Tonight’s Bible study looked at 1 Cor 14:1-25, the first part of Paul’s specific instructions to the Corinthian church regarding the spiritual gifts of tongues, interpretation and prophecy. Having urged the Corinthians to use the different gifts given by God in love (1 Cor 12-13) and to eagerly desire these gifts (1 Cor 14:1), Paul gives practical advice on how these gifts should be used in public meetings.
The importance of the right use of these gifts cannot be over-emphasised. Paul definitely does not forbid speaking in tongues (see 1 Cor 14:4-5, 18) and sees the personal use of this gift as a way of building up the believer (1 Cor 14:4, 17), but he is more concerned that spiritual gifts in public gatherings are used in such a way as to strengthen, encourage and build up the whole congregation. (1 Cor 14:3) Speaking in tongues without interpretation leads to confusion, and it is clear that Paul wants the edification of the church to be through intelligible words, hence his instructions that tongues should be used with interpretation so that meaning is clear (1 Cor 14:9-17) and his comments that prophecy is ‘greater’ than tongues (1 Cor 14:5).
Spiritual gifts can have an impact on both believers and unbelievers. The revelation of God through these gifts can convict both believers and unbelievers of sin and make them acutely aware of God’s presence, since the knowledge revealed through these gifts could only be known to God. (1 Cor 14:24-25) Wayne Grudem comments ‘Prophecy functions in evangelism to reveal the secrets of an unbeliever’s heart and thereby to amaze him with the power of God at work and to convict him of his sins. In doing this, prophecy also serves as a certain indication (sign) that God is present and at work in the congregation to bless it and cause it to grow.’ (‘The Gift of Prophecy in the NT & Today’, P 154) In the rest of the chapter, Paul goes on to give further instructions about how the gift of prophecy can be weighed and used in church gatherings, but it is clear that he sees these gifts as a vital way of building up the church, as should we.