1 Corinthians 14:28–33

1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 14.

The Use of Spiritual Gifts in Public Worship. 1 Cor. 14, 1-40.

The practical application of these truths in public worship: V. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. V. 29. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. V. 30. If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. V. 31. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted. V. 32. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. V. 33. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

By employing only one interpreter for several discourses of tongues, time would be gained for other edifying parts of worship.

But if no interpreter were present, the person that wished to speak with tongues should abstain from speaking in the assembly and rather have his discourse with God alone; in secret converse with God he could still feel the full enjoyment of being a vessel of the Holy Spirit.

Then the persons having the gift of prophecy might also speak in turn, two or three in one meeting, and the others should discern, that is, those that assisted with preaching and had judgment with reference to the matter discussed, as Luther says. In doing so, these men were exercising a gift which is also very necessary in the Church, chap. 12, 10; Romans 12, 7.

If, in the meantime, the Holy Spirit should give a special revelation to one of the prophets or teachers and he arose from his seat in token of that fact, the speaker should yield the floor to the new man, closing his own address as quickly as possible. In this way they could all, in rotation, prophesy, bring in their word of teaching and of admonition, that all the members of the congregation might learn and all might be encouraged, urged forward on the path of Sanctification, all hearers thus receiving benefit.

And lest anyone think that the insistence upon order would interfere with the Spirit's work, the apostle tells the Corinthians that the nature of prophetic inspiration did not hinder the maintenance of such order, but rather favored its promotion: The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. The divine gift is not an irresponsible, erratic control, but may be exercised by the possessor's will, with discretion and brotherly love. People claiming the possession of a spirit, but not being able to control its utterances, lack the necessary mark of the Holy Spirit's indwelling. For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.

The supposition that God inspires His prophets two or three at a time, and thus creates confusion in public worship, is contrary to His nature.

And lest the Corinthians think that Paul is laying upon them a burden from which he is excusing the other congregations, he adds: As it is in all the churches of the saints. In all the assemblies of the early Christians a decent order was observed, according to the same principles as here enunciated by Paul. Without such order, agreed upon or accepted by all, confusion and dissension would surely result, and this the apostle wanted to avoid by all means as contrary to the will of God.