First Corinthians 14:36-40
God's Word Must Regulate
Brian R. Kenyon

In matters of religion, too many people think they know better than God as to how things should be done. For example, people will do what they like as acts of worship and think that God has to be pleased with it because they put forth their best effort and used their God-given talents. But what about God? What makes us think that He is pleased with our "self imposed religion" (Col. 2:23, NKJ). Church assemblies are no different. Rather than thinking we know better than God as to what should take place and how, we must allow God's word to regulate our actions. This is the lesson with which Paul concludes First Corinthians 12-14.

We Must Not Think We Are Independent of God's Rule

Paul begins by asking some rhetorical questions: "What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?" (1 Cor. 14:36). The Corinthians thought they were exclusive and had the monopoly on spiritual independence. Remembering that Paul just finished speaking about the conduct of women in church assemblies (1 Cor. 14:34-35), these rhetorical questions seem somewhat sarcastic and "suggest that the Corinthians had their own separate customs regarding the role of women in public worship and were tending to act independently of the other churches who also had received these commands."1 We do know that what Paul taught one congregation by the inspiration of God, he taught all congregations (1 Cor. 4:17; 16:1). All are amenable to the same Gospel of Christ!

To further emphasize the importance of allowing God's word to regulate all we do, Paul writes, "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Cor. 14:37). "Spiritual" in this context refers to one who claims to be inspired (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14-16). The point is that all who are miraculously gifted by God will agree with Paul because what he writes are the "commandments of the Lord." Thus, even today, when one's teachings disagree with Paul's writings, we know that those teachings cannot be from God! We must follow the "commandments of the Lord" delivered by Paul, and other Biblical writers (Jn. 14:15), when they are applicable to us (2 Tim. 2:15)!

Those who do not acknowledge that Paul writes the "commandments of the Lord" do so to their own spiritual demise. "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant" (1 Cor. 14:38). Other translations render this: "But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized" (NAS). With this particular verse, there is a textual variation. That is, though both translations come from the same verb translated "ignorant," or "not recognized," some ancient manuscripts vary in the voice of the verb, which gives the verb a different shade of meaning. Fortunately, the meaning of the verse is clear despite the textual variation-any person who is truly inspired by God will recognize that what Paul writes (and preaches) is from God. Anyone who ignores that fact will do so to his or her own destruction, either by remaining in ignorance, which results in spiritual death (Jn. 8:32; Lk. 12:48), or by not being acknowledged by God, which also results in spiritual death (cf. Mt. 7:23; 10:33).

All Things Must Be Done "Decently and In Order"

Because the word of God is for all people alike, the Corinthians were still to desire the miraculous gifts of the Spirit: "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues" (1 Cor. 14:39). Prophesying and speaking in tongues, which have been the subject of much of this chapter, were still useful to the Corinthians. Since prophesying was more useful in the Corinthian church assemblies (1 Cor. 14:1-5, 22-25), they were to especially desire it. "Covet [desire earnestly, NKJ]" means to set one's heart on. The ability to speak in tongues was also useful when used properly. The original language construction of "forbid not" implies that some were forbidding others from speaking in tongues because of their abuses of the gift. However, the abuse of something does not negate its value when used Scripturally.

There was one overriding factor that applied to their assemblies and use of miraculous spiritual gifts - "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40)! Since God is not the "author of confusion" (1 Cor. 14:33), everything His people do must reflect reverence and order. "Decently [properly, NAS]" means properly, or respectably (Rom. 13:13; 1 Thes. 4:12, "honestly"). "In order [orderly manner, NAS]" is from a word that means good order, orderliness (Lk. 1:8; Col. 2:5; Heb. 5:6). "Decently and in order" was certainly not the rule in Corinth when Paul wrote, but it now must be, as it must be with us today!

Conclusion

Since miraculous gifts have ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-13), the regulation of the gifts, including the desire to have them (1 Cor. 14:39), is no longer applicable (compare with the Sabbath Day regulations). Although First Corinthians 14 was written to "control long-gone phenomena," in principle, it is still very relevant.2 We must still pursue love (1 Cor. 14:1). We must still be mature in our thinking (1 Cor. 14:20). We must still do what will edify (1 Cor. 14:26). God is still "not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Cor. 14:33). Women are still subordinate to men in the assembly (1 Cor. 14:34). "All things" must still "be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40). May we always accept the writings of Paul and the rest of the Bible. Only when we allow God's word to regulate our lives can we be pleasing in His sight. Are we, individually and/or congregationally, pleasing God?

End Notes

1 W. Harold Mare, "First Corinthians," The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 10, Frank E. Gaeblein, ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976) 277.

2 Jimmy Allen, Survey of First Corinthians, 3rd ed. (Searcy, AR: Harding College, 1989) 180.