This final article on the use of the word “church” in 1 Corinthians takes us to chapter 14 where it is employed regularly; some of these references have been alluded to previously. We noticed that the term “the whole church” (v23)1 means that those comprising the assembly are distinct from others who might be in attendance at the meetings, demonstrating that New Testament churches had a recognized membership, a “within” and a “without” (5:12). We observed from verse 33 that its membership is comprised exclusively of believers, for assemblies are “churches of the saints.”
Edifying
The early references in the chapter are linked with edifying (vv4,5,12), so let me put that in context. Chapters 12-14 of the letter form a section with the overall theme of spiritual gifts. Just as each organ and member of a human body has a specific function, so every member of the assembly has a spiritual gift which must be exercised for the good of the whole company (12:14-27). The problem at Corinth was that undue emphasis was being placed on the gift of tongues. With certain caveats, in that era it was legitimate for the gift to be exercised in the assembly, for its demise was still future: “whether there be tongues, they shall cease” (13:8). However, its spectacular nature gave rise to its misuse; there seemed to be a feel-good factor for the tongues-speaker that motivated its use (14:4).
Chapter 14 demonstrates the superiority of the gift of prophecy over the gift of tongues. One of the major differences is that unless what was being spoken was interpreted, speaking in tongues had the very limited effect of only edifying the individual concerned. Prophecy had the potential to edify the church; everyone could benefit (v4). New Testament prophets were men to whom God revealed new truth (v30), but like the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy would become obsolete (13:8). We have no fresh revelation today, and all that God wants us to know is contained in the completed Scriptures, and there are those who are gifted to be teachers of the Word (12:28). Their objective is exactly that of the prophets: they speak “to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (14:3). The following is, perhaps, not a precise interpretation of the Greek words, but the old men used to tell us it was to build up, to stir up and to cheer up!
You can see, then, that “the church” needs to be edified, that is, it has to be built up. The assembly requires to be built up numerically and hence the need for persistent initiatives in evangelism. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Pro 29:18), and the assembly will diminish if outreach grinds to a halt.
It seems, though, that when these verses speak of edifying, it has more to do with the spiritual upbuilding of those who make up the local church. Back in chapter 3 the assembly is seen as “God’s building” (v9), a spiritual edifice for which Paul laid the foundation by preaching Christ (v11). Now the responsibility for edification lay with the local believers themselves: “let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon” (v10). Likely the context refers mainly to teaching, but every contribution should have this major objective: “Let all things be done unto edifying” (14:26). It challenges us all. Does our input have the effect of promoting spirituality among the saints, or is it divisive and discouraging? Remember, your gift has been given so that you can benefit the whole company. To neglect it or fail to stir it up to a vibrant flame deprives everyone. In the UK during WWI, photographs of the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, were posted everywhere. His finger was pointing, and from whatever angle you viewed the photograph, the finger pointed at you. The caption was, Your Country Needs You. Reader, Your Assembly Needs You. “Forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church” (v12).
Teaching
Allied with the thought of edifying is the concept of teaching in the church (v19). As far as teaching goes, Paul regarded five understandable words as being more valuable than ten thousand that were unintelligible. Teaching must take a major place in the assembly’s weekly schedule. Barnabas realized that his flair for encouraging would not in itself build up the new assembly at Antioch, hence his visit to Tarsus to seek Saul and solicit his help as a teacher. Scripture records that “a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people” (Act 11:26). Decades later, Paul still had a conviction about the benefits of teaching, and hence his words to Timothy: “Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching” (1Ti 4:13 RV).
Because of its edifying effects, every assembly has to ensure that adequate place is given to the teaching of the Word. Its fundamental truths have to be understood if believers are to be grounded. Its neglect will result in our being like “children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14). We will be at the mercy of false teachers, who, by their literature and internet presentations, try to divert us from what Luke called “things which are most surely believed among us” (Luk 1:1).
Silence
In verses 34-36, Paul makes further references to the church, and in this context the teaching is regarding the silence of sisters in the assembly. Elsewhere he indicates that it is the men who participate audibly in the prayer meeting (1Ti 2:8). They alone have the responsibility for teaching (vv12-15). Here, the regulation of silence is more comprehensive in that it rules out even asking a question, “for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” (14:35). To suggest that this is a prohibition against sisters chattering among themselves while the meeting proceeds seems a massive leap from the teaching that has gone before. The fact that Paul has raised the possibility of seeking an answer to a question rules out the chattering theory. Clearly, Paul, by the Spirit, is laying out the general principle that public participation is the remit of males. There are many other spheres in which Christian women serve faithfully and effectively.
Hopefully, the references to the use of the word “church” in 1 Corinthians have allowed us to reinforce at least some of the principles that should govern the assembly today.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
