By Pastor Dave Farmer 

Topic #24 An Out of Control Church Needs Regulations - Part 3B

   The characteristic exhibited at Corinth was anything but organized. The lack of self-control among the groups, the tongues-speakers and the prophets, turned the worship service into a frantic, chaotic, pagan-style religious service. Paul required these groups to place themselves under the Lord's orders and allow a peaceful, quiet lifestyle to be reflected in their worship.

Regulating The Use Of Prophesy

1 Corinthians 14:32, 33

32]  "Indeed the spirits of the prophets are to be subject to the prophets."

33] "because the unique God is not producing disorder instead of producing harmony, as in all the churches of the saints."

Introduction

   We are still in Part 3 of the final section of 1 Corinthians 14:29-40.  This is the second article devoted to a study of 1 Corinthians 14:32,33.  It will contain Paul's appeal to the prophets for self-control, a fruit of the Spirit, and a statement regarding the Standard Operating Procedures for all the Churches.

Paul Admonishes The Prophets - vs. 32, "Indeed the spirits [teaching] of the prophets are to be subject to the prophets." 

   This verse is a short general maxim that embodies a timeless truth.  Expositor's Greek New Testament calls this a figure of speech, an Apophthegm. 1 Think of it as a spiritual one-liner.   It is a short, thought-provoking, or terse instructive statement meant to inform the believer of godly behavior and warn against sinful behavior.  It is like a proverb, for it teaches a lesson, unlike a proverb with two lines of poetry in parallel.

   Our Lord used this very effectively during His ministry.  He said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” Mark 2:27. In this statement, Jesus was teaching that God instituted the Sabbath for man's refreshment and blessing,  not people were made to keep the hard and onerous regulations of the Pharisees.

   Paul used this same figure of speech when he warned the Ephesians, "Evil companions corrupt good intentions," 1 Corinthians 15:33 or "Bad company corrupts good character."  It is a warning that if you associate with the wrong crowd, you will become like them.  Paul also talked about giving with this statement, "God loves a cheerful giver" 2 Corinthians 9:7.  Our Lord wants us to give in the same manner He gave His life for us.  For the joy of it!

Hebrews 12:2

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

   This statement admonishes the prophets at Corinth who needed to exercise their gifts using self-control and self-restraint.  They cannot claim that when they receive a revelation from God, they have no choice but to speak.  Paul warns them that they control the gift. It does not control them. 

Expositors says: 

"This divine gift is put under the control and responsibility of its possessor's will, that it may be exercised with discretion and brotherly love for its appointed ends. An unruly prophet is no genuine prophet for he lacks one of the necessary marks of the Holy Spirit - self-control." 2

The Law Of Volitional Responsibility

   Paul regulates the exercise of spiritual gifts during the pre-canon period of the Church Age at Corinth.  This is the context.  Therefore, this verse needs to be understood as related to that theme.  He has stated he wanted them to be only 2 or 3 speakers, that their message was to be tested in case of error and to root out imposters, and now they must practice the fruits of the Spirit when exercising their gift. This requires them to practice their spiritual gift through the divine filter of love [1 Corinthians 14:1] by being thoughtful of others, exhibiting patience by waiting their turn to speak and demonstrating self-control by not giving place to prideful thinking, thinking of themselves more than you ought to think.  Some may say, "God has spoken to me; how can you not let me speak?" 

   The law of volitional responsibility requires me to be responsible for using my gift.  I can speak or remain silent.  Would there ever be a time when it is not proper to speak?  It may be the lesson was sufficiently presented, and my contribution would be redundant, and to speak, it would throw off the morning schedule, causing a hurried routine for others.  I must practice self-control.  Again, on the inside, I have a message from God; I desire to speak, share, amplify, and confirm, but I am at the same time under orders to exercise my gift with humility, being thoughtful of others, and the greatest responsibility of all, with a Christ-like love; that is, serving others rather than myself. 

   The concept of self-control comes from the verb "to be subject."  It is a military term that means to place yourselves under orders.  He places himself under the orders of a superior. The superior is the Holy Spirit.  The prophet receives the action of the verb by placing himself under the control and leadership of the Holy Spirit.  He is our guide.  He empowers the gift within us.  He produces the fruit of self-control.  All members of the body of Christ who submit to the Holy Spirit will produce a lifestyle of self-control, which is a fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:23. 

Illustration: 

   Paul warned young Timothy, "Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is within you" 1 Timothy 4:14. What spiritual gift was Paul referring to?  It was the gift of Pastor-teacher, Ephesians 4:11-13. When Paul wrote to him, Timothy was temporarily the pastor of the Church at Ephesus. His gift was twofold: to study the Word and to teach the Word so that believers could grow. Are we to assume that because he possessed this gift, he would use it properly? "Don't neglect," is Paul's command. Dr. Wuest rightly states:

"The word “neglect” is in the present imperative, which when used in a prohibition, forbids the continuance of an act already going on. One hesitates to translate, “Do not keep on neglecting the spiritual enduement which is in you,” making Timothy guilty of such neglect. But if Paul were merely warning Timothy against such an act, he would have used the aorist subjunctive with the proper negative. Timothy, while a good young man at heart, was rather diffident, and needed periodical prodding by the great apostle." 3

   This means that possessing and employing the gift are two different functions. Timothy had this gift, but he needed to be using it properly. Possibly, he was avoiding his studies, for this spiritual gift requires study, study, study.

2 Timothy 2:15

Be diligent [study, study, study] to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

   Pastors who are not studying are neglecting their spiritual gift. They are free to use their gift in a God-honoring way by studying, or they can be a pastor who fulfills the contemporary molds as discussed in an earlier article [June 2016].  This is not pleasing to the Lord. We all have a gift from God, some use it carnally, some use it spiritually, and some never use it at all, but the point is we make a choice. 

"Spirits" Means Teaching

   I want to say something about "spirits."  The word PNEUMA has a variety of uses, and in this verse, it means "teaching," not a reference to their spiritual gift or the human spirits of the prophets. There are three views worthy of noting:

1.  SPIRITS refers to the Holy Spirit dwelling in each prophet.  The Holy Spirit within the prophets equals the ministry of the Holy Spirit within the prophet.  This is in the plural because there is more than one believer at Corinth who possesses the gift of prophecy.  However, "spirits" [PLURAL] is found 52 times in the Greek New Testament, but it is not a reference to the Holy Spirit except in three passages found in the Book of Revelation where it is used as a title for the Holy Spirit, emphasizing His perfection, "The Seven Spirits of God." 

2.  Some state that "spirits" refers to spiritual gifts, meaning "the spiritual gifts of the prophets...".  For instance:

   The spirits referred to a prophet’s spiritual gift, which did not control the gifted member, but he controlled it (cf. v. 30). If two or three prophets spoke in a particular service, others gifted and with something to say could do so on another occasion. The church was not a forum for personal pontification or self-glorification; it was a place where people were to be built up, and God was to be honored (cf. 10:31–33). The service and those who took part in it should reflect the character of God.  [Lowery, D. K. (1985). 1 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 540). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

   Bullinger also concurs, he says, in 1 Cor. 14:32—“And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” Here, the noun “spirits” is again used for the adjective spiritual gifts. See under Metonymy. [Bullinger, E. W. (1898). Figures Of Speech Used In The Bible (p. 497). London; New York: Eyre & Spottiswoode; E. & J. B. Young & Co.]

3.  We hold this view that "spirits" is a reference to the teaching of the prophet.  Paul has already used "spirits" in the context of 1 Corinthians 12-14 in this way, as in 1 Corinthians 12:10:

1 Corinthians 12:10

and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits [teaching], to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

   God gave to the gift of tongues a partnership gift, the gift of interpretation of tongues. Hence, the gift of prophecy cooperated with the gift of distinguishing spirits.  This gift was necessary to function with the gift of prophecy to test the truth of the prophet's message, as in the second regulation, "and the others must discern."  Therefore, "spirits" equals "teaching."  I find this more plausible due to the context.  The previous verse emphasized the teaching "so that we all may learn and receive encouragement." 

   This use of PNEUMA is found in other passages:

1 John 4:1 

Beloved, do not believe every spirit [teaching or doctrine] but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Timothy 4:1 

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits [false teaching] and doctrines of demons,

The Reason:  God Designed Worship - vs. 33

   This is the reason for the injunction against disorder in the assembly. The stative present indicates the eternality of the unique God.  God's character is in view.  God has never been, not now, not ever in chaos. God never acts in a chaotic or disorganized fashion.  This is impossible because of who He is.  God is eternal, so this is true at all times.  The point that Paul is making is that worship should reflect who God is.  The anarthrous construction emphasizes quality and targets the nature of God. God always acts in harmony with who He is.  Christian integrity requires us to act in harmony with the fact that we are new creatures in Christ. 

   When there is chaos in the church, when members of the congregation rise up in open defiance of authority with the presumed intention to overthrow, rebel against, revolt, and engage in insurrection [as in Acts 5:36], this is not from God.  We can assert this as eternally true.  This is an astonishing statement.  Those who will not listen to the instruction from God through Paul are engaging in insurrection.  God is not unruly, and He is never out of control.

2 Corinthians 13:11 

Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9 

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

   Literally, it says, "...because the unique God is never, not now or ever producing disorder, instead of producing harmony.

   As in all the churches of the saints, there is a clause of comparison between the Church at Corinth and the other churches existing at the time of writing.  Corinth stands alone.  The disorder is not widespread.  In a Spirit-led congregation, peace and good order are present.

   The word "saint" is a new designation of the believer.  It means "separated ones."  Forty times, Paul uses this word to describe the believer.  Here is an interesting question.  How often do you think of yourself as a saint?  You are a saint the day you placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  You were at the moment in time set apart for Him.  Before you could commit your first sin as a believer, you became a saint, "set apart in Christ Jesus" 1 Corinthians 1:2. 

   Would it interest you to know that Paul never calls a believer a sinner, except when talking about their past?  For instance, Paul calls himself a sinner, but only concerning his past, 1 Timothy 1:15,16. There are only seven occasions that he uses the term "sinner" and never as a designation for a believer.  Sometimes, it is hard to admit we are saints, especially when I act like an unbeliever.  It is in those moments that I remind myself who I am.  I am a member of the family of God. Still, even greater than this, my Lord is a King, not just a king, "Lord of Lords, King of Kings.  He is royalty, and I am one of the King's kids. A saint is not a perfect person, but a born-again child of God, a member of spiritual royalty, "as in all the churches of the spiritual royal family of Christ."  May you be encouraged by these words.

__________

Endnotes

1  The Expositor's Greek Testament Edited By The Rev. W. Robertson Nicoll, M.A., Ll.D. Vol 2, on 1 Corinthians 14: 32.

2  op. cit.

3   Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader(1 Ti 4:14). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.