1 Corinthians chapter 14

vs 21

A quote from Isaiah. So far we're so good.

vs 22

Yes, Paul, you're making perfect sense... um, what?

There are a few things I can think of. It is possible (though I think unlikely) that Paul is quoting the Corinthian letter here, and they are using that verse from Isaiah to say that tongues is for unbelievers, and prophecy for believers. Or, Paul could be saying (another stretch) that tongues is for making unbelievers, whereas prophecy makes believers. The NASB doesn't hold that up, because it uses 'to' instead of 'for', and just doesn't sound right.

Paul could be being sarcastic. Wouldn't be the first time in the letter. It could be a mistake. But translators have not had many qualms about fixing mistakes (although this would be a pretty huge one to "fix").

When you read vs 23-25, you understand what Paul means. This verse on its own, or even in context with them, is very confusing.

vs 23

Having been in such a situation, I can happily and heartily agree with Paul here, and that was when I was a Christian! When I was a non-Christian, and I went to a church where someone was just talking about speaking tongues, that was enough to freak me out.

vs 24

Prophecy is, at least, done in regular language. Note that this doesn't necessarily mean that everyone is telling the future - telling the truths of God should be enough to elicit this response.

vs 25

Laid bare in the prophecies, I am assuming, rather than him just coughing up stuff because he's in the presence of people who are speaking. It's not a response I have ever seen (the whole falling down in worship thing) but then, I've also never seen a whole church prophesy.

vs 26

I don't know if Paul means all of these must be done every time you meet together, or if all of these must be done only if people come with them. The point is that all these things are beneficial for the church, and so there's got to be an orderly way or fitting them into your regular times of fellowship.

vs 27

Because we are talking about edification of the church, interpretation of tongues is absolutely necessary to Paul. And the limitation of tonges-speakers is necessary too - not because tongues are bad, because there needs to be some order discipline in the service. Heavily needed by the Corinthians, it would seem. Perhaps not so necessary for us, as we're pretty uptight already.

vs 28

If you can't interpret, and there isn't someone else gifted, keep your mouth shut. Pray instead, to yourself, in tongues if you wish.

vs 29

Now these next two verses are absolutely out there. You have two or three prophets talking, one after the other. You're meant to sit and discern what they are saying, to judge it and weigh it carefully. Sounds important to me.

vs 30

But if someone comes up with a revelation during the meeting, they can just stand up and give it, and the person currently with the floor must take a seat and listen. Does this make a revelation different from a prophecy? Possibly it does. The word simply means "something is revealed", so it does sound like a more immediate thing than someone giving a prophecy (which if we look at the OT, their pattern seems to be longer, more drawn out sermon type things). Of course, when we think of a revelation, we think of Revelation - someone interrupting your sermon to speak out 22 chapters of stuff might be somewhat annoying. But it seems that is what Paul is saying (probably most revelations weren't or aren't quite so long).