I Corinthians 14:23

First Corinthians 14:23

First Corinthians 14:23-25 says, "If therefore the whole church be come together into one place and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believes not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth."

In this part of First Corinthians chapter 14 Paul is continuing with the theme concerning the difference between speaking in an unknown language and speaking forth the Word of God. Hopefully, one of the things that will happen with a congregation of believers is that sometimes unbelievers will be present to see and to hear what takes place in the congregation. Suppose there was a visitor and the visitor saw Christians practicing speaking in tongues without anyone to interpret. What would the visitor think. What effect would the speaking in tongues have on the visitor? Paul said that the effect would be that the visitor would think that the Christians were mad or crazy. Of course, it’s not the will of God to have such an effect on unbelievers; and Christians who want to be a testimony to the lost people of the world do not want to have such an effect either.

But instead of speaking in an unknown language, you speak forth the Word of God and an unbelievers is present, a much different effect can often be seen to take place. First Corinthians 14:25 says, "he will worship God." It’s the Word of God that is powerful. It’s the Word of God when it is spoken and understood by the hearer, that is the power of God to touch hearts. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the Word of God is alive and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

In First Corinthians 14:26-28 the Bible says, "How is it then, brothers, when you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two or the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God."

Evidently, the church services in the days of the New Testament were much different than they are today. Everyone participated. They understood that God had given everyone a gift, and everyone used their gift. It appears as though Christians did not go to a congregation in order to only sit and listen. They also went in order to exercise the gift that had been given to them. That’s a good thing. It’s too bad that there are not more congregations in our day and age that have services like that. In their church services Paul wanted them to remember a couple of important principles. The first thing to remember was the motivation they were to have in exercising their gifts. If they were going to sing a song, or reveal a truth, or teach a doctrine, or speak in an unknown language; they should do it with the purpose of edifying others. The last part of First Corinthians 14:26 says, "Let all things be done unto edifying." To edify means to build up. We start with a foundation of belief in Christ, but then we build upon that foundation. We can all help others to build up their Christian life and their Christian faith by exercising our gifts for that purpose.

As Paul has already made very clear, he says one more time that if anyone has the gift of speaking in foreign languages, what we call unknown tongues, he should keep quiet in the church unless there is someone to interpret. The reason for this is because the other believers will not be edified unless they understand what is being said, and the purpose for exercising a gift should be to edify others.

First Corinthians 14:29-33 says, "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If anything be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."

"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge." The word judge has two basic meanings in the Bible. One meaning is negative and the other is positive. On the negative side Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged." This means that you should not have a condemning or a critical spirit towards others. You have sinned in your life, so how can you be harsh and condemning towards others because of their sins. You should try to be as gracious towards them as God has been towards toward you.

The positive side of judging has to do with discernment. Jesus also said, "Judge not after the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." The right thing is to examine an issue and attempt to discern or judge the right or the wrong of it. If someone speaks forth as a prophet of the Word of God, their goal should always be to emphasize "Thus saith the Lord," and to give as little as possible of their own opinions and their own interpretations. "If any man speak, let him speak as of the oracles of God." If someone speaks forth as a prophet of the Word of God, you should not accept what they say just because they say it. You should do what First Corinthians 14:29 tells you to do. You should judge; that is, you should discern the right or the wrong of what is being said. Remember that the believers in the city of Berea were more noble than those in Thessalonica because they searched the scriptures daily to see if those things were true.

It has been taught very clearly to us in the last few chapters of First Corinthians that every believer in Jesus has been gifted by God in some way. Every believer has one or more spiritual gifts. Jesus ascended into heaven and gave gifts unto men. Everyone who follows God, has learned things from God and we can all benefit from what they have learned. No one knows everything, but everyone knows something. That’s why First Corinthians 14:30-31 says, "If anything be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. For you may all prophesy one by one, and all may be comforted." It’s obvious that Christianity was not meant to be organized such that only one person teaches and everyone else listens. More would be accomplished if more people were allowed to speak. You will be able to reach a few people with your teaching, but some people will not listen to you nor will they have an affinity to the way that you present things, but they will listen to someone else. Therefore, if everyone who has something to say is allowed to speak forth the Word of God, the result will be as it says in First Corinthians 14:31 that "all will learn" and all will be comforted.

First Corinthians 14:32 says, "And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." Even if you have the gift of prophesy, you should be willing to listen to another speak. You should be willing to be subject to them for the time that they speak. The same Spirit, who has given you the gift of prophecy, has also gifted them. Someone who speaks forth the Word of God should not have a demanding, selfish spirit; nor should they think that they have all the answers and no longer need to be taught themselves.

Here in First Corinthians chapter 14 Paul has established the fact that everyone who is gifted to speak and who has a word from the Lord should be given an opportunity to say what the Lord has revealed to them, but in the next few verses of the Bible we are told to be careful to avoid the opposite extreme, which would be to have multiple people speaking at the same time and therefore being disruptive. If someone is going to speak, then when they speak everyone else should listen. First Corinthians 14:33 says, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." If you are going to accomplish something, there is a right way to do it. If you are going to build something or establish something, unless you are organized in the right way you will have little hope of success. That’s why God has given to some the gifts of government and administration and helps. Someone may have the gift of speaking forth the Word of God, but they will accomplish a lot more if they are teamed up with others who have the gift of administrations or other gifts.

Things should be well organized. People should speak in turn. There should not be disruptions in the gatherings of the people of God. It’s in this context that should be understood First Corinthians 14:34-35 that says, "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." This is not a passage of scripture that teaches the dominance of men over women. It’s a passage of scripture that teaches that no one should speak out of turn in the church gatherings. Men should not speak out of turn, and women should not speak out of turn. If someone is teaching, then you should listen until it is your turn to teach. If you have a question, it’s better to wait until you get home to ask the question than to disrupt the church gathering. "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." First Corinthians 14:40 says, "Let all things be done decently and in order."

First Corinthians 14:36-37 says, "What? Came the Word of God out from you, or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." Like everyone else, the people in the city of Corinth came to believe only because someone first came to them and taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was one of those who came to them and taught them. The truth did not originate with them. The truth came their way from God, but by the means of human instruments. That’s how their participation with truth began, and that’s how it must also continue. Pride goes before a fall, and conceit has caused many to get out of the way of sound doctrine. Don’t lose your teachable spirit, and especially don’t lose it in regards to the teachings of the Apostle Paul.

Paul said, "The things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." This is the great doctrine of the inspiration of the scriptures. The things that are written in the New Testament by Paul and the other apostles and the associates of the apostles, are the things that God has given to us. The truth of God has not been given to us by word of mouth, passed down to from one generation to another. Such a method would lose its meaning and authority. But the Word of God was given to us in written form, so that we could always have it as the final source for the truth. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God."

If you do not accept, believe, and put into practice the written Word of God, then you will be ignorant of the truth. The choice is yours. You have the capability to believe or to refuse to believe. God has given you the power of choice. God has given to all human beings the power of choice. Be careful what you choose. Jesus said, "Seek and you shall find." The opposite is also true. If you do not seek, you will not find, and you will remain ignorant of the truth because it will be what you have chosen. First Corinthians 14:38 says, "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."

In First Corinthians 14:39 the Bible says, "Wherefore, brothers, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues." It’s important to speak forth the Word of God. God gave us His Word in written form, and now He wants us to read it, to study it, and once we have learned it, to speak it forth. If no one speaks forth the Word of God, then faith will die out on the earth. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." "How shall they believe except they hear, and how shall they hear, except someone tell them" the Gospel of Jesus Christ?"

Because the preaching of the Word of God is so very important, it should be the goal of every Christian to find ways to help spread the Gospel. That’s why new churches are started. That’s why Christian colleges were established. That’s why believers have put Christian programs on radio and television and the Internet. And that’s why the Bible says in First Corinthians 15:39, "forbid not to speak with tongues." If someone has the gift to miraculously speak the gospel in an unknown foreign language, you should not forbid them to spread the gospel their way simply because you have different gift with which you spread the gospel. The world has plenty of people who will resist the preaching of the gospel and who will put stumbling blocks in the way of those who desire to do so. The people of God should be an encouragement to one another to do the work of God. Don’t make the mistake of being negative towards your brothers and sisters in Christ simply because they have a different gift or a different calling than you do.

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