In verses 26 to 33 Paul rebukes the Corinthians for
confusion in the church and endeavors to correct and
regulate their conduct for the future. He blames them for
the confusion they introduced into the assembly by the
display of their gifts (v 26). He corrects their faults, and
lays down some regulations for their future conduct. As to
speaking in an unknown tongue, he orders that no more than
two or three should do it at one meeting, and this not
altogether, but successively, one after another. In
addition, even this was not to be done unless there were
some one to interpret vv 27, 28), some other interpreter
besides the speaker. However, if there were none to
interpret, he was to be silent in the church, and only
exercise his gift between God and himself (v 28).
As to prophesying he orders, 1) that two or three only
should speak at one meeting (v 20), and this successively,
not all at once; and that the others should examine and
judge what he delivered, that is, discern and determine
concerning it, whether it were of divine inspiration or not.
There might be false prophets, mere pretenders to divine
inspiration; and the true prophets were to judge these, and
discern and discover who was divinely inspired, and by such
inspiration interpreted scripture, and taught the church. 2)
He orders that, if a seated prophet had a revelation, while
another was prophesying, the one prophesying must keep
silent (v 30). Many understand this to mean that the former
speaker should immediately hold his peace. However, this
seems unnatural, and does not agree with the context. For
why must one that was speaking by inspiration be immediately
silent upon another man being inspired, and suppress what
was dictated to him by the same Spirit? Indeed, he who had
the new revelation might claim liberty of speech in his
turn, but why take the freedom of speech from the one when
he was delivering the dictates of the same Spirit? Would the
Spirit of God move one to speak, and, before he had
delivered what he had to say, move another to interrupt him,
and put him to silence? Taking the freedom of speech from
the one speaking so that another can speak does not agree
with what Paul said in verse 31. It seems the proper
interpretation of verse 30 is verse 31, the one who has
spoken is to be silent when the one seated is given the
right to speak. The confirmation of this interpretation of
verse 30 is verse 32 “and the spirits of prophets are
subject to prophets.” The spiritual gifts the prophets have
does not remove their power of reasoning and their
capability of using their own judgment in the exercise of
them. Divine inspirations are not, like the diabolical
possessions of heathen priests, violent and ungovernable,
and prompting them to act as if they were beside themselves;
but are sober and calm, and capable of regular conduct. The
man inspired by the Spirit of God may still act the man, and
observe the rules of natural order and decency in delivering
his revelations.
The apostle gives the reasons of these regulations; God is
not the God of confusion, but of peace and good order (v
33). Therefore, divine inspiration should by no means throw
Christian assemblies into confusion, and break through all
rules of common decency, which would be unavoidable if
several inspired men should all at once speak what the
Spirit of God revealed to them. The honor of God requires
that the worship service be conducted in Christian
assemblies so as not to transgress the rules of natural
decency. If they are conducted in a tumultuous and confused
manner, does it look as if He is the God of peace and order,
and an enemy to confusion? The church service should be
conducted in a way that no unlovely or dishonorable notion
of God should be formed in the minds of observers. Paul adds
that in all the other churches they kept to these rules in
the exercise of their spiritual gifts, which was a manifest
proof that the church of Corinth might observe the same
regulations (v 33). However, other churches are not to be
our rule, yet the regard they pay to the rules of natural
decency and order should restrain us from breaking these
rules.
