1 Corinthians Week 33

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 

²⁷ No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. ²⁸ But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately. 

Paul laid down rules that were to be followed both in New Testament times and by any church who practices these gifts today. He gave a limit on how many tongues-speakers are allowed to speak. They are not to speak at all if there is no one there to interpret the languages they are speaking. If no interpreter is present they can speak only to God but not to the church congregation. 

REFLECT 

Are you aware of churches today that are not following these rules? If so, they are not following God’s inspired word. 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about friends or churches you know who practice tongues speaking. Do they follow the apostle Paul’s rules? 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:29-31 

²⁹ Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. ³⁰ But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. ³¹ In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. 

What was true of the tongues speakers was also to be true of those who had the gift of prophecy. Notice that there were not to be two people speaking at the same time. If a second person received a revelation and began speaking, the first speaker was to stop. The purpose of doing things this way was “so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.” The whole group needed to be edified. 

REFLECT 

Are you impressed with how many times Paul said that what was done should be for the benefit of the entire group? 

RESPOND 

Leaders in churches today should still follow Paul’s injunction given in Ephesians 4:12. Discuss this verse with a friend. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:32-33 

³² Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. ³³ For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people. 

Occasionally there could be the person who claims to have a revelation from God and insists on speaking even if someone else is. Paul wrote that the gifted person is to be in control of his gift. If two or more people speak at the same time that would cause disorder and no one would understand what is being said. Paul says that would not be coming from God because He is the God of peace.   

REFLECT 

Have you noticed when listening to radio or television that when more than one person speaks at the same time you cannot understand either one? Paul wanted that to be avoided in the church. 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about proper manners that should be taught in the home and practiced when in public. This would especially have to do with interrupting others. Paul also wanted proper manners to be followed in the church assembly.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 

³⁴ Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. ³⁵ If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings. 

There are various interpretations of Paul’s comment that women “should be silent during the church meetings.” Inasmuch as he referred to asking husbands at home the topic at least refers to married women whose husbands are in the service. Women had been known to speak. Philip had four daughters who had the gift of prophecy (see Acts 21:8-9). Remember the topic about speaking in 1 Corinthians 14 has to do with speaking in tongues, and that may be what Paul was referring to here.   

REFLECT 

Husbands are intended to take a leadership role in their homes as well as in churches. Regrettably, many wives have to attend church without their husbands.  

RESPOND 

The instructions Paul gave about husbands and wives in Ephesians 5:21-33 refer to a marriage of Christians. These comments have to do with an ideal relationship for them, but are not workable with unbelievers.  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:36-38 

³⁶ Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given? ³⁷ If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself. ³⁸ But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized. 

What Paul had been expressing was considered common practice among the churches. If the Corinthians were of a different opinion they were acting as if only they had God’s word on the subject. As an apostle, Paul had instructed what he had received from the Lord. It was not up to the local church in Corinth to decide what they thought was the right thing to do. 

REFLECT 

Does this help you to see that the basic question believers need to answer is, “Is the Bible the final authority on what we believe?” This means it is superior to what any denomination or church teaches. 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about some of the differences various church groups and denominations have. Does what they teach come from the Bible or from denominational beliefs? It is good to remember that in the first century, there were no clergy/laity divisions as seen today, nor were there any denominations. Believers just told others what the apostles had taught. Those who became believers had the passion to share their faith with others and that spread the gospel to the then-known world.