A spiritual local church

Introduction

Today, as we conclude the teaching on the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit, we will end with the practical interpretation of two specific gifts that the Apostle Paul presents in 1 Corinthians 14, considering both their proper and improper use. These two gifts are the gift of prophecy and the gift of tongues.

A spiritual gift, let us remember, is a supernatural ability granted by the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish an immediate work for edification, exhortation, and encouragement, whether on the personal level of the believer or within the church.

In this passage, the issue in question is order within the church, which had become nothing short of disastrous in Corinth. The exercise of spiritual gifts in the local church must always be carried out with love, in order, and with due respect for one another, faithfully transmitting what God has established throughout the centuries.

It is true that society changes, and the church adjusts to different ways of living. Yet such adjustment must never mean accepting everything or compromising within the church, as was the case with the Corinthians. Their compromise led to the complete loss of holiness, of reverence for God and His commandments, and to the misuse of the spiritual gifts.

« Earnestly pursue love »

After the passage on love studied last week, this chapter also makes reference to love, for the manifestation of spiritual gifts requires love, as well as respect toward the brothers and sisters, those whom Jesus Christ has chosen to serve His flock. Concerning the spiritual gifts of prophecy and of speaking in tongues, these are two gifts that concern directly to communication within the local church.

« especially the gift of prophecy »

Prophecy is a gift that builds up, exhorts, encourages, and comforts the body through the knowledge of Scripture, through wisdom, and through spiritual maturity. To build up is to elevate, to help a brother or sister grow in faith, so as to achieve spiritual maturity. Exhortation is correction, the alignment of our lives with the Word of God. Encouragement is providing the motivation to move forward by faith rather than by sight. Comfort is the act of providing spiritual support.

Prophesying is not reserved for a spiritual elite; it is for all Christians, for all can prophesy. Indeed, the word literally means “to shine forth,” with the purpose of influencing others by the Spirit who directs what is spoken. It is a responsibility that rests upon every believer.

The prophet Joel declared that God would pour out His Spirit on all people: “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy… Even on the servants and handmaids, in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”

The Apostle Paul, likewise, encourages all to eagerly desire this gift, meaning that it should be exercised for the edification of the body, according to what the Spirit desires to communicate.

The fact that prophecy is a word or message inspired by the Spirit does not mean that the words are incomprehensible. Rather, they are guided by the Holy Spirit to reveal to the church, or to a brother or sister, what must be accomplished, improved, or practiced for one’s own life or for the lives of others, all to the glory of God.

« For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit »

Speaking in tongues is intended for personal edification, for speaking in a language unknown to the church, or even praying in that language, does not build up the church. Yet, as the Apostle Paul reminds us, spiritual gifts are given for the common edification of the body. Therefore, if one is to pray or share something inspired by the Spirit, it must be done in a language that can be understood and received by the entire church.

When Paul says, “Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God,” he means that if someone speaks in a language that is their mother language, they are indeed addressing God directly. However, those around them will not understand, and therefore they will not be edified. At times, over-spiritualizing Scripture leads to unrealistic interpretations, but Paul presents the matter in a practical and simple way so that everyone can understand.

Yet these two spiritual gifts are closely connected, for prophecy and the language in which that prophecy is delivered must be comprehensible to all.

« I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified. » 1 Corinthians 14:5

Paul explains why speaking in a foreign language within the community is not forbidden, if there is interpretation, so that everyone may be edified by the message the Spirit wishes to communicate. The church must not become a place where each person speaks in their own language, for this leads to disorder and confusion. Unbelievers who come to hear the Good News of Christ must not be left in confusion.

Paul’s aim, therefore, is to restore order in the way the Corinthians conducted themselves in worship, so that each person might receive the message of love in a common language: the language of Christ and of Christ crucified.

Paul adds in verse 6: « Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? »

If I take the example of our own church, which welcomes many nationalities, and I were to preach in French, would you be edified? The answer is certainly no, for the common language today is English. Likewise, in the church of Corinth, the common language was Greek. The Apostle Paul therefore instructs them to do all things in order and in love for one another, striving to speak the same language for the common good.

Paul also specifies in verse 13 that anyone who speaks in a tongue must pray for the interpretation, that is, to ask the Spirit to reveal how to share this message in the common language, even if only a few words, so that the revealed word may bring blessing to the entire church.

He continues in verses 10 and 11 : « Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. »

This means that if a person prays or speaks in a foreign language, both the one who speaks and the one who listens remain strangers to each other. It creates distance rather than closeness, and they cannot understand one another. Both the speaker and the listener remain alone, each isolated in their own space. Such a posture stands in opposition to the love of unity within the body.

Paul explain the difference between the Spirit and the mind: « For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? » 1 Corinthians 14:14-16

To pray in one’s own language through the intercession of the Spirit, yes. But if understanding remains unfruitful, that is, if the words are not comprehended by the church, then no one can say “Amen” with full knowledge. The Spirit works in the supernatural dimension, yet God has also given us natural intelligence and understanding. Both must work together: the Spirit inspires, but the intellect makes the message clear and accessible.

Thus, Paul emphasizes that the person beside us cannot approve or be edified if they do not understand what is being said. The Spirit works through what we have experienced, through the Word written in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33), and through the law of God engraved in our memory, in order to build up the people.

In the book of the prophet Hosea, the Lord says: « My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children. » Hosea 4:6

The “knowledge” referred to here is not merely intellectual, but relational, a living communion with God within the covenant. Without this knowledge, the people fall into spiritual and moral decay, which leads to destruction.

Throughout all of Scripture, the knowledge of God is inseparable from true wisdom and life itself.

Paul speaks about his own speaking abilities: « I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. » 1 Cor. 14:18-19

He clarifies that he himself speaks several languages, due to his Roman, Greek, and Hebrew identity, likely more than many in the church. Yet he insists: in the church, five understandable words that instruct are far better than ten thousand in a foreign language that isolate and divide the believers from one another.

To conclude the comparison between the two spiritual gifts studied here, and which may still be present in our assemblies today, Paul gives a clear and unequivocal directive:

«Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. » 1 Corinthians 14:22

This means that speaking in tongues is a supernatural sign intended for unbelievers, so that they may hear a message from God in their own language, testifying to His power (as at Pentecost, Acts 2).

Prophecy, on the other hand, is given for the edification of the entire community of believers. It holds greater honor within the church, for it builds up the body of Christ. Yet again, prophecy must be expressed in the common language, not in a foreign language, so that all may understand and be edified.

The purpose of the church of believers is to be one, one body, one Spirit, one Lord and Savior, living in love for one another, and serving as living witnesses to those who come to hear the Word of the Gospel, the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.

In this way, believers live in the knowledge of God’s perfect law, written upon their hearts and made manifest within the church. We serve a God of order, which does not imply rigid fear, but rather a body well-joined and functioning smoothly in love and wisdom through the Spirit.

The church gathers to honor God, to praise Him, but also to carry a message that unbelievers can experience concretely in our midst.

In verse 33, Paul says : « For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. » 

This means that in all churches and communities, whether house churches or otherwise, this divine order was, and must be, practiced. Peace is present when God’s order is respected, and when everyone, in submission to His will, honors this order.

The next point addressed by the Apostle still concerns the spiritual gifts of prophecy and tongues, but this time it concerns the conduct of women in the church.

This passage has provoked much debate in recent decades, yet, sincerely, it is simple to understand if one takes care to read it within the context of what we have just studied.

« Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. » 1 Corinthians 14:34

When Paul says that women are to remain silent in the church, this should not be perceived as something negative or oppressive, for this instruction is rooted in several reasons.

Corinth was a center of every form of idolatry, with countless false deities, the greatest of which was Diana, also called Venus, the goddess of sexual immorality. 

Paul was by no means a misogynist, as some have claimed in historical accounts. Rather, he deeply desired that the Corinthians, and all who would read his letter, respect God’s will and divine order for His people, whether in the church or within the family, which shares the same foundation.

The Corinthians were called to restore this order so that their church could reflect once again what God intended regarding relationships, worship, and the conduct of life for His people. As the Church of Christ, we are all called to maintain this order designed by God, though it is often distorted by human influence.

In our present society, as has been the case for centuries, it is difficult to uphold God’s established order. For centuries, the church shaped the world; now, increasingly, the world shapes the church. Indeed, maintaining the values of the Kingdom is challenging, yet it remains our duty as children of God. We are ambassadors of a Kingdom not of this world, and we have the responsibility to preserve His divine ordinances as a treasure for future generations. 

Through the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish this. Our mission is to safeguard the Church of Christ from worldly influences, with a pure conscience, in love and peace, so that God may be glorified.

In verse 35, Paul also says : « If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church. »

Continuing his teaching, Paul reminds that a woman should ask a man to instruct her, a principle that was evident to those who belong to the Lord and understand His will. Knowledge was transmitted in this manner, and in many countries, this practice still continues.

The man bore responsibility within the family: providing for both material and spiritual needs. Drawing from God’s Word, he would then pass on this teaching to his household, so that his wife and children could be nourished in the peace of the Lord. To do this effectively, he himself had to be fed by the Word, so that the blessing would overflow upon the entire home.

When each person knows their identity in Christ and lives by the Spirit, there is no room for comparison or competition, only love, which requires patience and leads to perseverance.

Submission, therefore, must be understood within a biblical framework, not through the lens of the world, which often distorts it into oppression or abuse. In God’s eyes, it is not a weakness but an honorable attitude.

The mission of the man then becomes clear: to fully assume his responsibility as head of the household, so that his wife may fulfill hers, supported and encouraged. These words may appear strange or unfamiliar to the world, but they reflect the reality of the Kingdom, for though we live here on earth, we no longer belong to this world.

To end, Paul exhorts them to maintain this divine order : « But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner. » 1 Corinthians 14:40

Paul tells us that all things must be done in order within the church, which remains true today. Without order, the Holy Spirit cannot be heard, cannot work in harmony, love, and wisdom. It is also true that the word “must” presents this verse as solemn and direct; this is solely because Paul is establishing a clear framework in response to the chaotic environment in which the Corinthians were completely enslaved, living in sin.

Today, let us remain in the joy of the Lord, preserving this order established since the foundation of humanity. Let us love one another, prophesying and speaking in a language understood by all, the language of the Kingdom of Heaven.