Edification of the Body III

March 23, 2025|Edification of the Body III|1 Corinthians 14:26-40

John-Daniel Cutler

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So far in our study of the fourteenth chapter of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, we have seen that Paul has been dealing with the elements of what we do when we get together and even the why behind those elements. Last week we looked at the how we are to do things fundamentally, or rather those guidelines that help us strive together to excel at building up the church. Paul is going to conclude his treatment of the gathering this morning in our text, dealing much more practically than fundamentally.

As a way of reminder, we stated those fundamental guidelines as

I. We must embrace both spiritual gifts and spiritual understanding.

II. We must value corporate clarity over self-centeredness.

III. We must seek spiritual maturity over experiences

IV. We must reveal the gospel with clarity

In this section, Paul gets very practical concerning the gathering of the saints. Do this, this way, do that, this way, etc… I think behind his practical instruction, there is a principle operation that we began looking at last week. Here is the main thought in our text today.

Main statement: For the church to experience corporate edification, there must be purpose and order in the gathering.

Paul is in essence, looking in at the gatherings of the Corinthian church, with all of its chaos and selfish expressions of worship and saying, ‘what you are doing is not right, this is how you should conduct yourselves in the gathering’. With that in mind, we are going to look at three areas concerning the gathering this morning, the purpose, the order, and the witness of the gathering.

We must note up front that our text today contains arguably one of the most controversial statements in the New Testament, which says much more about our culture than we think. This statement has led many to call Paul a misogynist, to say that he hated women, and many other obviously and demonstrably false statements. But it’s not just controversial outside the church its controversial inside the church. I remember at my first pastorate in a smaller country church, there was a man named Dan Sheridan. Dan was a character and like to give me, well really all pastors, a hard time. I had not been there very long at all, when one day, standing in the center aisle of the church after one Sunday, he said, when are you going to get to the ‘women keep silent in church’ part. In Dan’s way, he was joking of course, but he was also aware of just how controversial preaching something like that could be.

But there it is, in the middle of Paul’s instruction about the gathering, so while it would be much easier for me to just leave it out, it would be much better for us to try and understand it Biblically and in it’s context of 1st Corinthians. We’ll get there, but if that portion of our text is difficult for you, I did not want it to be a distraction until we do.

If you have not already, grab your bibles or your digital device, by the way, if you do not have one, there should be one in a seat back close to you. Once you have it, open to 1st Corinthians chapter 14. We will start at verse 26 this morning, looking at the remainder of the chapter under the heading The Edification of the Body, part III. Let’s read it together now.

1 Corinthians 14:26–40

ESV

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

Since chapter 11 Paul has been concerned with the gathering of the saints, the church, the ekklesia, or called out ones, specifically the corporate edification that is supposed to be taking place when they gather.

1 Corinthians 11:17 (ESV) 17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.

1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV) 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 14:3-5 (ESV) 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

1 Corinthians 14:12 (ESV) 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:17 (ESV) 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

1 Corinthians 14:23-25 (ESV) 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

After all of that, specifically his treatment of tongues and prophecy, Paul says ‘What then, brothers?’ On Wednesday night, during our corporate Bible study, we always start by paying attention the connectives in our text. This statement is a connective statement. Paul is essentially asking them to think about everything he has said. One commentator translates Paul’s question like this, “What practical conclusions should we draw from the preceeding discussion?” another, “What then is the true rule to be observed as to the use of gifts?”

This is very similar to the question I pointed out last week when Paul says in verse 15, “What am I to do?” in reference to the tension between spiritual expressions apart from understanding. In a similar way Paul expresses the obvious tension between what they are doing and what they should be doing. Immediately he begins to help the church understand the right way to gather as a body. The first area concerning the gathering we want to look at is…

I. THE PURPOSE OF THE GATHERING.

Verse 26, Paul very clearly states the purpose of the corporate gathering. 1 Corinthians 14:26 “26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”

What Paul says here is not prescriptive, rather descriptive of what is happening in the Corinthian church. When the church gathers every one of you has something they want to share.

A hymn- a song, usually accompanied by a stringed instrument, perhaps either extemporary, or an unprepared inspired song, like that of Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna or a known song

A lesson- a doctrine or teaching

A revelation- an inspired revelatory message

A tongue- a different language

An interpretation- the interpretation of that language

Some scholars think Paul is saying that everyone is trying to do everything at once, which would be obviously problematic and chaotic. You have a few each have a song they want to sing, so they are singing it, and a few each have a lesson prepared so they are giving it, and a few each have what they claim to be a fresh revelation from God, so they are giving it, and a few who have the gifts of tongues who feel like it needs to be exercised, so they are speaking it, and a few who are interpreting the tongues. Can you imagine all of this happening at once? No wonder Paul says, an outsider could only conclude that you are all out of your mind.

Others think that to assume this obvious madness is taking place is taking it too far and rather than all going at once, they are just all insistent on having their turn. Everyone thinks what they want to say or sing or share is the most important thing and they are insistent on having their voice heard. If that’s the case, it’s not a confusion of voices, but of messages. These two want to sing songs they wrote about persevering suffering, and these two want to sing songs that they wrote about the glory of God, and this individual prepared a lesson about living victoriously from the Old Testament, and this one has a lesson about humility based on the life of Jesus, and this one has a message on how to handle grief, and this one has a revelation from God about something entirely different, and the various tongue speakers and interpreters each have a different message for the church. Everyone is so concerned about sharing what they have that no one can possible pay attention to anyone else, and if there is somebody trying to pay attention, his mind is being pulled in a hundred different directions.

Either way we take it, the result is the same, the church is not being built up, the body is not being edified. Paul essentially says, whatever you do when you come together, let all things be done for building up. A way to say that negatively is, if whatever you are doing is not accomplishing the purpose of edifying the body, stop doing it. That principle is actually super important for us to understand the rest of what Paul says, especially the more controversial parts.

We talked about what building up is last week, but it would be beneficial to touch on it again. the word building up- literally translated brings two words together, a building and a roof top, which helps us see why it is translated as building up or edifying. It is the idea of building to the top. It is the act of working on something with the end goal in mind. (Strongs- the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness) As I said last week Paul’s idea of building up the church is a group of Christians growing in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, and holiness. It is measured in maturity and health over simply increasing numbers. So with this statement, the idea is let all things be done for the purpose of building up one another towards the end goal, which is maturity and Christ-likeness in our lives.

Somewhere along the way, at least during my lifetime, many churches seemed to have switched their focus to bringing believers to maturity through edification to bringing lost people to salvation through evangelism. Paul addressed this last week, but it bears repeating. He says, that if an outsider comes, it will be the clear, corporate witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the church operates according to the Biblically revealed instruction that the Spirit will use to convict the hearts of sinners. To say it another way, if edification happens, evangelism will happen, because our members will take hold of their responsibility to be disciple making disciples in their personal lives, resulting in hundreds of evangelistic moments over one during a Sunday morning.

...many churches seemed to have switched their focus to bringing believers to maturity through edification to bringing lost people to salvation through evangelism.

What seems like a better strategy to you, a few of us inviting lost people to a service for one evangelistic moment, or a hundred of us having one, two, three evangelistic conversations during the course of our week? All of that to say, we would be better served as a church if we kept the purpose the Bible tells us for the gathering than trying to come up with a different one. What does Paul say that purpose is? Let everything be done for building up.

How has Paul said that believers are built up? When does edification happen? According to Paul it is when believers receive Biblical instruction. Look again at verses 3-5 where Paul contrast tongues with prophecy. 1 Corinthians 14:3-5 (ESV) 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Upbuilding is the same word, edification.

Encouragement is the idea of exhorting someone by persuading them.

Consolation is the idea of either stimulating one to action or calming or consoling one depending on how you translate it.

What can simultaneously edify, persuade, stimulate, and comfort? Only the living word of God that is brought to bear on our lives. Only when we can clearly understand what God’s word says can we be edified our built up towards Christ-likeness. The living active word of God carried forth by the Spirit of God to the hearts of God’s people.

Then what should our singing do? It should reenforce Biblical truth in a way that is clear.

Then what should our teaching do? It should expound Biblical truth in a way that is clear.

Then what should our preaching do? It should expose Biblical truth in a way that is clear.

Everything we do in the gathering should be aimed at communicating Biblical truth so that God’s people may be edified. This is the purpose of the gathering according to scripture.

The next area Paul addresses is a complementary one, if edification requires instruction, instruction requires order. Let’s look at....

II. THE ORDER OF THE GATHERING.

Now, we often speak of the order of service, we print it on bulletins so that the church can know what is happening when. That’s not what we are primarily talking about when we talk about the order of the gathering. Paul’s point here is not to exhaustively list everything that is done in the gathering, or even to give us an order of service, his point is to take the things the Corinthian church is already doing and apply decency and order to it.

How important is decency and order? Paul concludes his whole discussion on the gathering with these words. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

Let’s dig into what the Apostle is saying here.

Decently- Paul uses this word three times in his epistles, twice it is translated properly. There is a proper way to do everything that we have been called to do. Another way to think about it is suitably. Everything must be done in a way that is suitable to the purpose of the gathering.

Order- in the right order or in an orderly way

Taking these two together Paul is calling us to do what we do in the gathering in a way that serves the purpose and in a way that is orderly. That means for the Corinthian church they need to adjust the things they are doing and how they are doing them, which is what he addresses in 27 through verse 35, which is the bulk of our text this morning.

Let’s go through the three aspects of the gathering that he addresses.

First, on the issue of tongues.  1 Corinthians 14:27–28 “27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.”

First, Paul limits the number of those who may speak. Let there be only two or at most three. One is okay, two is okay, three is still okay, but that is the limit.

Second, Paul regulates the way they are to speak. Each one in turn or individually.

Third, Paul limits the number of those who may interpret. Literally, he says let one interpret.

Then Paul limits the gift itself. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church.

Now notice the first person Paul tells to keep silent is the person who has the gift of tongues when there is no interpreter, but it’s really a much larger group, isn’t it. Imagine if just twenty people in the church have the gift of tongues, at any given gathering, only two or at most three is supposed to speak, and then only if there is an interpreter.

What are the rest to do? Keep silent.

This is Paul prescription for the exercising of the gift of tongues decently and in order. Now he turns his attention to prophecy. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

Again, notice the way he limits the gift.

First, again, only two or three prophets speak.

Second, just because they claim to be speaking for God, does not mean that they are, Paul tells the others to weigh what is said. Literally, give judgment. Who he is speaking of is a little unclear. Whether he means the other prophets, or perhaps those with the gift of discernment, or the whole gathered assembly.

At the very least, we have other scriptures that tells the entire gathering.

This is especially relevant for traveling prophets and teachers.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

1 john 4:4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world

English Standard Version Chapter 5

1 Thessalonians 5:20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good

This is why I often tell you to judge what is said here from the pulpit against scripture. This is your responsibility as a church, to protect the doctrinal integrity of our church.

Continuing with Paul’s instructions, which by the way, I agree with MacArthur that this is evidence that the gift of prophecy did not always concern future events. Paul gives precedence over fresh revelation during the early church. if someone is speaking and another prophet who is sitting there gets a divine revelation, let the first be silent.

This is the second group that Paul tells to be silent.

One if there are more than three prophets, again inherently by his instruction the rest are told to keep silent.

Two, if someone is teaching from something already revealed, something like what we consider preaching today, and God has a new revelation for the gathered church, the first is to be silent. For Paul says, you can all prophesy one by one. Again, the prophets are to go in turn or individually, so that all may lear and be encouraged.

But, someone might say, I have to speak, I get so caught up in the spirit that I can’t help but say what I want to say. Not so, Paul says. This is a clear condemnation for the uncontrollable displays in the modern charismatic movement. Paul says, the spirits or the spiritual gifts as translated elsewhere are subject to the prophets. God never asks us to lose our faculties when we exercise our spiritual gifts. You cannot claim that what you are doing is Spirit led if it is uncontrollable, our of order, and not done decently. Let’s leave first part of verse 33 for now and come back to it, and pick up in the second part. 1 Corinthians 14:33b As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

Now I want you to remember, that Paul has already called for two groups of people to be silent in the church.

Those with the gifts of tongues, whether male or female and those with the gift of prophecy whether male or female. Paul certainly isn’t just picking on women in this section. There are a couple of ways that this has been interpreted.

One, Paul is calling for women at all times to be silent in the gathering. I would call this a total silence stance. Some have taken this interpretation, but it would seem to be in direct contradiction to what Paul said earlier about men and women praying and prophesying in the gathering, so I don’t think that is the case.

Two, Paul is calling for women to remain silent at certain times in the gathering. I would call this a limited silence stance. Some see a direct connection with the judging of prophecies and women keeping silent. Paul is not telling women that there is never a time for them to speak but rather when it comes to authoritatively judging the prophets, they should remain silent. For me, this is an attractive position, because it would seemingly go well with other places where Paul teaches about the role of speaking in the gathering when it comes to women. Mainly 1 Timothy chapter 2 verses 11 and 12.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

1 Timothy 2:11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

Although I like the limited silence stance and I think it is in accord with Pauline thought, there is no direct textual link made between judging prophecies and women being silent. It could mean that, but we would be filling in blanks to get there.

There is a third way that this has been interpreted by trying to use the clues we have to determine what Paul is saying. In verse 35 Paul seems to imply that there are women interrupting the service to ask questions. This would be especially shameful in their culture if they were seemingly challenging their own husbands or elevating themselves over their husbands. Remember, Paul has already emphasized the headship principle within marriage and the way some of the Corinthian women are acting in the gathering is usurping that biblical principle. In this view, it is in direct relation to questions being asked during the gathering in a disruptive way, either intentionally or unintentionally. Paul says, if you have a question about the teaching, stay silent in church and ask your husband at home. Husbands, that means you need to have the answers. Right? Or at least know how to go to the Bible and find them. Some of our women are floundering in their understanding because they are not being led spiritually well at home. We need to do better.

Someone who had been reading ahead in 1 Corinthians asked me if this meant that women should not ask questions in our Wednesday night Bible study. Of course not, that is designed for us to ask questions together, the context of the Sunday gathering that Paul is addressing is not the time to blurt out questions. It would not be proper or in order.

Whichever limited silence understanding you lean towards, Paul’s purpose in the instruction remains. All things must be done decently and in order.

As Paul has fleshed out his instruction concerning prophecy and tongue, Paul’s point is that in our limited time, it is far better to have a few participate in order and decency so that the whole may be edified, than to have everyone participate and no one edified.

I can anticipate that there may be a few that hear this and think, that isn’t fair. And all I can say to that is Paul is not concerned with fairness but rather that the purpose of the gathering be accomplished. But I do not believe that is his only concern. I want to address the final area this morning.

III. THE WITNESS OF THE GATHERING.

Go back with me to verse 33. 1 Corinthians 14:33a “33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

As we talked about last week, what we do in our time together and how we do it communicates something. If our gatherings are chaotic and all over the place, it communicates that our God is chaotic. If our gatherings are confusing, it communicates that our God’s message is confusing. If our exercising of spiritual gifts are out of control and uncontrollable, it communicates that our God is not a God of order.

Paul says God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

confusion- instability, a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion

peace- harmony

When we come together and we worship God in decency and in order, when we as a body are in harmony with one another in worship, it communicates that our God is a God of harmony and order and holiness. Every church bears the responsibility to rightly represent God in their worship.

So why should we listen to Paul and his instructions concerning the gathering?

Why not just do what we want, how we want?

Believe it or not Paul anticipated that question and he asks some very pointed, probably even sarcastic questions to highlight the problem with the question.

36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? Did the word of God originate in Corinth? Does God’s word only exist there in Corinth? The only answer is ‘of course not’. This reminds me of his words in chapter 4 when he says, (ESV) What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

And if you acknowledge that the word of God did not originate from you, then you must acknowledge that there is authority beyond you.

If in fact, you think you are a prophet, or are spiritual, Paul says, you should acknowledge that the things he is writing are a command of the Lord. This is the greatest argument for the rejection of any Biblical understanding that tries to separate the Apostle Paul words from Jesus’ words. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, understood that in His apostolic office what he was writing was as binding as a direct command from the Lord. So much so that if someone will not recognize that this letter is authoritative in their life, or should ignore it, then you should ignore them. If they will not operate within the commands Paul has given, then they should not be allowed to speak in the gathering.

Friends, Paul is not concerned with hurting feelings or being fair, Paul is concerned that God be represented rightly, that Christ would be exalted greatly, and the gospel be proclaimed clearly in the gathering. This ought to be our focus as well in this body.

What we do and how we do it in the gathering ought to be done in a way that declares who God as well as His attributes clearly, which is why Paul says all things should be done decently and in order.

With that Paul closes his teaching on the gathering of the church that he began in chapter 11.

We gather in order that the body might be edified, and to do that we must make sure what we do is done decently and in order, so that we might bear right witness to who God is.

Over the last four chapters, we have looked at the way we conduct ourselves at the supper, proper expressions of worship for both men and women, the expression of spiritual gifts in the gathering, the interdependency of the individual members who make up the body, and finally the way it all comes together in an orderly way. I pray that as we move on from this section, that God’s word would continue to shape and guide us in the way that we gather here at Emmanuel Baptist Church. I pray that our church would grab on to the God-given purpose of the gathering and pursue it with a renewed passion and vision for our life together.

If you are a visitor today I pray that the way we have conducting our services helps you understand who God is. I pray that the simple beauty of our worship space reminds you that God is the creator of all beauty and that it is often found in the simplest forms. I pray that the music we have sang, the harmony of the notes and the richness of the words have spoken volumes about who our God is. I pray that the order of our service and the elements have aided you in your understanding of who God is. This message, like must of 1st Corinthians has been addressed to the Christian brother or sister who belongs to a local body.

If you have questions or want to hear how to become a follower of Christ, or how to become a member here, Brittany and I will stay up towards the front after service, we would love to connect with you. Won’t you pray with me as we close our sermon time?