1 Corinthians 14:1-25
"Edifying Our Sibling"
This morning we are continuing with our study in 1 Corinthians picking up where we left off two weeks ago with chapter 14.
If you will notice chapter 14 is a conclusion to the discussion Paul began in chapter 12. A discussion that we have observed deals not just with spiritual gifts, but also with how we as a church treat each other. In our study we have noticed several times that the Corinthians were treating each other very bad. Much like some of you experienced this weekend shopping for Christmas. In fact their treatment of each other hinged around the pride and animosity built up between themselves and the groups they created. This morning I do not want us to focus on several different points as we look at this passage together. What I would like to do is keep in mind the theme that has been dominant in this epistle - "Edify your brother or sister in Christ!"
You may be saying to yourselves, "not this again! Mark has been preaching this ever since we started with this book." If you are saying that, good! That way I know you have been paying attention. On one hand, I don't think we could have worked through this mighty epistle if we didn't keep this theme in mind. On the other hand, edifying each other is something that we need to constantly be reminded of in our walk with Christ. This is the life for which we have been chosen. In our Christian witness, edification of our brothers and sisters is an extremely important facet of our testimony of Christ and what He has done for us to the world.
Paul did not have one little chapter on love and just drop it and say well they should know this. No, he constantly reminds his readers of the fact that we need each other in working out our sanctification. In each of his letters Paul reminds his readers of their duty to each other because of their duty to our Lord, Jesus. Chapter 13 is an important chapter. It is one of my favorites. But like I said, it doesn't end there. From it we have chapter 14.
In chapter 14 notice that Paul narrows down his discussion from several different kinds of spiritual gifts to just two, prophecy and tongues. Does Paul prefer these two gifts over the others? I don't think so. Some commentators seem to suggest that Paul had a preference to prophecy based on some other scripture proofs. And I guess they have a valid point and I really can't dispute them. But in light of the context of this passage I don't think what they prove applies here. Knowing what we now know about the Corinthians, they were a very divisive bunch. And it is my opinion that in this passage Paul is again attempting to put down an argument between a group who is disrupting the congregation with their speaking in tongues and another who is trying prophecy to the church. In any case there seems to be some uncertainty about these two gifts. One group of the Corinthians are building themselves up because they have this extraordinary gift of speaking in tongues and all the other group has is just a little prophecy. One seems more spectacular, while the other has no show at all.
What I like about Paul is that he has yet to side with the more dominant group. Is it because he likes an underdog? I don't think so. I believe Paul reverses the order of rank because he knows the importance of edification within the Church. If the Corinthian church was truly like it seems to be from Paul's letters, then Paul had to make a sharp distinction between these two gifts. Paul had to consider what his church was arguing about and weigh out what was best. In light of pursuing love as the chief of all graces, Paul prefers prophecy over speaking in tongues.
Verses 1 - 5 gives us an important point to consider in our walk to edify our siblings. Though love is the main objective in following after Christ's example, we can not discard the other gifts in our pursuit of love. We can't reject the other gifts, because Paul says that love is the greatest. Paul here suggest that the Corinthians pursue prophesy as well. I think it is important that we clarify a translation issue in verse 1. The New International Version makes the Greek out to say that we should "especially" pursue prophecy. That is a good, solid translation. However, the word "especially" is not the only word that can be used here and can be somewhat misleading. Other translations that I prefer instead of "especially" are "rather" or "but rather." The reason I like these better is because they set the tone for what I think Paul wants the Corinthians to do. Paul does not want a Christian to pursue only love or prophesy, and then disregard tongues. Paul wants them to affirm the best spiritual gift that will edify the church, and it so happens to be prophecy.
The reason Paul does this is affirmed in the contrasts he makes throughout the rest of our passage. We learn in verse 2 that those who speak in tongues do not speak to men but to God. What Paul is saying is that no one understands them. What these so called Corinthian Christians are doing is speaking mysteries that only they and God can understand. Truth that God has given them, but they are not able to share with one another. Paul is telling them that this does not make sense. Why should God give them a truth in such spectacular form if they can't share it with the church for its improvement? At least the one who prophecies strengthens, encourages. and comforts the others. True, the tongue-speakers may be edifying themselves as verse 4 might suggest, but in light of pursuing a Christ-like love this defies what the church is about. What cannot be understood cannot edify. At least the prophet comforts and exhorts his fellow believers. Paul knows when one truly speaks in tongues he or she has a good gift, but he also knows that those who only lifts themselves up are not edifying the church. We sometimes get wrapped up in our little world and think we have to do this or do that or "I wish I could do what he or she does." When we should be focusing our attention to the needs of our fellow believers. What should we "rather" pursue for them instead of making ourselves look spectacular?
In verses 6-14 Paul expounds upon the discussion the question of intelligibility. The string of gift words in verse 6 (revelation/ knowledge/ prophecy/ word of instruction) should be thought about in my opinion like this: "How should I benefit you unless I report to you a revelation or some knowledge, or unless I prophesy to you or teach you?" What I think Paul is saying is that he in revelation and knowledge he will give them content, but the form of speech he will take is prophecy or word of instruction. The point is that edification demands intelligible content and speaking in tongues can't provide that. Why do we as reformed believers rely or emphasize so heavily the word preached in truth? Why is this along with the sacraments rightly administered one of our two marks of the church? It is because of this same point. What good is it to come here to worship God if all we do is leave thinking only about ourselves? What I think is sad today, in our culture is that much of our preaching, even in the reformed denominations, still focus on the individuals. "Make them feel good so they will come back!" Christ didn't teach that. He fed many with His words, yet even His apostles abandoned Him when it was time to be nailed to the cross. We keep coming back so we can see how much we need Christ in our lives as sinners and to help each other reach that goal of glory. We try to excel in our spiritual gifts so we can build up the church. If we don't we are carelessly leading others around aimlessly in the dark. There is no certainty in the life in Christ because His body is not looking to Him - the people within it are looking only to their individual selves. When one speaks in a language known only to God, it can be no use to the soul of the other. All of us here today should be joined together in worship. This is how Christ designed his church so we can profit in the knowledge of him. We should be devoted to engage our minds to be fruitful. I don't know about you but sometimes when I am listening to a preacher preach, my mind wanders. I think about all sorts of things - things that I sometimes can't believe I am thinking about. It is nothing to be ashamed about - it is human nature. Yet we are still being unfruitful with our minds when we do this, and this is not the only thing we might do this is just an example of something that Paul seems to be describing here. So what do we do?
Verses 15 - 20 gives us some insight. What we do is take note of those times or those things. We realize that something is occurring and we are not engaged with our spirit to hearing - notice what I said hearing not speaking - what is being communicated to us by the Holy Spirit. When we are at worship together; we corporately engage the edification of each other through our prayers of spirit and mind, singing with the spirit and mind, praising God with the spirit and mind, thanking God with the spirit and mind - all for the edification of our brother or sister. We don't let our minds wander because we should be focused on God and each other. We don't speak in tongues because it is not for the edification of the brother. We should be saying "Amen" together for what Christ has done in our lives together as a body in Him.
Paul tells them that if they want to hold trophies up for the best and most gifted tongue speaker then he surpasses them all. If there should be envy then they should envy him. Paul identifies with those in his congregation who glorified their ability to speak in tongues, yet with a subtle message. Verse 19 states "I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." This raises an important question for us. What is our verbal testimony of Christ like? Do we speak intelligently about Him, or do we flounder along speaking gibberish from what we heard the preacher say. What I am getting at is this. Paul tells them that he can speak in tongues but does not do it because he knows it is will not edify. This keys us into Paul's passion for his fellow believers. What more passion should we have than to teach and comfort our brother or sister with the Word of God? What more passion should we have than to study God's Word and be ready to reflect on our duty to our brother or sister? We come together as an assembled church for the place of intelligently studying God's Word as a part of our worship. We should study God's Word at home as well in order to be effective when following after God's will.
This leads us to verses 20 -25. What we have here is Paul discussing with his church their attitude. You all know the saying he or she is 13 going on 23. In other words here is a child who thinks they are adults because they act and speak in a certain way. When in actuality they are displaying more immaturity. Paul tells the Corinthians just that. They were acting like children because they thought what was novel was something to be preferred. When Paul says "brothers" in verse 20 he was not using an affectionate term of endearment. Paul was setting up for them rebuke or chastisement. It is another reference back to chapter 3 verse 2. They are still acting like children who can't consume solid food. What they think is great is nothing more than a sign of immaturity. Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11,12 in verse 21 because he wanted the Corinthians to understand from Scripture that the way they were using their gift of tongues was a sign of God's judgment upon them. They were speaking, but no one could understand. No one could hear them. It seems that from verse 22 Paul saw the need of tongues to spread Christianity to those who only knew another language. It was not intended for individuals to use as a way of puffing themselves up.
Paul says we prophesy (or speak intelligently a word of instruction) before speaking in tongues for those who may come to our church that do not believe in the risen Christ. We speak intelligently about our faith so they will understand that our religion is sincere, not ridiculous. We speak about Christ intelligently and preach truthfully so the Holy Spirit will work in the heart of an unbeliever and lay bare the secrets within his heart. It is only through hearing the truth about God through His Word that an unbeliever can be converted. The ministry, the church that we all are apart of, is not for lifting up our own particular gift over the other person's; but for the purpose of saving souls and edifying our sibl