Monday, July 9, 2018
1 Corinthians 14
5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
When we give too much attention to our own desires or spiritual ambitions we might be avoiding the needs of others who might either be struggling or stumbling in their faith. This is why it is wise for an interpreter to speak for the one who is praying so that the Church can be benefited.
34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 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.
Many people use these verses to expose Christianity as a misogynist religion. However as I learned today, Paul was promoting Church unity as he understood that it would've been culturally unacceptable for women to intrude in service when disputes or disagreements could be discussed at home.
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Conrad, you've mis-read verse 5. Paul's main point in chapter 14:1-25 is for the church in Corinth to correct their wrongs: because apparently their worship was unintelligible. When someone is praying out loud in tongues, it is "unintelligible" because no-one else can understand.
ReplyDeletein chapter 13, Paul's setting the context by telling his readers that the REASON for good, proper worship is LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER (1 Cor.13:1-13).
in 14:5, Paul is saying that he wants everyone to have the gift of "speaking in tongues", but if they had a choice, it would be better to prophesy. Why? He gives the answer in the previous verse: Because when you speak in tongues, you're only edifying yourself (this is good!), but when you prophesy, you're actually edifying the church! (this is even better!). His little add-on sentence at the end of verse 5 is reminding his readers that when someone is praying in tongues, there should be someone who has the spiritual gift of interpretation - so that they can interpret the prayer for the whole church - in a language that they can all understand, and hence edifying the whole church.