August
6th Order
in the use of Tongues
26:
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, everyone of you hath
a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an
interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27: If any man
speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by
three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28: But if there be
no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak
to himself, and to God. 29: Let the prophets speak two or three, and
let the other judge. 30: If any thing be revealed to another that
sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31: For ye may all prophesy
one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32: And the
spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33: For God is
not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the
saints. 34: 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 saith the law. 35: And if they will learn any
thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for
women to speak in the church. 36: What? came the word of God out from
you? or came it unto you only? 37: 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. 38: But if any man
be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39: Wherefore, brethren, covet to
prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40: Let all things be
done decently and in order.
Paul
continues to teach how the believers are to be in harmony when they
meet together in worship. He says when you come together everyone of
you is to bring something. Some might bring a psalm to sing that the
Lord has laid on their heart. Another might bring a message from the
Lord in the form of doctrinal teaching. Another might bring a
language. Another might bring something in the form of a direct
revelation from the Lord. Another might bring the interpretation of
the foreign languages that have been spoken. Whatever is brought let
everything be to the spiritual encouragement and teaching of the
believers. And if any believers bring languages that are unknown by
the congregation then let two speak or at the most three. (In other
words he is to check before he speaks that there is another believer
present who can interpret the language that he is going to speak.)
And let them speak one after another (there is to be no chaotic
cacophany with everyone speaking at once) and there must be somebody
that can interpret each message. If there is nobody with the gift of
interpretation then let the language speaker be silent. He can speak
in his heart to himself and the Lord. (He can speak to the Lord in
his ordinary speech in his heart and the Lord understands all
languages) In a similar way the prophets should speak by direct
revelation from the Lord or by the exposition of the scriptures, one
after the other and at the most three. And let those which have the
gift of discernment judge the message given. (The elders of the
church are to excersize control over the meeting and cause to cease
anything that is unedifying) If another prophet receives something
directly from the Lord while a prophet is already speaking then let
him wait his turn to speak. There is opportunity for him to speak in
his turn. Only one prophet can speak at once and in this way everyone
will learn from the Lord and everyone will be comforted in the Lord.
The gift of prophecy like all gifts are to be controlled in the heart
of every man. God does not bring about confusion in the congregation
but peace and order as he does in all the other churches. Your women
are not allowed to speak in the congregation but they are to be
silent when you come together - silent in terms of public ministry,
not silent in terms of conversation or personal worship. Women are to
be in subjection to their husbands. (It was the same in Judaism.) If
they want to learn something specifically they can ask their husbands
at home, because it is a shameful thing for women to speak in public
ministry in the church gatherings. Are you the originators of the
Word of God? Did the word of God come only to you at Corinth? If a
christian man thinks of himself as a prophet and as spiritual then
let him acknowledge that the things that l am teaching are the
commandments of the Lord. (They are not my personal opinion; I have
not made this up, says Paul) However, if a man wishes to be ignorant
of my teaching, then let him remain ignorant. Paul says, if you
really want to have a gift then wish for prophesy - that is, the
ministry of the Word of God. But do not forbid the use of the gift of
languages, (during this Apostolic age). Whatever you do let
everything be done decently and in a proper order.
- What instructions does Paul give from the Lord to regulate the gift of languages?
- In what way does Paul explain the any gifts are to be under control of ones-self?
- Why does Paul prohibit women from teaching in the church?
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