---

I. THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE TWO CHIEF SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

1. Prophesying is speaking for God, whether the utterance regards present or future matters. The function of the prophet is indicated in ver. 3. and in vers. 24-25 the results of prophesying are described in terms precisely such as we should use to describe the results of efficacious preaching.

2. The gift of tongues, from Acts 2., would seem to have been the gift of speaking in foreign languages, and was communicated, not as a permanent acquisition, but only "as the Spirit gave utterance." It served the same purpose as other miracles; it called attention to the entrance of new powers into human nature; it was "for them that believe not, not for them that believe." It produced conviction that among the followers of Christ new powers were at work. The evidence of this took a shape which seemed to intimate that the religion of Christ was suitable for every race of mankind.

3. Comparing these two gifts, Paul gives the preference to the former, and this mainly on the score of its greater utility. Apart from interpretation speaking with tongues was like the blare of a trumpet, mere unintelligible sound. Prophesying, however, all could understand, and profit by it.

4. From this preference for the less showy but more useful gift, we may gather that to make public worship the occasion of self-display or sensational exhibitions is to degrade it. Preachers must resist the temptation to make a sensation, to produce fine sermons; and worshippers must resist the temptation to merely exhibit a good voice or find greater pleasure in what is sensational in worship than in what is simple and intelligible.

5. Worship in which the understanding bears no part receives no countenance from Paul (ver. 15). Where the prayers of the Church are in Latin the worshipper may indeed pray with the spirit and be edified, but his worship would be better did he pray with the understanding also. Music unaccompanied by words induces a devoutness which is apt to be either hazy or sentimental, or both, unless by the help of words the understanding goes hand in hand with feeling.

6. No countenance can be found in this chapter to the idea that worship should exclude preaching. Some temperaments incline towards worship, but resent being preached to or instructed. St. Paul, however, puts prophesying in the forefront. But St. Paul puts —

II. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE PUBLIC SERVICES SHOULD BE CONDUCTED.

1. The services at Corinth were characterised by great freedom (ver. 26). Each member of the congregation had something to contribute for the edification of the Church. One with a natural aptitude for poetry threw his devotional feeling into a metrical form, and furnished the Church with her earliest hymns. Another set forth some important aspect of Christian truth. Another, fresh from contact with the world, entered the meeting with the glow of conflict on his face, and had eager words of exhortation to utter. And so passed the hours of meeting, without any fixed order, appointed ministry, or uniformity of service. And certainly the freshness and variety of such services is greatly to be desired. We lose much by a silent membership.

2. And yet, as Paul observes, there was much to be desired in those Corinthian services. To appeal to this or any part of this letter in proof that there should be no distinction between clergy and laity would be a very bad policy. True there were no rulers of any kind, but then the want of them had given rise to disorder. The ideal condition, however, would be one in which authority should be lodged in certain office-bearers, while the faculty and gift of each member in some way contributed to the good of the whole Church.

3. While Paul abstains from appointing Church officers, he is careful to lay down two principles which should regulate their procedure.

(1) "Let everything be done decently and in order." This advice was greatly needed in a Church in which the public services were sometimes filmed into tumults.

(2) "Let all things be done unto edifying." Keep the great end of your meetings in view, and you need no formal rubrics.

4. It might be difficult to say whether the somewhat selfish ambition of those Corinthians to secure the surprising gifts of the Spirit or our own torpid indifference and lack of expectation is less to be commended. Certainly every one who attaches himself to Christ ought to indulge in great expectations. From Him we may expect at least His own Spirit. And in this "least" there is promise of all. But lack of expectation is fatal to the Christian.

(M. Dods, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

WEB: Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.