1 Corinthians Lesson 10 1 Corinthians 13:1 14:40

Transcription

1 1 Corinthians Lesson 10 1 Corinthians 13:1 14:40 Written about late 56 or early 57 AD In 1 Corinthians 11:17 through 12:31 (Lesson 9), Paul discussed the abuses that were occurring in the meetings of the Church, particularly relating to communion. They had forgotten that one of the central messages of communion was that they all stood justified and forgiven before the Father, because they were all part of the body of Christ. They had fallen into the pattern of thinking that God saw some of them as better than others even though the communion taught that they were all the same in God s sight. Furthermore, they had changed the celebration of communion, from the way Jesus Christ had celebrated it, to something like a Sunday lunch. He also warned them against trying to partake in Holy Communion while in a state of unconfessed sin. Paul then turned to the question of spiritual gifts. Again, he pointed out that all Christians are one body in Christ, and that all their spiritual gifts were of equal value in God s sight, although different in function. All the gifts were equally for the benefit of the body. Some of the more high profile gifts were named, including, the message of wisdom, the message of knowledge, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. However, Paul said, none of the gifts, not even the less honorable gifts were at all dispensable. They were all vital. Just as the intestines were a less honorable part of the body than the eye, but the body could not survive without them. Each gift needed every other gift, and could not operate alone. However, each believer should strive to make whatever gift he had been given operate to the full extent that God intended. This was the thought of the last verse from the last lesson. 1 Corinthians 12:31 But eagerly desire to make the gifts the most serviceable. And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I were providing the Chapter breaks, I would start this chapter with 1 Corinthians 12:28. Paul was pointing out that although each gift is equal in God s sight, it needs to be exercised in an effective way. The way in which it becomes effective is when it is motivated by the love of God toward us transformed into the love toward others. 1 / 21

2 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If the motivation of the gift of tongues is not to show the love of God, it is useless. 1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If the motivation of for the exercise of the gifts of prophecy, insight, or faith is not the love of God, they are useless. 1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 2 / 21

3 If the motivation for sacrificial giving is not love, it is nothing but wood, hay, and stubble in God s sight. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Bob George, in his book Classic Christianity, rightly points out that God is love. [a] Therefore, the love described here is the way God loves us. When this truth has been truly made part of our soul by the power of the Spirit, then we can begin to give God s type of love away from our own lives. 1 Corinthians 13:8b But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. One of the points Paul was making here was that believers were desiring the wrong gift. The greatest gift, which will never depart from us, is the love of God in our hearts which is the power that makes the other gifts functional. 3 / 21

4 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. The passage says that all but three gifts; faith, hope, and love, will cease when that which is perfect has come. The question is when will that time be? The end of verse 12 tells us when that will be. It says that then we shall see face to face. So we have our answer. The other gifts will cease when we shall see Him face to face. The then of this passage which is when perfection comes and the imperfect disappears is at the second advent of Jesus Christ when we see Him face to face. This is as per Revelation 22 and 1 John 3. Revelation 22:3-5 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 1 John 3:2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. So, those gifts will cease after the Lord returns. Prophecy will cease after the Lord returns because we will know the infinite future, the LORD will reign and we will be with Him. Tongues will also cease because all will speak the same language. The gift of knowledge (which is used in teaching others) as well as the gifts of teaching and apostleship will cease because we will all be taught by God. John 6:44-45 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: They will all be taught by God. Isaiah 54:13 All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children s peace. 4 / 21

5 All these gifts (even Apostleship) are merely instrumentalities to the greatest gift which is the love of God poured into out hearts: Romans 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. This was Paul s greatest prayer for the Ephesians: Ephesians 3:16-19 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. The object of this passage is not to tell us that some gifts will stop, but that all these gifts are not the basis by which we are considered a success or failure in the Christian life. Love is. Isn t it strange that grace brings us back around to the Old Testament which taught love as the greatest commandment? As Jesus had taught in Matthew 22:36-40 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. 5 / 21

6 1 Corinthians 13:11-12a When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. In this body, and in this world, we are like little children who need the temporary gifts to support our weak faith which is obscured by the world, the flesh and the devil. When Christ comes, those gifts will no longer be needed. But not until then, some have used verse 10 to argue that what they consider the most abused gifts have ceased. Usually, they argue that the gifts that have ceased are tongues and healing. They argue that that which is perfect came when the canon of New Testament scripture was completed. As I have demonstrated, I don t find that in scripture. Furthermore, I can t help but reflect that one of the most abused gifts in the history of the Church has been the gift of pastor-teacher (which would include also Popes, Cardinals, priests and preachers). And yet I have never heard any pastor claim that gift has ceased. 1 Corinthians 13:12b Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. For those of us who will be in Resurrection bodies, we can look forward to an incredible level of understanding. 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 6 / 21

7 At that time, the three gifts, faith, hope, and love will remain. However, love of God is also the energizing power of hope and faith, so it is the greatest. 1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. First, we should desire the universal gift of love, which can only be activated by the Word of God made real to us by the Holy Spirit. The word prophecy BD@n0JgLT is literally to speak forth, or declare. By common use in the Greek culture, the word was associated with those who explained mysteries. In the Church, the application is obvious. The mysteries were those revealed by the teaching of God s word. Although God s word does speak of future events, this gift is not confined to eschatology, but applies to the whole counsel of God s Word. 1 Corinthians 14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 7 / 21

8 Paul tactfully begins to illustrate how the gift of tongues was being abused. It was not edifying anyone, not even the speaker. 1 Corinthians 14:3-4 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. By contrast, clearly teaching the word of God in an understood language, edified all the hearers. 1 Corinthians 14:5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. The problem with the gift of tongues was in Paul s day and is in our day that if it is in an unknown tongue, there is no way to evaluate whether it originates from God, from the vanity of the speaker, or from demonic sources. 8 / 21

9 1 Corinthians 14:6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Although, it is not recorded in Acts, evidently Paul had legitimately spoken in tongues more than any of them (verse 18). He probably had found himself speaking them during occasions when he came into contact with unbelievers who could not understand Aramaic, Greek, or Latin, the languages that he could probably speak. However, Paul knew the divine purpose of tongues. It was to communicate. 1 Corinthians 14:7-9 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Paul uses several illustrations to demonstrate the uselessness of unintelligible noise. 1 Corinthians 14:10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 9 / 21

10 There is no gift of tongues that is meaningless gibberish. 1 Corinthians 14:11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. And yet if there is no communication, it is useless. 1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. They should only exercise gifts that edify and enlighten other members of the church. 10 / 21

11 1 Corinthians 14:13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. The church in those days was faced with the same problem some Pentecostal churches are faced with today. Someone stands up in the middle of a service and unleashes a torrent of unknown words. Without an interpretation, it is not only meaningless, but cannot be evaluated as to whether it was a spiritual utterance. However, minus that interpretation, it is hard to condemn the utterance. What Paul laid down was a criteria which would cut down these disruptive utterances, which more likely than not, were just an attempt to get attention. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. Spiritual prayer must engage the mind. The same must be said of singing hymns to God. God isn t interested in the harmony of your voice with the musical scale, but in the harmony of your mind with the word of God. 1 Corinthians 14:16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say Amen to your thanksgiving, since he does 11 / 21

12 not know what you are saying? Amen here is the Greek spelling ἀμήν {ä-mā'n} which the Grecianized form of the Hebrew word ן מ א {ä mān'} which means verily, truly, or I believe it. The Amen said in such cases affirmed that the speaker believed what was said. However, if they didn t know what was said, they could hardly say Amen before the presence of God. To say it in such a case would be a lie. 1 Corinthians 14:17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. Paul isn t going to argue whether the prayer made in unknown tongues was a valid manifestation of the gift. He just is arguing that in the context of a church meeting, it was not edifying to the church. 1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 12 / 21

13 This would have been in the course of evangelizing unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 14:19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. In the church means among believers. As we shall see, tongues are for unbelievers (verse 22). 1 Corinthians 14:20a Brothers, stop thinking like children. It is clear that Paul is concerned about the abuse of the gift of tongues, which seems to have been rampant in Corinth. It is well to remember, however, that there is no gift mentioned in these passages, which has not been abused. Just because they have does not mean that we have permission to scratch them off the list of gifts that God himself composed. 1 Corinthians 14:20b In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 13 / 21

14 This is another way of expressing what Jesus had told His disciples: Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Paul also gave the same advice in Romans: Romans 16:19b I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 1 Corinthians 14:21 In the Law it is written: Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, [b] says the Lord. This is both a prediction that foreign tongues would be used to speak to unbelievers (the Hebrews), and also a prophecy that the privilege of preaching the word of God would pass from Israel, to the Gentiles. 14 / 21

15 1 Corinthians 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. Furthermore, the gift of tongues was never for teaching believers, but for teaching unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 14:23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? The way the gift of tongues was being abused, something that was designed to preach to unbelievers was actually obscuring the message of the Gospel to those very people. 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. [c] So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, God is really among you! 15 / 21

16 However, an unbeliever who came in and just heard the word preached would be converted by the power of the clearly spoken word of God. 1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. Every gift should be exercised for the edification of the Church, the body of Christ, not for the glorification of the person. This can be tricky, both corporately and personally. 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most three should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. This rule, if followed, would reduce the confusion brought on by the exercise of a false gift to a minimum without hurting anyone s feelings. After all, after a few times when someone gave forth an outburst of unknown tongues and was followed by an embarrassing dead silence, they would learn to be quiet. 16 / 21

17 1 Corinthians 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. At the most, no more than two or three should teach during a gathering. The others should listen attentively. 1 Corinthians 14:30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. If someone in the audience had something edifying or enlightening to say, they should be given the opportunity. You must remember that the early churches probably rarely exceeded fifty in one gathering. 1 Corinthians 14:31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 17 / 21

18 The teaching should be done in a spirit of peace and good order. 1 Corinthians 14:32-33a The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As opposed to those whose spirit prays in an unknown tongue not controlled by their minds, those who prophecy do so with their minds. Therefore, they are responsible to do so in good order. 1 Corinthians 14:33b-34 As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. Paul s injunction about women is not to say that women cannot teach, [d] only that they should not be the leaders of the gathered Church. It is my opinion that when women become major teachers, the blame rests mainly with the men, who have failed to properly exercise their gift and teach the Word. It is interesting to note that in this passage that describes proper Church procedure, this is 18 / 21

19 usually the only one that is noticed. The part about multiple speakers, revelations, tongues and hymns is easily overlooked. 1 Corinthians 14:34b-35 They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. I expect that Paul had heard that in Corinth, the women were the main contributors to the chaos that seemed to reign in their meetings. It is certainly true that women love to talk. 1 Corinthians 14:36-38 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord s command. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. Finally, Paul demanded that they respect the revelation that God had passed on to him. I have observed that one of the greatest tragedies that happened to the organized Church was that they quit going back to the scriptures (New or Old Testaments) and started relying on the interpretation of the Church Fathers. These were: 19 / 21

20 The Apostolic Fathers (Clement, Ignatius, and Polycarp), who personally knew Peter, Paul, or John. The Greek Fathers (Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Maximus the Confessor, and John of Damascus. Included in these were the monks who were called the Cappadocian Fathers (Basil of Caesarea, Gregory Nazianzus, Peter of Sebaste and Gregory of Nyssa. These all wrote in Greek and lived from the 2 nd to the 8 th Century AD. The Latin Fathers (Tertullian, Saint Cyprian of Carthage, Saint Ambrose of Milan, Saint Jerome of Stridonium, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Gregory the Great, Saint Hilary of Poitiers, and Saint Isidore of Seville. These wrote in Latin and lived from the 2nd to the 8th Century AD. By the time of the reformation, The interpretations of the Church Fathers were the standard for deciding any issue that the organized Church addressed. The scriptures themselves were totally ignored. Thankfully, there was still a disorganized Church that was the true Church. 1 Corinthians 14:39-40 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. Paul was not going to forbid speaking in tongues. It was a valid gift. However, as all gifts it should be done in a way which God intended. 20 / 21

21 [a] 1 John 4:8 [b] Isaiah 28:11-12 [c] That is, the power of the word of God being preached by all would judge him, not the people preaching. Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. [d] In Acts the daughters of Philip the evangelist are said to have prophesied: Acts 21:9 He (Philip) had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 21 / 21