1 Corinthians 14 - Introduction

FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 14:

OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY-MARK DUNAGAN

I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 14:

I. In The Assembly: Prophecy Is Preferable To Tongues: 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

II. The Need For Interpretation In The Assembly: 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

III. Tongues Are. Sign To Unbelievers: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25

IV. The Regulation Of The Gifts In The Assembly: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

II. INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 14:

A. While Chapter 12 introduced the "more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31), and Chapter 13 defined it. Chapter 14 reveals the practical demonstration of it. "This chapter shows that love for others will influence one to choose in preference to tongues, the more edifying gift of prophecy.." (Erdman p. 143) The way of love will always direct Christians to select the gift which results in the most edification for the congregation. (1 Corinthians 14:3-5)

B. Many religious groups view the tongues described in this chapter as different from the tongues mentioned in Acts chapter 1 Corinthians 2:4-11. Barclay defines the popular view as follows: "In it. man because worked up to an ecstasy and. frenzy and in that state he poured out. quite uncontrollable torrent of sounds in no known language." (p. 142) And yet there exists no compelling reason to distinguish the tongues of Acts 2:4 (or Acts 10:45-46; Acts 19:6 or Mark 16:17) from the tongues of. Corinthians Chapter s 12-14. Points to Note:

1. All the evidence points to the conclusion that the all these passages refer to the same gift. (a) The same name is given to this gift in all the passages cited. (b) The Holy Spirit was the source of the gift mentioned. (c) The purpose of the tongues, as. sign for unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:21), fits the purpose of Acts 2:4. (d) The gift in 1 Corinthians 14:1. included the possible ability to speak in more than one "tongue" (1 Corinthians 14:18). This also fits Acts 2:4. (e) Contrary to what Barclay said, Paul reveals that the tongue-speaker wasn't in an uncontrolled state of frenzy. (1 Corinthians 14:27-32) (f) The tongues of this chapter are clearly described as being languages. (1 Corinthians 14:9-11)

2. The passage that gets people off track in this chapter is 1 Corinthians 14:2. Many people read this passage and automatically conclude that the tongue-speaker spoke in. language that nobody upon this planet would understand.

'Morris misses the point here. It's unintelligibility he argues, "makes it plain that the gift spoken of here is different from that in Acts 2:1. where all men understood." But, in the first place, it was understood there because there were people of all those different languages there, whereas, in this assembly (the context of chapter 14), Greek was the language spoken. And, secondly, it isn't true that all men there understood the tongues. Some mocked because they couldn't understand (Acts 2:13) (or because they didn't bother to listen for the Apostle who was speaking in their own native tongue.) Some of the people spoke Arabic and when they heard Arabic from ignorant Galileans, they were smitten. But what happened when they heard others speak Persian or Coptic or Latin?' (McGuiggan p. 179)

3. The point is that Paul is dealing with the abuse of this gift in the assembly. The whole context of this chapter is discussing the exercise of these gifts in an assembly (1 Corinthians 14:3-5, 13-19, 23-40) And in such an assembly, like this one that existed in Corinth, the vast majority all spoke the same language. To get up and exercise your gift of tongues (speaking in. foreign language which you have never learned-and neither had your Corinthian brethren), in an assembly where nobody knew that language, would result precisely in what is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:2 "for no one understands."

'The circumstances of. person speaking in. foreign language before people who do not understand that language meet all of the necessary requirements. Most commentators use these verses to make some condemnatory statements about the former practice of the Roman Catholics of conducting their mass in Latin rather than the vernacular language. Either their usage of this passage against the Catholics was an abuse of this passage or they must admit that the situation of. man speaking in. foreign language before an audience which does not know that language will meet the necessary requirements for giving. proper exegesis of this chapter.' [Note:. Willis p. 476]

III. COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER 14: