Question: What is the object of 1 Corinthians 14:1, 26, 40? L. A.
Answer: (a) Verse 1. “Follow after charity” (N. T. “love”). Love is the power or motive in ministry.
(b) Verse 26. “Let all things be done unto edifying.” Edification is the object of ministry.
(c)Verse 40. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” This, God’s order, is to be observed in all that is done in or for the assembly.
(a) The apostle gave the “more excellent way” (chap. 12:31). Chapter 13 opens up to us how love behaves, which 14:1 tells us to follow. To desire spiritual gifts here would refer to those taking part audibly. Directions given to the church or assembly at the beginning are the only guide we have for the “two or three” gathered now to the Name of the Lord (Matt. 18:20). Prophesying, because it ministered to the need of the saints, is the most profitable, for it was for edification—building them up—and five words given in the power and liberty of the Spirit, are better than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue (ver. 19).
(b) It would not be for edification to speak in an unknown tongue unless someone could interpret. The Corinthian saints seemed to be rather displaying themselves, than seeking edification and taking part when out of order. It could not be order for two to speak or pray at the same time. Now this is limited to two or three speaking after each other in one meeting (ver. 29). There is no limit to how many may pray or worship, and the gathering was to hear and judge.
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all assemblies of the saints.” We have not any revelations, nor tongues, and so interpreters are not needed now. Women are not to take audible part, according to the commandments of the Lord (ver. 34, 37).
Care is needed to minister, as a channel of blessing, from Christ the Head on high to His members, avoiding personal applications to others. It is also Christ that should be ministered, so that the heart may be drawn to Him.
(c) Verse 40. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” “Decently” means with comeliness, and the “order” is subjection to the Word of God and to each other in the fear of God (1 Peter 5:5).
We also find in 1 Corinthians 11:3 to 16 that the man is to have his head uncovered, and the woman’s head is to be covered. The speaker represents Christ, and the woman the assembly, because of the angels who learn through us (ver. 10; see also Eph. 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12).
We see also in 1 Corinthians 14:23, 24 that there is room for the unlearned or unbelievers who are not of the assembly. We need to take care whom we receive to remember the Lord among us. In 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17 the first thing is, that they should know what the blood of Christ has done for them, that they are in the communion of the blood of Christ.
The second thing is, that they are sealed with the Spirit, and are therefore members of the body of Christ—this is the ground of gathering for all the assembly of God. None have a claim to take the Lord’s supper, unless they have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of their sins, and are sealed by the Holy Ghost.
Then as it is the assembly that receives or puts away (1 Cor. 5:13), this ought to be done in the unity of the Spirit. It has become a necessity to see that those desiring to remember the Lord with those already gathered, are free from evil ways: in doctrine, and behavior, and associations.
If we are delivered from the camp (Heb. 13:13), we need to see that we do not get into it again.
Question: What does “Baptized for the dead” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:29? M. J. J.
Answer: The subject of the chapter is the resurrection of the saints. The apostle proves it by the gospel, how that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (verses 3, 4). He gives a seven-fold witness that Christ rose from the dead, and states that he had preached it, and they had believed it, yet some among them were saying “that there is no resurrection of the dead.” If so, there was no truth in the gospel; their faith was vain; they were yet in their sins; and the apostles were false witnesses, and those who had fallen asleep in Christ are perished. Many of them had lain down their lives in hope of resurrection with Christ. And besides, if Christians had no hope but for their life in this world, they were of all men most miserable (verse 18), then comes in a parenthesis (20-28) asserting that Christ did rise, and tells something of the glories that belong to Him. Then he continues his argument in verse 29, “Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?”
This has nothing to do with baptism in water, though the word has the same meaning. Baptized for the dead means here, other saints stepping into the places of the martyrs who were killed for Christ’s sake, to be cut down as those already dead had been. If there was no resurrection from the dead, they were throwing away their lives for nothing. (Connect verse 29 with 18, and verses 30-32 with verse 19).
Paul had been going through that trouble at Ephesus (2 Cor. 1:8, 9) in sure hope of resurrection.
It was evil doctrine to teach that there was no resurrection, and it is evil doctrine to teach that those who are dead can be saved by some who are living, being baptized in water for them. There is no salvation in baptism for any soul, either dead or living.
“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 9).
Question: “I speak this by permission and not of commandment” (1 Cor. 7:6).
“I command, yet not I, but the Lord,” verse 10.
“I have no commandment of the Lord; yet. I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful,” verse 25. Do these verses mean that we can take or reject what Paul writes just as it suits ourselves? Was Paul led by the Holy Spirit in his judgment in what he wrote, though it was not a commandment of the Lord? M. J.
Answer: Paul wrote by inspiration of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable,” etc. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). Also the Holy Spirit is given us to teach us and cause us to understand and profit by what is written (1 Cor. 2:12; 1 John 2:27). If we study to show ourselves approved unto God, we shall learn rightly to divine the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15). The Scriptures therefore contain a faithful record of both good and bad, as God saw necessary to give it. We have Satan’s words and wicked men’s words included. So we need to read the Word attentively, asking God to teach us, and wait on Him to help us.
In 1 Corinthians 14 we have instruction on ministry in the assembly (read verses 36, 37). Here we have the apostle declaring, what is written in this chapter are the commandments of the Lord. Is it not rebellion of spirit against God to say, “Those are only Paul’s opinions”? Yet alas! it is so often done.
In chapter 7 we have the subject of marriage of Christians, and the behavior of each to the other, and here he gives the advice the Holy Spirit led him to give them (ver. 6). The married he commands! yet not I, but the Lord; and to unmarried ones (ver. 25), he gives his judgment as one who had obtained mercy to be faithful. He expects each one to find his own path from God (ver. 7). In this he does not command, but advises them, leaving them free to marry or not marry. Widows also, are mentioned in ver. 39. She is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. After his judgment is mentioned, he adds, “and I think also that I have the Spirit of God” (ver. 40).
So in all this we see how God’s Word provides guidance for all His people, and in this chapter the apostle is inspired to show us the difference between spiritual judgment, and commandments of the Lord.