Using Spiritual Gifts in Church

From Paul’s perspective, the basic issues are, What does it mean to be spiritual? and How are Christians to exercise their spiritual gifts in the church?

1 Corinthians 14:1–25 ESV

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 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. 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 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.

The First Epistle to the Corinthians 6. Love for the Other and Ordered Differentiation in Evaluating “Prophecy” and “Tongues” (14:1–40)

The key to an accurate understanding of Paul’s arguments and declarations in this chapter depends on a full appreciation of two factors initially. (a) vv. 1–25 relate integrally to what Paul has said about love in 13:1–13;

The First Epistle to the Corinthians 6. Love for the Other and Ordered Differentiation in Evaluating “Prophecy” and “Tongues” (14:1–40)

“the gifts of authentic utterance inspired by the Spirit” (τὰ πνευματικά, 14:1) as given for the service of others, not for self-affirmation

1 Corinthians Exegesis and Exposition

meaningful knowledge of unseen things through speech

1 Corinthians Exegesis and Exposition

Thiselton (2000: 964) concludes that prophecy “combines pastoral insight into the needs of persons, communities, and situations with the ability to address these with a God-given utterance or longer discourse (whether unprompted or prepared with judgment, decision, and rational reflection) leading to challenge or comfort, judgment or consolation, but ultimately building up the addressees.”

“To prophesy is to give out the Word of God, to speak it simply and to speak it intelligently.” ~J. Vernon McGee

Thru the Bible Vol. 44: The Epistles (1 Corinthians) Gift of Prophecy is Superior to Gift of Tongues

Tongues are not a rapturous, ecstatic, mysterious language. They are not a mixed–up medley of rhapsody. Tongues were foreign languages. On the Day of Pentecost the apostles spoke in foreign languages so that every man there heard the gospel in his own language.

Chrysostom (Chris os tom), one of the early church fathers, writing in the third or fourth century, stated: “This whole passage is very obscure; but the obscurity arises from our ignorance of the facts described, which, though familiar to those to whom the apostle wrote, have ceased to occur.”

1 Corinthians (Exegesis and Exposition)

First, Paul understands it to be a language inspired by the Spirit and not a noncognitive, nonlanguage utterance. [Verse 6, However] rules out the view that tongues refer to the miraculous ability to speak in unlearned languages