The New Testament in 50 days – day 28

Our reading for today at the Bronze level is 1Corinthians 14, which is invaluable for showing us how the early Church handled the issue of spiritual gifts and their use in public settings.  Here are my ‘fresh’ thoughts as I read today:

• love how verse 1 encourages/challenges us to “desire the special abilities the Spirit gives” - other translations make it even stronger, “earnestly desire”. Do we?  Do you?  When was the last time we prayed that God would use us through spiritual gifts?
• 1Cor. 14:2-5 is such a sensible & logical appeal for the good of the entire church but in NO way does it diminish or minimize the value/benefit of us having a ‘prayer language’ (“tongues”) that we use devotionally for our own spiritual benefit (which is clearly seen in vv. 4, 14, 15, 17, 18)! I pray that you don’t miss the point – throughout this chapter Paul is addressing the concept of the greater good for the benefit of the entire assembly, but he clearly believed in and practiced the private devotional use of tongues for himself, ,and valued it greatly! (v. 18)
• Verses 32-33 also are quite clear, and when practiced, will eliminate virtually all of the ‘nonsense’ that sometimes goes on in Pentecostal/charismatic churches.  God is a God of order!
• I may as well address 1Cor. 14:34-35 (since someone is likely to ask about it if I don’t). Let me say that I’m not totally sure what it means, with the most logical explanation being that men & women were separated in public assemblies in that time, sitting on opposite sides of the room.  Since women in that era were usually not given the privilege of an education, some have speculated that the women often interrupted the meetings to ask their husband what the minister meant, and that Paul was trying to eliminate that confusion and bring order by suggesting that they ask those questions in private, at home.  What I do know is that if we take the whole of Scripture instead of this one passage, is that men and women are equal in God’s sight (Galatians 3:28) and that, without question, women have a role in the ministry of the Church today!
• Verses 39-40 give us a great summary of the whole chapter-

How was your reading today?  Any insights you’d care to share with us below?