In “I Corinthians 14:26-33″, remember they are meeting in Gaius Justus’ house, a Roman convert to Judaism and then Christianity. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue is mentioned as joining them along with many Jewish converts, and Corinth is a Greek city with many Greek converts. All 3 cultures are meeting together under one roof as Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthians. Also remember that historically, Jewish women in the synagogues were seated to the side behind a lattice work, and not allowed to participate at all. (Acts 18: 1-8)
“What then, brethren, is the right course? When you meet together each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information (revelation), an utterance in a tongue or an interpretation of it (gifts of the Spirit), But let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all.” v26
This establishes the context. Anything that happens will fall under these 4 categories: Worship/prayer, teaching, revelation, gifts of the Spirit. The subject is order and how to meet for the good of all.
“If some speak in an unknown tongue, let the number be limited to two or at the most three, and each one taking his turn, and let one interpret and explain what is said.” v27
The message is be polite as you are a guest in someone’s home. Take turns.
“But if there is no one to do the interpreting, let each of them keep still in (the meeting) and talk to himself and to God.” v28
Sometimes in a home meeting a person will feel like they have something from the Lord that MUST be shared. This scripture says that is not the case. If there is no opportunity, if the timing is not right, even if they are being moved in the gifts of the Spirit, they do not have to share it. They have not sinned if there is no opportunity to share it, they are to speak to the Lord and use the opportunity as a matter for prayer.
“So let two or three prophets speak, those inspired to preach or teach, while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said.” v29
In a home meeting it must be understood that while all may share given the rules of politeness as a guest in someone’s home if the opportunity is there; what is said will be judged, possibly with negative results. Often a person wants to talk and expects everyone to say yea and amen, but that may not be the case.
The principle Paul mentions here means a person does not have to allow someone to pray for them, speak a prophetic word over them, nor must they automatically accept anything said as from the Lord. And of course, whatever someone says may be accepted completely as well. His point is that no one may dominate, nor should anyone who speaks expect what they say to be accepted automatically – the relationships should be strong enough that what a person says may be challenged without developing into a heated arguement.
“But if an inspired revelation comes to another who is sitting by, then let the first one be silent.” v30
Here again is a reference to politeness and not having to share something you have from the Lord if there is no opportunity. Grace and deferring to another in love is greater than having to share that revelation, having to share that tongue & interpretation/prophecy, greater than you being moved by the Spirit. If another also feels they have something from the Lord to share, Paul says defer to the first and you be silent.
“For in this way you can give testimony, prophesying and thus interpreting the divine will and purpose one by one, so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated and encouraged.” v31
His point: Politeness and courtesy, walking in love, leads to the whole group being built up.
“For the spirit of the prophets, the speakers in tongues, are under the speaker’s control and subject to being silenced as may be necessary.” v32
You are always in control. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and never presses someone to the point they must absolutely share what they have. Paul says you are still in control, thus if there is no opportunity to share, or if someone else has a word, wait your turn or even keep silent, speaking to yourself and the Lord (in prayer).
“For He Who is the source of their prophesying is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As is the practice in all the churches of the saints.” v33
Here again is the emphasis that meetings are to be a place of peace, of order and grace, and he lets them know what he is telling them is the way it (house church) is done throughout the body of Christ.
NOTE:
Verses 34-35 deal with the local issues of having 3 cultures thrown together in 1 house meeting. Greek and Roman women did not wear veils to the extent (or not at all) as the Hebrew women did. The Greek and Roman women were generally more educated than the Jewish women, who previously had been separated in the synagogue not allowed to participate. Now they may. Paul tells them here for the sake of order and the flow of a meeting to ask their husbands at home if they have questions.
In chapter 11 and verse 5 Paul says women may pray or prophesy as long as they are appropriately dressed (veiled), but in 14:34-35 he tells the wives that just in the event of questions, to ask their husbands at home, for the sake of order and flow.
He was not contradicting himself, telling them to pray and prophesy in 11:5 and then telling them to be quiet in 14:34-35. His concern in 14 is order, the flow of a meeting, and politeness, thus the instructions that rather than interrupting the meeting for questions, ask later at home until they are brought up to speed.
This is confirmed by verses 39-40, where he again mentions and closes the subject by restating that meetings are to be conducted with politeness, order, and for the benefit of all.
Blessings,
John Fenn
Please send all personal emails or questions to me at cwowi@aol.com
what are your thoughts on individuals that speak in tongues out loud (during a meeting) w/out interpreting. (This is usually done while we wait on the Lord, i.e., pray, worship, etc.) I know that scriptures says, “But if there is no one to do the interpreting, let each of them keep still in and talk to himself and to God.” v28.
Sometimes this can be distracting. Other times, I feel like I want to do it. (I have to admit that when I’ve seen this in large churches, it looks/sounds chaotic.)
Final, if this is something that should only be done under the breath, between you and God, is it my responsibility to bring it to the attention of the leaders of the house church or should I let God nudge them? (The leaders engage in this practice.)
We are new at this and don’t want be a stumbling block to others or limit what God wants to do. Any insight you can provide would be appreciated. Thank you.
I have been in services that because of worshiping in the Spirit people of other countries who were at cross roads in their life with God were able to hear in their own language that person who prayed in the Spirit giving praise and worship to God convicting their lives to repentance. If one gives the Holy Spirit the feedom and complete control to do whatever He wishes to do in that service thats were healings,signs and wonders start to happen and you will see that everything is done in complete order. It may be strange for those who are new in the Lord but like you said you wanted to do it also, so don’t hold back and restrict the Holy Spirit in your life.
I really struggle with this verse you mentioned:
In chapter 11 and verse 5 Paul says women may pray or prophesy as long as they are appropriately dressed (veiled). I was taught that I had to be covered to pray or prophecy in a meeting and now that I am in a group that doesnt I feel guilty because I dont. As a result I basically quit praying and prophesying in the meetings. I just dont know how to get through this.
In response to Jean’s comments. The words in verse 5 that you refer to, are about the woman’s head being uncovered while parying or prophesying. It is best to read the whole passage there in chapetr 11 to understand what Paul (God) is saying. In a nutshell, it is about the glory of long hair that God has given the woman. This is an obvious point of difference bteween men and women of the world. In fact this is the outward sign to the angels Paul goes on to say in this passage that gives the angels recognition of who is male and who is female. Yet it is more than that, it is all about paying homage (worship) to God and coming in to divine alignment with God’s structured lines of authority, especially in the church assembly and in particular when it comes to praying and prophesying. Notice that the verse 5 comment is not made without refernce to the actions of praying and prophesying. It does not mention it as an all encompassing statemnent that women’s heads should be covered on all occasions. That is to say then that the special acts of praying (from us to God) and prophesying (from God to man) are to be done in such a way that when they happen by a woman in church and in the presence of angels in the gathering also, that a woman must already be pre-disposed (by her long hair) which gives acknowledgement to all present (ie. other women, all the men, the angels and to God Himself) that the correct divine order of authority (God’s established ways) has been recognised and is being followed. For a woman therefore to do these ‘channeling’ acts of prayer and prophecy with short hair or a bald head is tantamount to showing no respect to divine authority and structure which is rebellion. Proverbs talks about the womans long hair as being her glory. The man’s glory is in his strength. This is God’s glory that He has made it this way. It is encumbent upon all everywhere to do all for the glory of God. Paul therefore was giving justifiable reasonings that for the sake of the divine ways, this is the way it must happen everywhere, because it is all about His glory. And God is not mocked.