1 Corinthians 12-14

1 Corinthians 12

Paul teaches about spiritual gifts

• Different gifts come from:
  • the same Spirit
  • the same Lord
  • the same God
• Gifts are given for the common good
• Examples:
  • wisdom
  • knowledge
  • faith
  • healing
  • miracles
  • prophecy
  • discernment
  • tongues
  • interpretation
• The Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He wills

One Body, Many Members

• The church is compared to a body
  • Believers are different parts of one body
  • No member is unnecessary or superior
• When one member suffers then all suffer
• When one is honored then all rejoice
• There should be no division 

 Different Roles in the Church

• God appoints different roles:
  • First apostles
  • Second prophets
  • Third teachers
  • Then miracles
  • Then healing
  • helps
  • administration
  • tongues
• Not everyone has the same gift
  • Earnestly desire higher gifts

1 Corinthians 13

But there is a more excellent way! 

Speaking in tongues, prophecy, knowledge, or sacrificing our bodies mean nothing without love

 Description of Love  (ἀγάπη agape) 

Love is:

• patient
• kind
• not jealous
• not boastful
• not arrogant
• not rude
• not self-seeking
• not easily angered
• rejoices with truth
• bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things

Love Never Ends

• Spiritual gifts are temporary
• Human knowledge is partial
• One day believers will see fully
• Faith, hope, and love remain
  • Greatest of all: love

1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy and Tongues γλῶσσα (glōssa)

• Paul encourages pursuing love and spiritual gifts
  • Especially emphasizes prophecy because it builds up the church
• Tongues without interpretation do not help others understand
• Worship should strengthen the congregation

 Signs for Believers and Unbelievers

• Paul urges spiritual maturity
  • “Do not be children in your thinking”
• Isaiah 28 quoted
  • Tongues can function as a sign
• Clear prophecy can convict unbelievers and reveal the heart
• Goal for people recognize God is among the church

From: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-corinthians-14/

i. The problem comes when we see what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:23-25. First, that if unbelievers hear tongues in a meeting, they will not be blessed, but will say that you are out of your mind. Second, if unbelievers hear prophecy and are convicted in their hearts, their reaction may be to worship God and report that God is truly among you. So, in 1 Corinthians 14:23-25, Paul seems to indicate that tongues are not beneficial in ministering to unbelievers, while prophecy is beneficial to unbelievers. So, how then can tongues be a sign to unbelievers, and prophecy be a sign better suited for those who believe? There seems to be a contradiction between 1 Corinthians 14:22 and 1 Corinthians 14:23-25.

ii. Perhaps Paul is saying that tongues are indeed a sign to unbelievers, but not a positive sign. They are a sign of judgment, as the unknown tongues of the Assyrians were in Isaiah’s day. In this way, tongues indeed are a sign to unbelievers, but it is a sign that condemns them as they regard tongues speakers as being out of their minds.

iii. Others have thought that the real problem here is an error made by someone who copied the verse very early in the history of the Bible. For example, respected translator J.B. Phillips thinks an ancient scribe mixed up Paul’s word order in 1 Corinthians 14:22, and the verse should read: That means that tongues are a sign of God’s power, not for those who are unbelievers but to those who already believe. Preaching the word of God, on the other hand, is a sign of God’s power to those who do not believe rather than to believers. It is important to note that Phillips does not believe the Holy Spirit made an error, but he believes that a copier of what the Holy Spirit inspired made the error.

Orderly Worship

• Worship gatherings should build others up
• Instructions for:
  • tongues
    • two or at most three people
    • one at a time
  • interpretation
    • there must be an interpreter
    • If there is no interpreter, the speaker should remain silent publicly and speak privately to God.
  • prophecy
    • Two or three prophets
    • Evaluate
    • Speak in order
• Worship should be orderly, not chaotic
• “God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”
  

Paul gives additional instructions regarding order and conduct in worship gatherings

• Women being silent
  • Probably in reference to prophecy interpretation

Disruptive speaking in Corinth church

“Earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.”

Application

Everyone has a purpose in Christ! We are all one body with our own unique gifts. But even more important than any gift is LOVE!