Worship Must Be Orderly 1 Corinthians 14:30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. As we have mentioned previously, a prophet received direct communications from the Lord and revealed them to the church. But it is possible that after giving this revelation, he might go on to preach to the people. So the apostle lays down the rule that if a prophet is speaking and anything is revealed to another prophet sitting in the audience, then the first is required to stop speaking to make way for the one who has received the latest revelation. The reason, as suggested, is that the longer the first man talks, the more apt he is to speak by his own power rather than by inspiration. In continued speech there is always the danger of shifting from God’s words to one’s own words. Revelation is superior to anything else. 1 Corinthians 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. The prophets should be given the opportunity to speak one by one. No one prophet should take all the time. In that way, the greatest benefit would result to the church—all would be able to learn and all would be exhorted or encouraged. 1 Corinthians 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. A very important principle is set forth in verse 32. Reading between the lines, we suspect that the Corinthians had the false idea that the more a man was possessed by the Spirit of God, the less self-control he had. They felt that he was carried away in a state of ecstasy and they contended, according to Godet, that the more spirit, the less intelligence or self-consciousness there would be. To them, a man under the control of the Spirit was in a state of passivity, and could not control his speech, the length of time he spoke, or his actions in general. Such an idea is thoroughly refuted by the passage of Scripture before us. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. That means that he is not carried away without his consent, or against his will. He cannot evade the instructions of this chapter on the pretense that he just couldn’t help it. He himself can determine when or how long he should speak. 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. If a meeting is the scene of pandemonium and disorder, then you can be sure that the Spirit of God is not in control! 1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. :35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Obviously, this must be interpreted in light of 11:5 where it is clear that Paul understood that women were permitted to prophesy and to pray in public worship so long as they were properly dressed. The expression may have reference to speaking in tongues. That is, they were denied the privilege of exercising the gift of tongues in the assembly. Alternatively, it may have reference to what follows. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. They were not allowed to disrupt the service by asking questions and talking while the service was going on. Certainly, they were not to speak out in tongues either. 1 Corinthians 14:36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? :37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. Paul knew that the Corinthians would react to all these firm regulations that would end the free-for-all in their services. The prophets, tongues-speakers, and women may all have been resistant to words, so he anticipated that resistance by sarcastically challenging those who put themselves above his word, and thus, above Scripture by either ignoring it or interpreting it to fit their predisposed ideas. If anyone was genuinely a prophet or had the true spiritual gift of tongues, he or she would submit to the principles God had revealed through the apostle. 1 Corinthians 14:38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Of course, some would not be willing to accept them as such, and so the apostle adds that if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. If a person refuses to acknowledge the inspiration of these writings and to bow to them obediently, then there is no alternative but for him to continue in his ignorance. 1 Corinthians 14:39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Again, Paul compares the two gifts and in so doing asserts the legitimacy of the gift of tongues and the primacy of the gift of prophecy. 1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order. Public worship was to be reflective of the one to whom it was directed, thus it was to be beautiful and harmonious. Christ Was Raised to Life 1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, :2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.