teaching notes : 1 cor. 14:1 - 14:40
theme : order and understanding
intro : difficult chapters
this is a hard chapter to understand...
my goals :
to help everyone understand the problems
to help everyone understand how to approach the chapter (basic hermeneutics; read/outline/understand)
v1-25 - prophecy and tongues
outline
v1-5 - prophecy preferred to tongues
v6-19 - the need for interpreatation of tongues (if used publically)
v6-12 - the uselessness of meaningless noise
v13-19 - the importance of speaking with the mind

v20-25 - prophecy preferred to tongues
quote here is from isaiah 28:11-12
it doesn't match either the hebrew or the lxx...
v22 - confusion reigns
chrysostom says "the difficulty at this place is great, which seems to arise from what is said
- some say 'a sign for judgement', pulling from the prev. verse
- some say it is a quote of corinth...
- some say rhetorical question
- some say that tongues are a sign for unbelievers (simplest reading, but it seems to contradict the explanation in v23-25)
a. problem one : prophecy? tongues?
i don't fee confident knowing what prophecy or tongues is.
prophecy :
a. direct word from god (predictive/didactic)
b. 'proclaiming truth'
i personally only buy the first option, as i don't see any example in the bible that reinforces the second...
tongues :
a. foreign languages
b. angelic languages
c. ecstatic utterances
i don't quite know...i don't buy the tongues of angels approach, as other than the statement in 13:1 which seems to be hyperbolic, there's nothing to indicate such (and you have to deal with 'they will end' in 13:8 (angels will stop speaking?).

 
v26-40 - church order - let everything be done for edification
v27-28 - tongues should be interpreted
v29-33 - prophecy should be orderly, not chaotic
- one at a time please
- 'let the others pass judgement' Always Be Careful, Always Check
v34,35 - women should keep silent
v36-40 - summary of principles
note the parallel between this close and the close of the section on women in 11...
1 cor 11:16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.
1 cor 14:36-38 Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only? If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
application :
edification is the goal
1 cor 14:12 since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, see to abound for the edification of the church
1 cor 14:26 let all things be done for edification
1. the motive should be the benefit of others
example : the teacher who is concerned with himself or with a few 'pet issues'...
2. "god is not a god of confusion but of order, as in all the churches"
3. everything is done in love

reading the bible can be confusing
1. it doesn't make you stupid
2. don't be overly dogmatic
3. don't be afraid to say "i don't know"