Principles of Exercising Spiritual Gifts, Rev Dr John Kwasi Fosu
Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Hamburg Bible Study Material on 1 Cor. 14:1-25
Introduction
Having encouraged the readers to exercise their Spiritual Gifts in love in 1 Cor. 13, Paul sets his heart to give specific principles of exercising the gifts with particular attention to the gifts of speaking in tongues and prophecy.
Perspectives on Tongues as known and unknown languages
Instances of speaking in tongues in the Bible appear to suggest that they may be known or unknown. Paul’s description of tongues in 1 Cor. 13:1 seems to imply that there are tongues of angels (unknown) and tongues of humans (known). In many cases in the Bible, however, speaking in tongues refers to known languages (note Acts 2:4, 6, 8, 11). The Jews at Pentecost heard the believers extolling God’s mighty works in their dialects, so no interpreter was needed. In 1 Corinthians 14:10 and 21, Paul states that he is discussing known languages, not strange “heavenly language” or unknown tongues.
Principles of Exercising Spiritual Gifts
With particular attention to speaking in tongues and prophecy, Paul seems to imply that some members of the Corinthian Church were of the view that the gift of tongues is a mark of superior spirituality. Also, they want us to believe that believers cannot truly be spiritual as long as they neglect this gift. Paul teaches exactly the opposite! Paul gives some suggestions:
- Spiritual Gifts must be used in the motive of love (1 Cor. 14:1; 1 Cor. 13)
To Paul, desiring to discover and use one’s gifts must be in the motive of love (1 Cor. 14:1). This has been studied in detail in 1 Cor. 13.
- Exercising Spiritual Gifts must aim at building up the Church (1 Cor. 14:3)
Paul is of the view that if speaking in tongues, for instance, is to be used properly, they are to edify the church members (verses 1-21). It is essential to keep in mind that spiritual gifts have as their purpose the building up of the church of Jesus (1 Cor: 12:7) and not the personal enjoyment of the believer.
- Public worship must be understandable to the whole church
Comparing speaking in tongues to prophesying, Paul gives the principle that spiritual gifts must be understood the entire members of the church. For that reason, Paul makes several points about speaking in tongues. To begin, speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift from God (verse 2). Next, it is a desirable gift even though it isn’t a requirement of faith (12:28-31). Paul emphasises that speaking in tongues is less important than prophecy and teaching (verse 4).
Although Paul himself spoke in tongues, he stressed prophecy (preaching) because it benefits the whole church. Speaking in tongues primarily benefits the speaker.
- See the Need to contrast tongues and prophecy
| Prophecy | Tongues |
| 1. Speaks to men for their good (verse 3) | 1. Speaks to God for the speaker’s own good (verse 2) |
| 2. Can be understood (verses 2, 5) | 2. Not understood unless there is an interpreter (verse 2) |
| 3. Edifies the church (verses 3-4) | 3. Edifies the speaker (verse 4) |
| 4. The greater gift (verses 5, 19) | 4. The lesser gift (verse 5 and 12:10) |
Conclusion
This study has focused on providing certain principles regarding the exercise of spiritual gifts using the example of speaking in tongues and prophecy. Among other things, exercising spiritual gifts must be in the motive of love. It must seek to benefit others in the worshipping context. It must also be understood all in the worshipping context.
Paul makes it clear that tongues, apart from utterances that are interpreted, speaking in tongues is unfruitful to the entire church. For that matter, they bring no personal blessings to the members at the worship service unless they understand what is being said through interpretation (1 Cor. 14: 14-15).
