Alan Lewis
Elon, North Carolina
August 2024
What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.
39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. (I Corinthians 14:26-40 NIV)
Today, we want to talk about order in the church. Some churches are more formal. They are very liturgical and ritualistic. Some are less formal, but they should all have some type of order.
Paul says, “All things should be done decently and in order” (I Corinthians 14:40 ESV). Our worship should reflect the character of God. God is a God of order, not disorder. He is a God of peace (I Corinthians 14:33 NIV).
God created the world orderly with natural laws, like the law of gravity. If you throw a ball up into the air, it comes down every time. What goes up must come down.
Every day, the Sun rises and sets. There is order to the universe. God instituted human government, law enforcement and judges. He wants order in society.
God wants order in society and order in the local church. You might have seen a chaotic church. Wherever you see disorder, and complete anarchy in society (BLM riots) or in the church, you know that is not God. James called that demonic.
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:14-16 NIV).
In I Corinthians 14, we get to see what a first century worship service looked like. It is probably the only picture in the NT of a first century worship service. It was very different from worship services today.
It had some good points. It had more participation in the service. In most churches today, people drag themselves out of bed, plop themselves in a pew and fall asleep once the preacher starts talking. Most are passive in worship. If you look around in a church service, many are not even singing.
This worship service was more active. It was more engaging. It was more participatory. That is something we can learn from the Church of Corinth, even from a carnal first century church. We all need to be involved in worship.[1]
The one drawback to the service is that it was disorderly. They were involved a little too much. Paul witnessed their worship and rebuked them for it. It would be embarrassing to have an apostle come into your church and criticize the way you worship every week.
This was a church where people got together, not for the better but for the worse (I Corinthians 11:17). They would go to church and end up worse than when they set foot in the building.
Some got drunk at the Lord’s Table. Some got into fights and arguments with other believers. There was also chaos in how they used their spiritual gifts and worshiped God.
What does an orderly church look like? Paul laid down some rules for the exercise of the gifts.
In this section, Paul gives rules for tongues. He gives rules for prophecy. He also gave some rules for the women in the assembly.
In each case, Paul does not say that they cannot use their gifts in the church; he just lays down some rules to follow.
Rules for Tongues
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. (I Corinthians 14:27-28 NIV)
Paul explains all of the rules for tongues in one verse. There are three rules.
Rule One: No More than Two or Three Speakers
Paul says clearly “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or AT THE MOST three” (I Corinthians 14:27 NIV)
Rule Two: Speak One at a Time in the Service
They were not to speak all at the same time. They were to take turns speaking in tongues. That shows some self-control. You had to wait your turn.
Rule Three: Only Speak in Church with an Interpreter
It is okay to speak in tongues without an interpreter in private but not in public. Unfortunately, this rule is not always followed today. Many speak in church without an interpreter.
Rules for Prophecy
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. (I Corinthians 14:29-32 NIV)
What is prophecy? God could appear and speak to you directly but most of the time He speaks through impressions. You have a thought that didn’t come from you.
It came from God. Prophecy is hearing the voice of God and releasing it to other people. It is not necessarily about the future. Not all prophecies were put into Scripture.
What does Paul say about prophecy? He said that both men and women had this gift. He said that in I Corinthians 11. That is consistent with Joel.
Joel predicted that God’s Spirit would be poured out on all people. He said that God would pour out His Spirit on both men and women (Joel 2:29). He said that sons and daughters would prophesy (Joel 2:28).
Paul thought highly of prophecy. He said, “eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, ESPECIALLY PROPHECY” (I Corinthians 14:1 NIV). He ends the chapter saying, “be EAGER to prophesy” (I Corinthians 14:40 NIV).
He says that prophecy is superior to some other gifts. It is greater than tongues (I Corinthians 14:5), at least in terms of educational value. It benefits the church better. They can understand it.
Paul described it in this chapter as speaking to people “for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort” (I Corinthians 14:3 NIV). It led to people being instructed and encouraged (I Corinthians 14:31 NIV).
Paul also said that prophecy benefits unbelievers. It can benefit seekers who enter the church for the first time.
But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” (I Corinthians 14:24-25 NIV)
That is interesting. It shows the impact a prophetic word can have on even unbelievers. Paul doesn’t describe prophecy there merely as predicting the future but as laying bare the secrets of human hearts.
What were the rules for prophecy? Paul has four rules for prophecy in this chapter. He gives us more rules on prophecy than tongues.
Rule One – A Limited Number Should Speak
Two or three prophets should speak (I Corinthians 14:29 NIV). This is the same rule for speaking in tongues
Rule Two – Speak One at a Time
For you can all prophesy IN TURN so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. (I Corinthians 14:31 NIV)
People were interrupting each other. That is what was happening. They were doing it at the same time. Someone would say “I have a word from God and someone else would blurt out “I have a word from God” before the first person had finished speaking.
To have two prophets speaking at the same time is just like having two people preaching at the same time. It would lead to complete chaos. They were showing off. It was all about self-promotion and pride, rather than edification.
Rule Three – Demonstrate Self-Control
At all times the prophets should be in control of themselves. They should not be overwhelmed by an uncontrollable ecstasy, like some of the pagan prophets were.
The spirits of prophets are subject to the CONTROL of prophets (I Corinthians 14:32 NIV)
Rule Four – Others are to Evaluated it
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should WEIGH CAREFULLY what is said. (I Corinthians 14:29 NIV)
Then, Paul says something very important. Prophetic words are to be weighed. This is very important. Why?
Just because someone says, “I am a prophet. I speak for God. I have a word from the Lord” doesn’t necessarily mean what they say is true. People say “God told me something” that they just made up.
In the OT, God said, “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you… They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:16 NIV).
God said of some prophets in Jeremiah’s day, “I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied” (Jeremiah 23:21 ESV).
That can still happen today. That is why a prophet’s words are to be weighed and be tested. They are to be compared to Scripture.
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should WEIGH CAREFULLY what is said. (I Corinthians 14:29 NIV).
Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but TEST THEM ALL; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. (I Thessalonians 5:20-22 NIV)
By the way, the words of a preacher are also to be tested. The Word of God does not need to be weighted but what someone says about it does.
Some prophets refuse to be accountable to anyone. That is the sign of a false prophet. Some prophets claim to have a word from the Lord but reject Scripture. Paul talked about that.
37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. (I Corinthians 14:37-38 NIV).
There are two extremes when it comes to prophecy. Which extreme do you fall into?
One the one side is UNQUALIFIED ACCEPTANCE. This side accepts everything that a prophet says. They do not challenge it. If it is a word from God, you should not question it.
On the other side is UNQUALIFIED REJECTION. Some reject whatever a prophet says. They do not take prophets seriously. They even mock or despise them. They treat them with contempt.
Christians do this all of them time. They do not value any type of prophetic ministry. We need to be careful here. Paul warns about the possibility of Christians quenching the Spirit when he is dealing with prophecy.
Prophecy is a gift of the Spirit. When a prophet speaks, the Spirit has something to say. When you not only reject that word, but despise it, you are quenching the Holy Spirit.
Rules for Women
Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. (I Corinthians 14:34-35 NIV)
Paul’s third rule has to do with women. It is the most controversial. It is one of the most unpopular passages in the Bible.
It is a passage that women hate. It is a passage that feminists hate. It is one of the reasons that many women have left the church.
Paul said that in church women are to be covered and silent. They are to be veiled (I Corinthians 11) and to be silent (I Corinthians 14). They are to be silent and covered.
It seems like a very clear “sit down and shut up” passage. It seems like he is saying that women are to be seen but not heard.
In this chapter, Paul tells women to shut up in church. He says they can’t talk in church or even ask questions. He calls it a shame or disgrace.
That sounds rather harsh. It sounds rather insulting. Was Paul a male chauvinistic? Was he anti-woman? Was he a woman-hater?
Modern Unbelief
There are many ways people try to get around these words that seem so offensive. Some try to take them out of the Bible.
You will occasionally hear some scholars say that these words were not written by Paul. They were added later by someone else. The problem with this view is that there is no Greek manuscript without these words.
Some manuscripts have it in a different location in the chapter, especially in the Western texts, but it is always in I Corinthians. Every Greek manuscript of I Corinthians has these verses. Tertullian quotes it in the second century.[2]
Others dismiss these words by refusing to submit to their authority. Some would say that this is just Paul speaking. It is a way that some reject the things in the Bible.
People often say about unpopular verses, “This is Paul, not Jesus, so I can disregard it.” If it something about homosexuality that they do not like, they say, “That was just Paul speaking.”
There is just one problem with the view. Paul says, “If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.” (I Corinthians 14:37 NIV).
Paul said, “I am an apostle. My words are God’s words. If you reject me, you are rejecting God. You are rejecting what he said.” Paul was writing under inspiration. These were not just Paul’s words.
What he said about tongues was a commandment of the Lord. What he said about prophecy was a commandment of the Lord. What he said about women was a commandment of the Lord.
Did Paul Hate Women?
Did Paul hate women? No. Some of the things Paul said were actually revolutionary to women. We have to read the Bible in context. If you take the Bible out of context, you can make it say anything you want.
Paul is NOT talking about all women in this passage. He is talking about married women. How do we know?
After saying that women should remain silent be in submission, he says if they have questions, they should ask their own husbands at home.
A single woman cannot do this. She would have no one to ask. In the context, Paul is dealing with the husband/wife relationship. The word woman and wife are the same word in Greek (γυνή).
Paul is NOT talking about all speech in this passage. No church even follows that. In every church, women talk. They sing. Many of them teach Sunday School. They are not completely silent in church.
There are three groups of people who are told to be silent in this section.
People who speak in tongues are told to be silent (I Corinthians 14:28). Prophets are told to be silent (I Corinthians 14:30) and certain women are told to be silent (I Corinthians 14:34). In none of these cases, is the silence absolute.
Paul already said in I Corinthians that women are allowed to speak in church. He said that in I Corinthians 11.
If I Corinthians 14 forbids all speech, then Paul would be contradicting himself. According to 1 Corinthians 11:5, he said that they could pray and prophesy in church.
They were allowed to do that, as long as they did it the right way. Paul did not say that they couldn’t do that and only the men could.
What is the context of the passage? The context is dealing with, not just speech but disruptive speech (so Schreiner).[3]
The whole passage is dealing with worship and orderly worship. Paul mentions different disruptions to public worship. He mentions three different types of disruptions to the service.
Three different groups of unruly speakers are addressed (unruly tongue-speakers, unruly prophets and unruly women). He is not calling on all women to total silence. He is merely calling them to the principle of order.
Women, especially married women in the church, were somehow disorderly in worship. We don’t know exactly how. Paul does not give us details, but we can speculate based on what he said and based on the historical context.
In the first century, women were not as educated as men. They sat on sat on opposite sides of the synagogue and some of the wives were asking questions during the service, shouting across the room to their husbands.
All questions are not equal. Some are appropriate and some are inappropriate, depending on the motive. Some are legitimate and some are challenging. You can ask questions to learn or to teach.
Apparently, these women were not only asking questions during the service but were interrupting the service with their questions. It became a disruption.
Some of their husbands may have delivered a prophetic word in church and they interrogated them in a disrespectful or disruptive way, so Paul tells them to ask their husbands at home for the answers.
What was probably going on in Corinth is that “The married women in the church were … interrupting with ‘questions,’ which were thinly disguised teaching, perhaps even directed at their own husbands in a humiliating way”[4]
Paul tells wives, “If you have questions, ask your husbands.” Today, women are just as educated as men. In some cases, they are more educated.
Unfortunately, many husbands today don’t know the Word. They don’t have any answers. Many wives are more spiritually minded and may even know the Word better[5] but the principle of order in the service still applies today, as much as it did in Paul’s day.
[1]https://web.archive.org/web/20200114104013/http://www.unionchurch.com/archive/060808.html
[2] Tertullian, Against Marcion, V.8 (https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/03125.htm)
[3] Thomas R. Schreiner, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. Eckhard J. Schnabel, vol. 7, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (London: Inter-Varsity Press, 2018), 296–298.
[4] Hershel W. York, 40 Days in I Corinthians, 139.
[5] Warren Wiersbe, Be Wise, 145.
