Articles
Commandments of the Lord - 1 Cor. 14
Commandments of the Lord - 1 Cor. 14
Some of the brethren of the church at Corinth had been given various gifts of the Spirit. Such gifts were given NOT for the benefit of the one given the gift but for the benefit of the whole church (12:6-7). As with so many other aspects of the faith, the Corinthian brethren got this wrong and used them for their own aggrandizement rather than for the building up of the body of believers. Instead of promoting unity and love, their use of these gifts was dividing the body and causing strife.
Paul revealed to them some rules that needed to be followed in the exercising of these gifts. For example, concerning the use of such spiritual gifts in the assembly he commanded:
· The church must be edified (14:3,4, 5, 6,12, 17, 19,31).
· There must be order (14:27).
· Only two or three to speak in tongues, and that in turn.
· Let two or three prophets speak (vs. 29).
· If another receives a revelation, let the first keep silent (vs. 30).
· The spirits of the prophets were subject to the prophets (vs. 32).
· The women were to keep silent in the assembly (vs. 34). This should be kept in the context of an assembly where spiritual gifts were being exercised.
· Let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner (vs. 40).
(this list is from The Finger of God by Ferrell Jenkins).
In giving such commandments, he did so as an apostle. "37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized" (1 Corinthians 14:37–38).
While we must today take into consideration what situational differences there are between us and the believers of the first century, yet we must yet recognize the authoritative nature of the apostles' writing.
It must also be seen that there are NO such apostles or prophets that can give such authoritative commands today. Elders, bishops, arch-bishops, cardinals, or whatever title they may have appropriated to themselves, such men simply have no such authority to command. We are under law to Christ. We exercise our faith by following the revelation that came through His appointed ambassadors. We learn such by reading, understanding, and following what they wrote (cp. Eph. 3:1-5). Who are you following?
Hugh DeLong
