The Holy Spirit and the Southern Baptist Convention (XLI): “Further Thinking on 1 Corinthians 14:26-33a”

(Note: I’m getting this post up in my normal time frame, but Thursday is a big question mark at the moment.  I’m a character witness in a child custody case and do not know when I will be called to testify.  It could be any time from this afternoon through Thursday.  But, I have to be at the courthouse and available or possibly be found in contempt of court.  Thank you in advance for your understanding!)

From a “big picture” standpoint, it is quite helpful to see 14:26-33a against the wider backdrop and flow of the section chapters 12-14.  So, let’s get in our mental helicopter and go up for the telescopic overview.

Chapters 12-14 are focally about spiritual gifts, yes.  However, those gifts function practically in the context of the worship and spiritual state (i.e., immature and self-centered) of the Corinthian church that Paul had knowledge of from two sources: 1) his own personal experience in planting the church and being their chief pastoral figure for at least the first year and a half of its existence (Acts 18:11); and 2) his recent visit with “Chloe’s people” (1 Cor. 1:11), who had undoubtedly updated him on a lot more than just the problems related to factions in the church (1:12).

Chapter 12 tells us about the diverse unity of the Body of Christ.  We are all indeed spiritually baptized into one Body.  But, each Christian is also a unique member of that Body by virtue of his or her different spiritual gifts, ministries and impacts (12:4-6), all of which are sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit (12:7, 11).  No matter how the church in Corinth evaluated certain gifts, they were expected to see and value them accorinding to God’s ranking (12:28-30).

But, they were also expected to prioritize another, “more excellent” way of approaching and using their spiritual gifts: love.  As 13:1-3 makes clear, God is totally unimpressed with even the most gifted person’s use of those gift(s) if love is not the motivating factor behind the ministry.  And, the love is not love of self, but selflessness embodied (13:4-7).  The other reason why love is so important, and not just in the use of spiritual gifts, is because love never ends (13:8a, 13).  All spiritual gifts will fade by the time Christ comes back (13:8b-12).  But, love will go on eternally.

In the meantime, since the misunderstanding in the church at Corinth seems to have been to elevate speaking in tongues as the ultimate spiritual experience and, by comparison, to look down on prophecy, Paul sets the spiritual record straight by comparing the porential for edification of the congregation between the two (14:1-25).  In such a theoretical face-off, prophecy proves to be much more valuable, especially if there is no interpretation of the tongues taking place–which appears to have been the case frequently in the Corinthian church.

However, there is a very real sense in which everything in this section, from the beginning of chapter 12 through 14:25, is theoretical theology until we arrive at 14:26-40.  Then, and only then, do we get down to the practical theology of how all these issues should be applied in the congregational worship setting.

So much for the “helicopter” overview.  But, as I think you will quickly grasp, it is equally helpful to break down 14:26-33a into an outline of its immediate argument.  So, let’s now move in for the “microscopic blow-up of this section.

Initially, we can tell that Paul is homing in for the practical bottom line of this wider discussion by the way he begins the section: “How is it then, brothers?” (14:26a, HCSB).  In other words, based on the discussion of prophecy and tongues in 14:1-25, what practical difference do his conclusions make “whenever you come together” (14:26b, HCSB) in a congregational worship setting?

Next, Paul includes the two major gifts (“a revelation” is apparently referring to the gift of prophecy in 14:26) about which there had been misunderstanding as part of a (probably partial) list of elements that might be included in the average Sunday “worship service.”  Other aspects listed are singing (“a psalm”), instruction (“a teaching”) and “an interpretation” (of the tongues-speaking).

Next, the first guiding principle that “All things must be done for edification” (HCSB) is stated at the end of 14:26 (and basically repeated and applied in 14:31).  The other guiding principle is at the end of the section: “… God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (14:33a, HCSB).

What is dealt with in between?  Only two things: 1) whether and how many people are to be allowed to speak in tongues in one service (14:27-28); and 2) how many prophets should speak in a service and how what the prophets say should be evaluated (14:29-32).

Isn’t it striking that, in this passage which tells is more about what a worship service was like in the New Testament era than any other still only tells us this little bit: 1) some of the elements involved (14:26); 2) the priorities of edification and order (14:26, 33a); and 3) how to handle those who speak in tongues and prophesy (14:27-32)? 

We will take a thoughtful shot in the next post at figuring out why the things are included here that are and why other aspects that we are intensely curious about are nowhere to be found.  In the meantime, what do you think?

Coming Thursday (I hope!):  “Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together in 1 Corinthians 14:26-33a”