1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Speaking in Church

Services were clearly different affairs in Paul’s day than they are in the settings most westerners are familiar with today. It would be essentially impossible for several hundred people to come together and “everyone” have something to say. The services would never end. Most likely the services Paul is referring to here would be more like what we would call a house church. 

As I have mentioned before, I grew up in a congregation where tongues and interpretation as well as spontaneous prophetic utterances were not uncommon. One of the things that seemed to be sort of an unwritten rule was that when the “Spirit” came upon you you had to bring the message. Somehow we read this passage and used it to argue for the validity of such utterances but paid no attention to verse thirty-two. “The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.” Paul is saying that the number of prophecies should be limited. He is saying that there should be order in the manner in which prophetic utterances are given. And he is capping these instructions by verse thirty-two. Therefore, if someone says, “The spirit came on me and I just couldn’t hold it in,” then it wasn’t the Holy Spirit who came upon them because God doesn’t force us.

Concerning women... Some use this passage to proclaim that women must be silent in church services. Of course Paul could in fact be saying that women must be silent in church but there is another possibility. The other possibility is that Paul is quoting the Corinthians in verses 34-35. In fact, I believe that is exactly what he is doing for two reasons. 

First of all, Paul has himself said that “everyone” should come with a message. He has also encouraged them all to seek to prophesy without any hint of this instruction being gender specific. Secondly, verse thirty-four closes with the phrase “as the law says”. The law says no such thing. The Corinthians could well be ignorant enough of the law to think such a prohibition exists but not Paul. I personally believe that Paul is quoting the Corinthians here and then reprimanding them in verses 36-38.

In any event, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.