....

the word applied to LANGUAGES IS

pauó: to make to cease, hinder
Original Word: παύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pauó
Phonetic Spelling: (pow'-o)
Definition: to make to cease, hinder
Usage: (a) act: I cause to cease, restrain, hinder, (b) mid: I cease, stop, leave off.

The implication seems very clear to me...........

AND NOW ABIDES FAITH, HOPE and LOVE <----the context is LOVE will NEVER FAIL but the ABOVE THREE WILL........AND NOW abides FAITH, HOPE and LOVE

Why does PAUL, under inspiration only LIST FAITH, HOPE and LOVE while SAYING the other THREE will be abolished, rendered inoperative and or caused to CEASE IF they are still active unto this day some 1960 years later?????

i find it hard to believe the bible is "the perfect" which is spoken of. the bible has not helped us at all in reaching unity, probably the opposite. i also fear saying the bible is the perfect can lead to idolatry where we place bible as God.

i also dont think that we know perfectly even if we have the bible. the psalms that the apostles had was different from the one we have, they quote septuagint, we use masoretic hebrew. "you have prepared a body for me" is quoted in hebrews, but go look in psalms its not there, only in the septuagint it is, in our translations no. thats an error made by some man somewhere. i dont believe "perfect" could have an error like that.

there is also the battle over what manuscripts to use, some say majority text or TR is best, some say the nestle åland critical text.

its all too complicated to be perfect. i believe the perfect means when we see Jesus face to face.

the Holy Spirit leads to all truth. the bible is there to point us to Jesus. "you search the scriptures you think in them you have life, but they are they which testify of me" Jesus says.

Jesus is not tampered by men, scriptures are and continue to be. even in st.paul's day they were sending fake letters in his name. st.paul says that to the thessalonians

The word translated perfect actually equals COMPLETE.......and make no mistake about it, all disunity when it comes to the word of God fully rests upon the shoulders of men.....not God, nor the Word of God!!

I'll address just one aspect of your post: the idea that prophecy is giving the word of God which "should be" part of the Bible. You didn't state it as such, but you clearly implied it.

Agabus spoke two prophetic messages that are recorded in Scripture. Before the first message was recorded, he was called a prophet, in Acts 11:27-28...

27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)

There were others with him, also called "prophets", but their prophetic messages are not part of Scripture, nor are those of Agabus prior to verse 28. How could they be called prophets if they had never "prophesied"?

Acts 21 records the following:
8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

By the way, the fact that Agabus is mentioned in the very next verse suggesting that the meaning of "prophesied" in verse 9 is the same concept as what Agabus was doing.

Finally, in Acts 2:17, Peter quotes the prophet Joel, who wrote, "“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. (Joel 2:28).

There isn't a single word of the NT after Pentecost that was "spoken forth" (i.e.: written) by a woman. If "prophesy" only means "putting forth the word of God which is Scripture" then these passages are false. If, instead, "prophesy" means something larger than just speaking forth Scripture, then considering prophecy "ended" with the closing of the canon is flawed.

YEP.....and what was written in Acts was written before the word was completed.......and Peter himself states that Joel's prophecy was fulfilled that day.........

You assumed and missed the mark of what I said completely.....the point....the BIBLE is complete....there is no new need of prophecy we have all we need and after the PROPHECY of REVELATION we are TOLD to NOT ADD to this BOOK

You've only addressed one verse that I mentioned. Paul also told the Corinthians to be eager to prophesy. He did not write, "Be eager to add to Scripture." I find your position inconsistent with what is recorded in the Bible.

Are you Jesus? He is God and you are not. Paul cursed someone but he repented immediately because it was wrong.