Bird's-eye view
In these concluding verses of the chapter, Paul summarizes his instructions regarding the spiritual gifts in the corporate worship of the church. Having spent a great deal of time correcting the Corinthian over-exuberance and disorderly conduct, particularly with regard to the gift of tongues, he does not throw the baby out with the bathwater. He provides two bookend commands that balance the pursuit of spiritual vitality with the necessity of biblical order. He encourages a zealous desire for the greater gifts, like prophecy, while simultaneously refusing to outlaw the lesser, more problematic gifts, like tongues. The final word on the matter is the non-negotiable principle that must govern all things in the gathered assembly: everything must be done in a fitting and orderly way. This is not a suggestion for better church growth, but a command rooted in the very character of our God, who is not the author of confusion, but of peace.
Outline
- 1. The Summary Commands (v. 39)
- a. The Positive Exhortation: Eagerly Desire Prophecy (v. 39a)
- b. The Negative Prohibition: Do Not Forbid Tongues (v. 39b)
- 2. The Overarching Principle (v. 40)
- a. The Manner of Worship: Decently and In Order (v. 40)
Context In 1 Corinthians
Chapter 14 is Paul's pastoral application of the principles he laid out in chapters 12 and 13. After establishing that the church is one body with many members (chapter 12) and that love is the indispensable motive for all ministry (chapter 13), he now addresses the chaos that had overtaken the Corinthian assembly. Their worship was a mess. It was characterized by selfish ambition, a focus on the spectacular over the edifying, and a general lack of order. Paul's goal is not to quench the Spirit, but to channel the Spirit's work through the grid of intelligibility, edification, and order. These final two verses serve as the capstone to his entire argument, bringing everything to a sharp, practical point. The freedom of the Spirit is not lawlessness; true spiritual liberty flourishes within the boundaries of God-ordained structure.
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
1 Corinthians 14:39
Therefore, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
Therefore, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy... Paul begins his conclusion with a warm, familial address. He is not a detached bureaucrat imposing rules, but a father pleading with his children. The word "therefore" links this summary to everything he has just argued. Because God is a God of peace, because love is the more excellent way, because edification is the goal of the assembly, therefore... what? The first thing he says is not "clamp down," but rather "desire earnestly." The Greek word is zeloute, from which we get our word zeal. This is not a mild preference. He is commanding them to be zealous, to burn with desire, for the gift of prophecy. And why prophecy? Because, as he has spent the whole chapter explaining, prophecy is intelligible. It is the plain declaration of God's mind to the people for their upbuilding, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3). This is the greater gift because it serves the body in love. A church that is not zealous for the clear, powerful, and applicable preaching of the Word of God is a church that has lost its way. This is the central business of the Christian assembly.
...and do not forbid to speak in tongues. Here is the other bookend, the balancing command. While you are pursuing the greater gift, do not swing the pendulum to the other extreme and simply ban the lesser gift. Now, we must be careful here. Given the context, Paul has already severely restricted the use of tongues in the assembly. It must be done by two, or at most three, in turn, and it must be interpreted (1 Cor. 14:27-28). If there is no interpreter, the speaker must be silent. So, "do not forbid" is not a command to throw the doors open to any and all babbling. It is a command not to issue a blanket prohibition against the legitimate gift, exercised within the strict biblical parameters he has just laid down. The gift of tongues, as demonstrated at Pentecost, was the miraculous ability to speak in real, foreign languages. It served as a sign of judgment to unbelieving Israel (1 Cor. 14:21-22), indicating that the kingdom was now going out to all the nations. While its function as a foundational, revelatory gift has ceased with the apostolic age, the principle remains: we must not forbid what God has permitted, even if we must regulate it according to the Word.
1 Corinthians 14:40
But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. This is the great, overarching rule that governs all corporate worship. The "but" sets up a slight contrast, or perhaps a qualification, to the previous verse. Yes, desire gifts. Yes, do not forbid tongues. But let this principle be the final arbiter. The word for "properly" (euschemonos) has to do with right form, good order, and decorum. It means to act in a way that is fitting for the occasion. We are coming before the holy God, and our demeanor should reflect that. The word for "orderly" (taxin) is a military term. It means keeping rank, staying in formation. It speaks of a structured, disciplined arrangement. Put together, Paul is saying that our worship services are not to be chaotic free-for-alls. They are not to be driven by individual whims or subjective experiences. God is not glorified by confusion. He is glorified by worship that is thoughtful, structured, coherent, and reverent. This principle does not stifle true worship; it creates the necessary conditions for it. A river that overflows its banks is a destructive flood, but a river that flows within its banks can generate immense power. So it is with the Holy Spirit in the church. This command for decency and order is not the enemy of spiritual vibrancy, but rather its necessary framework.
Application
The modern church is often caught between two ditches, both of which are addressed by these verses. On one side is a dead formalism, a church that has order but no zeal. The liturgy is predictable, the sermon is dry, and there is no earnest desire for the power of God's Word to be felt among the people. To them, Paul says, "earnestly desire to prophesy!" We should long for and pray for preaching that convicts, converts, and comforts.
On the other side is a chaotic emotionalism, a church that prizes experience over everything else. To them, order is a dirty word, equated with quenching the Spirit. To them, Paul says that all things must be done decently and in order. The Holy Spirit is not a spirit of confusion. True worship is not mindless, but mindful. It engages the heart, yes, but it does so through a mind that is being renewed by the truth of God's Word.
The balance is found here in Paul's conclusion. We are to be a people full of zeal for God and His truth, and this zeal is to be expressed within the beautiful and strong container of biblical order. Our worship should be characterized by both life and peace, passion and propriety. When we get this right, the church becomes what it is meant to be: a pillar and buttress of the truth, displaying the manifold wisdom of God to a watching world.