1 Corinthians 14:36-40 (WEL) What! Did the word of God come from you, or do you think it came to only you? 37 If anyone thinks of himself as a prophet or spiritual person, then let him acknowledge that what I write to you are the Lord’s commandments. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him stay ignorant. 39 Therefore, brothers and sisters, strongly desire to prophesy, but don’t forbid speaking in unknown languages. 40 Let everything be done decently and in order.
V36 What! Did the word of God come from you, or do you think it came to only you?
Evidently, some believers due to their spiritual gifts believed that their views came from God. God raised up the Apostles to teach us what Christianity is (Ephesians 2:20). The Apostles’ teachings and the teachings of our Lord Jesus are the standard for true Christianity. When we deviate, then we go into error.
V37 If anyone thinks of himself as a prophet or spiritual person, then let him acknowledge that what I write to you are the Lord’s commandments.
So, if someone really is a prophet, they will agree with Paul.
(Holman Commentary) “He asked if the word of God had come from them first, and if the Word had reached only them. Of course, the answer to these questions was an emphatic “No!” The Corinthians had received the Word from others, including Paul himself, and the church throughout the world had the Word.
“For this reason, Paul reminded the Corinthians of the proper attitude toward the apostles of Christ. Everyone who considered himself or herself a prophet or spiritually gifted was to remember that Paul was an apostle and that what he wrote was the Lord’s command. Prophecies must be weighed and tested, but the apostolic word is the Word of Christ.”
V38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him stay ignorant.
The Greek word for ignorant is G0050. ἀγνοέω agnoeō, which means without knowledge, ignorant. (Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) “This verb describes the state of being unaware or ignorant of a truth or person, or a failure to grasp the meaning of a statement. Paul often uses the verb in Romans to ask whether his audience knows about the truth of a particular matter (1:13; 2:4; 6:3; 7:1). Throughout his letters, he iterates his desire for his audience to understand a particular truth: “I do not want you to be unaware.”
V39 Therefore, brothers and sisters, strongly desire to prophesy, but don’t forbid speaking in unknown languages.
The summary of Paul’s teaching: speaking in unknown languages is wonderful and has benefit in evangelism, but prophesying, teaching, explaining, exhorting, comforting, etc., is a higher, more important ministry. We are not to forbid languages (if someone can interpret the language), but the desire (lust) should be to prophesy. The Greek word for covet, strong desire, etc., is G2206. ζηλόω zēloō which has a good sense and a bad sense.
(Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) “When zēlos is directed toward God, it connotes fervent concern or enthusiasm. For example, in John’s version of the temple cleansing, he quotes Psalm 69:9: “Zeal for your house will consume me” (John 2:17), which expresses Jesus’s righteous concern over the injustices being perpetrated in the temple courts. However, zēlos can also be misdirected, and then it connotes “jealousy” or “envy,” as in James 3:16: “Where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.”
V40 Let everything be done decently and in order.
God’s way is always and in all ways decent and in order.
God is decent; He is not illegal, harmful, or faith-destroying.
God is orderly, organized, and purposeful.
To love and glorify God and His ways must be our motive.
Disordered, fanatical actions and church meetings are condemned.
This is also a principle for living our Christian lives.
We learn:
- Of the authority of the Apostles and prophets.
- Of priorities in the worship service.
- Of the need that the church meeting be decent and orderly.
Questions:
- What authority do you accept?
- What is your church meeting like?