Worship Conversation - 1 Cor. 14:1-5

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a] does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.^[b] 3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,^[d] unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

In any gathering of the church Paul points out something very important. Please also read previous chapters in 1 Corinthians. Notice that Paul spends a lot of time on the subject of the church being a 'loving' community. In Chapter 13, Paul doesn't waist too many words. Each word is poignant and poetic trying to capture the heart of God who demonstrates his love for us through Christ and Paul opens saying, "Follow the way of love". And 'love' is 'agape' in Greek. Agape is the kind of love that lays itself down for the sake of another. Agape is the unconditional love that forgives even those people who are doing you the most harm. Agape love cries out in the middle of the crucifixion saying, "Father forgive them." Agape love is the kind of love that even though one has the power to wipe his enemies out; he/she doesn't. Instead, agape love continues to seek and find ways of redemption and reconciliation.

Then, Paul begins a conversation on leadership and worship and how we are to behave when we meet with one another. Something to note he doesn't specify the size of gathering, nor does specify the exact order of a gathering, and even though he mentions some things, it's almost as though he leaves a lot of room for variety. In fact, we should also note where these gatherings take place. They do not appear to take place in any type of 'temple'. So where do they occur?

This passage also begins with talk on gifts (talents, abilities). One thing I noticed is the word 'spiritual' in front of gift. It's really one word, 'Pneumatikos'. Pneuma means breath or wind in connection to God it is the wind or breath of the God. "Tikos" could be things, gifts. Another way to think about it may be in the sense that these are 'gifts', 'talents', 'abilities' being used in accordance to the wind of God or the way in which God intended things to work. Another way, these gifts are being used in accordance with the flow of the very nature of who God is. Something I also noticed in studying this word is that this word is in connection with the 'rational' portion of a person. In other words, these are gifts that are intentionally and rationally being used by people. We are not taken over by some strange spirit. For Paul all of this happens out of the realness of life. Paul is not about the hyper-spiritual gifts that many people are pushing these days. Paul is seeking to move us towards using our mental and physical abilities to work according to the essence of who God is.

It seems that there were some unique things happening with the ability to speak in other languages. One of the things that I like to note is that Paul doesn't knock people down for using various languages. However, I must also note that Paul puts the most emphasis on speaking in a language that everyone can understand. IN this version the word is translated Prophesy.

Prophesy is a word that is greatly misunderstood. I think we often hyper-spiritualize prophesy. It almost becomes this spiritual state of being in which the person has no control over herself. This is not what Paul is speaking about. He is saying, "say something that helps people truly get who God is and who we are called to be." One meaningful word is more valuable than ocean of gibberish or non-sense.

I encourage you to go to StudyLight.org's interlinear Bible. Check out the various words that Paul uses. We are so used to hearing our English words that we often miss what an Author of the Biblical text is really trying to say. All I can say is that I am on the journey.

Please Comment. Argue with me, or agree with me, help me to see more clearly.