From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R.
Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
AStudyof
PaulsFirst
Epistletothe
Corinthians
Lesson21:IntelligentandOrderlyPt.2
1Corinthians14:2640
Nowlastweekwedugintothefirsthalfof1Corinthians14andwhatwesawwas
that Paul was very much concerned about the issue of intelligibility. That is, he
wasintenselyfocusedontheimportanceofbeingunderstood.Nowhisdesirethat
the Corinthians strive to be understood in their worship was directed, in
particular, toward the tonguesspeakers in Corinth. We know that from the
running comparison between tongues and prophecy. You see what Paul was
concerned about was the fact the Corinthians had become completely eaten up
with the whole subject of tongues. They believed that tongues, and by tongues I
meanspeakingintongues,wasthesingularmostimportantspiritualgiftgivento
thechurchandbecausetheybelievedthattheyconsideredtonguestobeatthetop
ofthelistofgiftsdesiredandtheyalsothoughtthattonguesoughttobeatthetop
oftheirworshippriorities.Thatis,theythoughttheexerciseoftonguessoughtto
beapriorityinworship.
Paul,however,didntbuyit.
Page 1
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
Paulbelievedthatintelligibilitywasthemostimportantissueinworshipandthe
reasonhebelievedthatwasbecausehethoughtbuildingupthesaintswasmore
importantthatindividualgratification.
NowthewayPaularguedthatwasbyarguingthatfiveintelligentwordswerea
lot more valuable to the assembled church in terms of edification than ten
thousandunintelligiblewordsspokenintongues.
Now this is how he arranged his argument. In verse 15 he argued that
prophesyingwasmuchmorevaluablethanspeakingintonguessimplybecauseit
wasintelligibleandedifiedthehearer.Inverses612,hebuttressedhispointwith
a couple of illustrations by making an analogy between human speech and a
musical instrument. Then in verses 1319, Paul argued that intelligibility was a
benefit to believers in that it provided the opportunity for edification. While in
verses 2025, he argued that intelligibility was essential if unbelievers were ever
goingtohearthetruthandhavetheopportunitytorespondtoit.
Now in todays study we are going to see Paul address the second half of his
concernforcorporateworshipatCorinthandthatconcernisgoingtodrivehimto
focus on the need for orderliness in worship. So, the first half of chapter 14
concerns the importance of intelligibility while the second half concerns the
importanceoforder.
Now I have to admit just thinking about the topic of orderliness in worship it
always brings to mind C.S. Lewis famous quote in Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on
Prayer where he writes the following about messing with the churchs liturgy or
orderofservice.
Page 2
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
Novelty,simplyassuch,canhaveonlyanentertainmentvalue.Andthey(andby
theyhemeansmostchurchmembers)dontgotochurchtobeentertained.They
gotousetheservice,or,ifyouprefer,toenactit.Everyserviceisastructureofacts
and words through which we receive a sacrament, or repent, or supplicate, or
adore. And it enables us to do these things bestif you like, it works best
when, through long familiarity, we dont have to think about it. As long as you
notice,andhavetocount,thestops,youarenotyetdancingbutonlylearningto
dance. A good shoe is a shoe you dont notice. Good reading becomes possible
whenyouneednotconsciouslythinkabouteyes,orlight,orprint,orspelling.The
perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention
wouldhavebeenonGod.
But every novelty prevents this. It fixes our attention on the service itself; and
thinking about worship is a different thing from worshipping. The important
questionabouttheGrailwasforwhatdoesitserve?Tismadidolatrythatmakes
theservicegreaterthanthegod.
A still worse thing may happen. Novelty may fix our attention net even on the
servicehutonthecelebrant.YouknowwhatImean.Tryasonemaytoexcludeit,
thequestionWhatonearthisheuptonow?willintrude.Itlaysonesdevotion
waste.Thereisreallysomeexcuseforthemanwhosaid,Iwishtheydremember
that the charge to Peter was Feed my sheep; not do experiments on my rats, or
even,Teachmyperformingdogsnewtricks.
Thus my whole liturgiological position really boils down to an entreaty for
permanence and uniformity. I can make do with almost any kind of service
whatever,ifonlyitwillstayput.ButifeachformissnatchedawayjustwhenIam
beginning to feel at home in it, then I can never make any progress in the art of
worship.Yougivemenochancetoacquirethetrainedhabit
It may well be that some variations which seem to me merely matters of taste
reallyinvolvegravedoctrinaldifferences.Butsurelynotall?Forifgravedoctrinal
differencesarereallyasnumerousasvariationsinpractice,thenweshallhaveto
conclude that no such thing as the Church of England exists. And anyway, the
Liturgical Fidget is not a purely Anglican phenomenon; I have heard others1
complainofittoo. 2
Nowofcourse,Lewisistalkingaboutmessingwiththeformoftheliturgyinthis
particularquoteandhisconcernisnotapplestoappleswithwhatwasgoingonin
Page 3
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
Corinthbutitdoesseemtohaveatitsheartaninclinationtowardorderlinessthat
makesitusefulforstartingoffourlookintothetextthismorning.
Apparently, chaos ruled supreme in corporate worship at Corinth. It seems that
peopleintheassemblyweretalkingovereachother(abitliketheydoonsomeof
the political talk shows you see on television these days shows like Hannity and
Colmes)andweresomehowvyingforagainsteachotherforpreeminenceorcenter
stage in their worship. And what Paul tells them to do is to get a grip on
themselvesandtobegintomaintainasenseofdecorumororderintheirworship.
Nowheisnottellingthemtomemindlessdrones.Norishetellingthemtosimply
parrotwhatothersorsaying.YouseewhatPaulwantsisfortheSpiritofGodto
beabletousetheWordofGodministeredthroughthegiftsofministryprovided
byGodtoedifythepeopleofGod.
NowwhenIdecidedtomentionthepossibilityofachurchsworshipturninginto
some sort of mindless parroting it caused me to remember a story in a book
writtenbyJamesAdamsentitledYankeeDoodleWenttoChurch.Itisalittlestudy
onthecolonialchurchinAmericaatthetimeoftheAmericanRevolution.Mostly
itsaseriousbookbutitdoescontainthisonewonderfullittlestoryandyouwill
see,Ithink,whyitcametomind.Adamswrites:
ThestoryistoldofaNewEnglanddeaconwho,becauseoffailingeyesight,found
difficultyinreadingthefirstlineofthePsalmthathewasliningoutforthechoirand
heapologizedbyobserving:Myeyes,indeed,areveryblind.
Thechoirthinkingthatwhathehadjustsaidwasthefirstlineofacommonmeter
hymn immediately sang it; whereupon the deacon exclaimed: I cannot see at
all.Thislinethechoiralsosang.
Page 4
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
Astonishedattheirlackofcompassion,thedeaconcriedout:Ireallybelieveyou
arebewitchedandthechoirrespondedwithoutmissingabeat,Ireallybelieve
youarebewitched.
Whereupon the deacon added, The mischiefs in you all, and after the choir
hadsungthattoo,thedeaconsatdownoverwhelmedwithdisgust.3
YouseethatsortofmindlessparrotingisnotwhatPaulwantedatall.Neitherdid
he wantthemwinging their wayalong in their worship.What Paulwantedwas
an intelligible service that had a measure of decorum and structure to it so that
chaosandgoofinessmightfindnohomeandinfactfeelcompelledtorunfortheir
lives.
Now all that having been said lets turn at last to our text this morning in
1Corinthians14:2640.
Now in verses 2632, Paul argues that when they Corinthians come together for
worship they are to impose a measure of order on their services. In order to do
thatproperly,PaultellstheCorinthians that theyneedto setsome guidelines or
boundaries on who they allow to speak. Paul explains further that the reason
boundaries and limitations must be set on who speaks and how they speak is
becausethegoalmustalwaysbefocusedontheedificationofthehearer.
Theninverses3336,Paulexplainsthatthisimposedorderlinessisnottheresult
ofsomeaxePaulhastogrindbutratheranaturalconsequenceofthefactthatGod
Himselfisorderlyandanavowedenemyofchaos.Andthenfinallyinverses37
40,Paulinvokeshisownapostolicauthoritytoemphasizetheimportanceofwhat
hetellsthemregardingorderandpurposeinworship.
Page 5
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
Now that having been said lets look at verses 2632 where Paul reminds the
Corinthians that their worship must have a measure of order to it. Look first at
verse26.
1Corinthians14:26Whatthen,brothers?Whenyoucometogether,eachone
hasahymn,alesson,arevelation,atongue,oraninterpretation.Letallthingsbe
doneforbuildingup.
ESV
Now Paul starts off the section with this wonderful little phrase, What then,
brothers?Theideaisprettysimple.WhatPaulissaying,O.K.boys,hereshow
allthatappliestoyou.4
He thensays,When you cometogethereveryonehassomethingtocontribute.
Theideaitselfseemstoturnbacktochapters1112wherePaulwaspleadingwith
the Corinthians to let everybody be included because God has spread the gifts
aroundatCorinth.Somecommentatorsseemtothinktheideaisreallyabitmore
negative than that.5 That is they think Paul intends to be a bit more corrective,
even negative. 6 They understand Paul to be saying something like this, O.K.
when you guys come together and everybody does whatever they want to
donobodygetsanythingoutit.7
But probably the idea is simply related to order. If that is the case then Paul is
sayingsomethinglikethis,O.K.becauseyouareafullygiftedchurch,everybody
hasagiftandeverybodywantstousetheirgiftinworshipbutyoucantdothat
allatthesametime.Imaginewhatthatwouldlooklike.Singingahymn,relatinga
revelation or especially speaking in tongues are not in and off themselves the
pointofworship.Norisanyotherthinginandofitselfthepointofworship.The
onlypointofworshipisChristHimselfandthebuildingupofHisbody.
Page 6
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
NowIamespeciallyfocusingontongueshereasapartofwhatPaulistryingto
communicatenotbecauseIhaveanyaxetogrindbutratherbecausetongueshas
beenatthecenterofthediscussionrightalong.Youcantellthatbylookingatthe
nextverse.ButbeforeIaddressthatIoughttosaythatthewordforhymnhereis
the word yalmo,j and it is almost certainly used to indicate some sort of new
inspiredcompositionratherthananOldTestamentpsalmwhichmaynotsitvery
wellwiththeideaofexclusivepsalmnodybutwelldiscussthatlater.8WhatPaul
isfocusingonisorderandedification.9Lookatverse27.
1Corinthians14:27Ifanyspeakinatongue,lettherebeonlytwooratmost
three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to
interpret,leteachofthemkeepsilentinchurchandspeaktohimselfandtoGod.
ESV
NowthefirstthingIwantyoutonoticeisthatPauldoesnotforbidthepracticeof
speaking in tongues. What he does do, however, is put some fairly stringent
guidelinesonthepractice.Firstofall,Paulsaysthatonlyoneortwopeopleorat
the very most three may exercise the gift of tongues in any one service. He then
focusesonthefactthattheyaretodowhattheydointurn.Theideaisthatthey
arenottotrytotalkovereachother.10Eachonethatisallowedtospeakmustdo
soinorder.Hethensaysthataftertheyspeaksomeoneistointerpretwhatthey
havesaidandthatifthereisnoonetointerprettheyaretokeepsilent.
Nowthatraisesacoupleofimportantquestions.Firstofall,howdidsomeonein
Corinth know whether or not there was going to be anyone there to interpret?
That is how was anyone in Corinth to know in advance whether someone was
there to explain what they say. And secondly it raises the question of whether
Page 7
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
someonewhospokeintonguesandnoonetointerpretwaseverallowedtospeak
intonguesagain.
Now I dont have answers for those questions except for the fact that it seems
pretty clear from Pauls overall design and complaint about tongues that Paul
expected tonguespeakers to pray for an interpretation in advance and to be
prepared to give it along with whatever they say in tongues or to be quiet in
worshipandtousetheirtonguesaloneathometoedifythemselves.
Now the word that is used to describe he meaning of what the tonguesspeaker
saysisnottranslateinyourESVBiblesbutratherinterpret.Itisnotthatthe
word that is used in Greek never means translate. It does sometimes mean that.
OneexampleisActs9:36.
Acts 9:36Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which,
translated,meansDorcas.Shewasfullofgoodworksandactsofcharity.
ESV
But the translators of the ESV and most modern commentators take it to mean
interpretonthebasisthattheythinkthetonguesthatarebeingdescribedhereare
not regular language but rather ecstatic or heavenly language. Paul continues in
verse29.
1Corinthians14:29Lettwoorthreeprophetsspeak,andlettheothersweigh
whatissaid.
NowyououghttonoticethatPauldoesnotusethephrasehereatmostlikehe
ESV
didconcerningtongues.Andtheideaseemstobenotthattherearetobejusttwo
orthreespeakersatmostliketherewerewithtonguesbutratherthatthereareto
Page 8
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
bejusttwoorthreespeakersatatimebeforewhattheysayisevaluated.InGreek
the idea is that the others, the other church members, are to pass judgment on
whathasbeensaid.Ithinktheideaisthatothersaretobeevaluatedintermsof
their faithfulness to what has been previously revealed and attested to be the
WordofGod.11
IlovewhatCalvinsayshere.
For it is of no small advantage, that there should be some that are skillful in
judging,whowillnotallowsounddoctrinetobepervertedbytheimposturesof
Satan,ortobeotherwisecorruptedbysillytrifles.Paul,accordingly,teachesthat
theotherprophetswillbeusefultotheChurch,evenwhiletheyarekeepingsilent
byjudgingwhatissaid.
It may seem, however, to be absurd that men should have liberty given them to
judgeofthedoctrineofGod,whichoughttobeplacedbeyondallcontroversy.I
answer,thatthedoctrineofGodisnotsubjectedtothescrutinyofmen,butthere
is simply permission given them to judge by the Spirit of God, whether it is his
word that is set before them, or whether human inventions are, without any
authority,setoffunderthispretext,asweshallhaveoccasiontonoticeagainere
long.12
Nowinverse30,adifferentpointismade.
1Corinthians14:30Ifarevelationismadetoanothersittingthere,letthefirst
besilent.
ESV
Theideaisthatifaprophecyisdirectedtowardoneindividualinthechurch,heis
towaitforthefirstbrothertofinishbeforeheresponds.Inotherwords,thereisto
alwaysbeasenseofdecorumandorderevenwhentheprophesyingispersonal
anddirectedtowardsomeone.
Page 9
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
Nowinverse3132,Paulsumsuphisconclusionforthisfirstsmallsection.And
theideaisthattheCorinthianscancontainthemselvesandexerciseameasureof
selfcontrolevenwhentheyarebeinginformedbytheSpiritofGod.
1 Corinthians 14:31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may
learnandallbeencouraged,32andthespiritsofprophetsaresubjecttoprophets.
ESV
The idea is that no one should be out of control. There should be none of this
business that a person feels compelled to speak so that they feel the freedom to
runroughshodoveranotherbrotherorsister.Paulsaysthespiritsoftheprophets
aresubjecttotheprophetsmeaningthatnoonespeakingbytheSpiritseverout
ofcontrol.C.K.Barrettputsitlikethis:
aprophetmaynotplead,assomeinCorinthmayhavedone,thathemustkeep
speakingbecausetheSpiritcompelshimtodoso;ifthereisreasonforhimtobe
silent,hecanbesilent.13
NowthereasontheyoughttobeabletocontrolthemselvesisbecauseGoddoes
notbreedconfusioninHispeople.LookhowPaulmakesthepointinthefirstpart
ofverse33.
1Corinthians14:33ForGodisnotaGodofconfusionbutofpeace.
ESV
IlovewhatCalvinsaysinhiscommentaryhere.
Herewehaveamostvaluablestatement,bywhichwearetaught,thatwedonot
serve God unless we are lovers of peace, and eager to promote it. Whenever,
therefore,thereisadispositiontoquarrel,there,itiscertain,Goddoesnotreign.
Andyethoweasyitistosaythis!Howverygenerallyallhaveitintheirmouths!
Page 10
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
Yet, in the meantime,whatwe actuallysee isthatmost peoplefly into arageabout
nothing,ortheytroubletheChurch,fromadesirethattheymay,bysomemeans,
riseintoview,andmayseemtobesomethingimportant.
Let us, therefore, bear in mind, that, in judging as to the servants of Christ, this
markmustbekeptinviewwhetherornottheyaimatpeaceandconcord,and,
by conducting themselves peaceably, avoid contentions to the utmost of their
power, provided, however, we understand by this particular peace is a peace of
whichthetruthofGodisthebond.Forifwearecalledtocontendagainstwicked
doctrines, even though heaven and earth should come together, we must,
nevertheless,persevereinthecontest.Wemust,indeed,inthefirstplace,makeit
ouraim,thatthetruthofGodmay,withoutcontention,maintainitsground;butif
the wicked resist, we must set our face against them, and have no fear, lest the
blameofthedisturbancesshouldbelaidtoourcharge.Foraccursedisthatpeace
ofwhichrevoltfromGodistheunion,andblessedarethosecontentionsbywhich
itisnecessarytomaintainthekingdomofChrist.14
NowIthinkyoucanseethatverse36isconnectedtoverse33inaveryrealsense
andthatwhatliesinbetweenisabitofasidebar.Iwanttoaddressthatsidebar
butIwanttomakesureyouseetheconnectionbetweenthefirstpartofverse33
andwhatoccursinverse36.Lookatverse36foramoment.
1 Corinthians14:36Orwasitfromyouthattheword of God came?Or are
youtheonlyonesithasreached?
ESV
YouseewhatPaulasksinverse36isthis, Orareyoualonetheonly placethat
theWordofGodhascome?Areyoutheonlyonesthatithasreached?Ofcourse
theCorinthianshavetoanswer,No,wearenottheonlyonesthatithasreached.
NowtheimplicationthatPaulisdrivingatisthatsincetheyarenottheonlyones
that the Word of God has reached their behavior should not be marked off as
radicallydifferentfromalltheothersthatithasreachedthepointPaulisgetting
toisthattheyareoutofcontrolinamannerthatdistinguishesthemfromallthe
otherchurchesinChristsKingdom.
Page 11
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
IlovewhatGordonFeewritesaboutthissection.HesaysthatPaulasks:
DidthemessageofChristoriginatewithyou?heaskswithsarcasm.Areyou
thefountainheadfromwhichallChristiantruthderivesthatyoucanactsointhis
matter?Areyoutheonlyonestowhomithascome,heasksfurther,sothat
you can carry on in your own individualistic way, as if there were no other
believers in the world? This is biting rhetoricWho do they think they are
anyway?istheimplication;hasGodgiventhemaspecialwordthatallowsthem
bothtorejectPaulsinstructions,ontheonehand,andbesooutoftouchwiththe
otherchurches,ontheother?15
Paul continues that same train of thought in verse 37 by appealing to those that
are spiritual or perhaps even better those who claim to be spiritualthat they
ought to recognize and acknowledge the things he is saying here about decency
andorder.Theexplicitpointheseemstobemakingisthatsomeoftheirnumber
have questioned his authoritybut that if they are really spiritual they will
understandandagreewithhispointaboutthenatureofGodforbiddingthekind
of chaos that had come to characterize their assembly. Look at how he says just
thatinverse37.
1 Corinthians 14:37If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he
should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the
Lord.38Ifanyonedoesnotrecognizethis,heisnotrecognized.39So,mybrothers,
earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all
thingsshouldbedonedecentlyandinorder.
ESV
NowbeforeIgobackandaddressthosefewversesstartinginverse33,Iwould
liketosayawordaboutthisnotionoforderliness.Presbyterianshavebeenknown
throughouthistoryfortheircommitmenttodoingthingsdecentlyandinorder.It
issomethingyoumayhavenotexperiencedandmaynothaveeverreallylearned
toappreciateinyourpreviouschurchexperiences.Butissomethingthatweaccept
Page 12
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
asasignandindicationofbeinginconformitywiththecharacterofGod.Hencein
oursessionmeetingswekeepaccuraterecordsofwhatissaidandvotedonand
discussed.Wedontincludeeverymindnumbingdetailofthosemeetingsbutwe
do keep records that indicate that the process was planned and orderly and
thorough.
Wedothesamethinginregardtoourworship.
Wehavealiturgyandwesticktoit.Wedothatbecausewewanttoconveythe
idea both to our God and to all that worship with us that we take our worship
seriouslyandthatwehavethoughtaboutitandwanttopursueitinawaythat
reflects something of the nature of God and something of the peace of God we
enjoyinChristJesus.Nowthatcommitmentshouldneverleadyoutothinkthat
ourworshipisstiltedordryitmaybestiltedordrybutthefactthatitisorderly
andhasbeenplannedisnotthethingthatmakesitso.No,ifitiseverstiltedor
dryitisbecausewehavebroughttoworshiphearts thatarestiltedanddryand
notsufficientlyimpactedbythegospelinawaythatcausesustobetendertoward
ChristandHischurch.
NeverletitbesaidthatfailuretoprepareandtotaketheworshipofGodseriously
isthekeytohavinggenuinelyspiritualworshipbecausewhenyouthinklikethat
youarethinkingliketheCorinthiansandthereisnotmuchdoubtfromthetext
thatmostofwhattheydidinworshipwasbothcontrivedandselfcentered.
Nowletslookatthatlittlesidebarinverse3334.
Page 13
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
1Corinthians14:33Asinallthechurchesofthesaints, 34thewomenshould
keepsilentinthechurches.Fortheyarenotpermittedtospeak,butshouldbein
submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let
them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in
church.
ESV
Now as you can imagine, this little passage causes all sorts of problems for the
modern church. First and foremost it causes problems for the modern church
because there are a great many people that think it is sexist. That is, there are a
great many people that want to argue that because the passage says women
shouldkeepsilentinthechurchesthatitistheexpressionandthoughtofamale
dominatedcultureandwhilethephraseisinthetext,itissomethingthatshould
beignoredinlightoftheincreasedlevelofsophisticationthatwehaveobtainedin
moderntimes.Inotherwords,weshouldignorethepassagesimplybecauseout
culture has developed insight and understanding to the degree that it no longer
applies.
Secondly,thereareanumberofscholarsamongthemmyfavoritecommentator
on1Corinthiansthatwanttoarguethatthepassageisaninterpolation.Thatis,
theywanttoarguethatthepassagewasnotactuallywrittenbytheApostlePaul
but was inserted by a copyist later on in the process of making copies of the
manuscriptthathepossessed.Thewaytheyimaginethatithappenedisthatsome
previouscopyisthadwrittenaglossoranoteinthemarginofthetexttryingto
explainthetextathandandthatourcopyistcamealonganinadvertentlyincluded
thenoteinthemarginintothetextitself.Thatistheymistakenlyincludedthenote
writteninthemarginintotheScriptureandthusalteredtheScriptureitself.
Page 14
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
Nowinthecaseofourpassage,youcanseewhymoderntextualcriticswoulddo
that.Theydontlikewhatthetextsaysandsotheyeditthetexttotheirlikingby
simplysayingitisamistakeforittobethereinthefirstplace.
Nowthereareafewplaceswhereinterpolationsdidactuallyoccur.Thatisthere
areafewplaceswherewordswereinsertedintothetextthatwerenotputthere
originallybythebiblicalauthor.Nowyoumaybeasking,O.K.Tomhowdoyou
knowthat?Well,hereshowweknowthat.Altogether,thereareroughlyabout
5,700GreekmanuscriptsorcopiesoftheNewTestament.Someofthemarepartial
copiesandsomeofthemarefullNewTestaments.Someofthemareveryold(first
century)andsomeofthemarelessthanthousandyearsold(whichisoldifyou
arefromEastTexasbutnotsooldifyouareabiblicalmanuscript).Thewayyou
canfindoutifsomethingmightbeaninterpolationisyoulookatthemanuscripts
andcomparethemtoseeiftheoldermanuscriptscontaineverywordinthenewer
manuscripts. If for example you found that a certain verse did not contain a
certainwordupuntilthe10thcenturyyoucouldconceivablyarguethattheword
wasaninsertionoraninterpolation.
Nowheresthething.Alloftheancientmanuscriptsof1Corinthianscontainthe
versesfoundin1Corinthians14:3435.Everyancientmanuscripthasthemandall
ofthelessancientmanuscriptshavethem,whichmeansinEastTexastermsthat
somebodywantingtoexcisethemfromthetexthastodososolelyonthebasisof
thefactthattheydontlikethembeingthere.
NowmyfavoritecommentatoronFirstCorinthiansisamannamedGordonFee.
Heisagoodmanandconservative.Heisnotafraidtoletthetextsaywhatitsays.
But,hewantstoyankthesetwoverses.Nowhisreasoningisalittlebitdifferent
Page 15
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
thanother,modernfeministcommentators.Hispurposeinwantingtosnipthese
twoversesisthathebelievestheycontradict1Corinthians11:5.
1 Corinthians 11:5but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head
uncovereddishonorsherhead,sinceitisthesameasifherheadwereshaven.
What Fee argues is that the verses in 1 Corinthians 14 are an interpolation or
ESV
insertionbecausetheycannotbereconciledwiththoseversesin1Corinthians11.
Now he does that knowing full well that there are no manuscripts anywhere of
1Corinthiansthatdontcontaintheversesthemselves.
NowIlikethemanandIfindhiscommentarysoberandwellthoughtoutbutI
think I ought to point out that what he does here has an inherent danger to it.
Whathedoesistosaythatthetextissoproblematicthatitwouldbebettertoedit
outtheproblemourselvesthantofacethetextstraightup.
NowIhavetotellyou,thatIthinkthatisdangerousandthatwhensomeonedoes
that without a really good reason it is tantamount to sitting in judgment on the
WordofGod.
Now that having been said, I thought rather than just tell you how other
commentators deal with the verses I would simply let you read someone that
addresses the problem for homework. The person I want you to read is a man
named D.A. Carson and his discussion of the text is from a book entitled
RecoveringBiblicalManhoodandWomanhood.16Ihavemadeacopyofhisarticleand
amgoingtoattachitmylessonasanappendixandputitonthewebpagesoyou
canseehowafaithful,carefulconservativescholardealswiththetextasitlays.If
Page 16
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
you have additional questions about the passage Ill address them next week at
thebeginningofclass.Arethereanyquestions?
Letspray.
RomanCatholicsIeditedthisphraseouttomakeitabitmoreapplicabletomyaudience.
ForgivemeBrotherLewis.
2C.S.Lewis,LetterstoMalcolm:ChieflyonPrayer(Orlando,Florida:HarcourtInc.,1991),pp.45
3JamesL.Adams,YankeeDoodleWenttoChurch:TheRighteousRevolutionof1776(OldTappan,New
Jersey:FlemingH.RevellCompany,1989),63.Slightlyeditedbymetofitthecontext.
4 Gordon D. Fee, First Epistle to the Corinthians NICNT, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans
Publishing:,1987),pp.690.FeesummarizesthecommentasWhatstheupshotofallthis?
5 F. W. Grosheide, The First Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 1953),
pg.336.Wemaysupposethatthemembersofthechurchwhopossessedspecialgiftsabusedthe
divineservicestobeheard.
6 David E. Garland, 1st Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,2003), 657. Garland argues
that the terse language has caused some commentators to see more than the words say in
themselves.
7GordonClark,1Corinthians:AContemporaryCommentary(Nutley,NewJersey:Presbyterianand
Reformed,1975),238.Clarkwritesthis,Theseversesmakealittleclearerwhathasbeenrepeat
edlyreferredtointheprecedingversesthegreatconfusioninCorinthianchurchservices.Each
one, in other words, nearly everybody wanted to talk, and they did so all at the same time.
Edificationwasataminimum.
8C.K.Barrett,FirstEpistletotheCorinthians(NewYork:Harper&RowPublishers,1968),327.See
alsoCharlesHodge,Commentaryon1Corinthians,14:26.Hewrites,Apsalm,asongofpraiseto
God. This can hardly mean one of the Psalms of the Old Testament but something prepared or
suggested for the occasion. One was impelled by the Spirit to pour forth his heart in a song of
praise.
1
Charles H. Talbert, A Literary and Theological Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (Crossroads
Publishing:NewYork,1987),p.91.
10IlovewhatCharlesHodgewriteshere,Undersuchcircumstancesconfusioncouldhardlyfailto
ensue.ItistypicalofHodgetoengageinunderstatement.
11Garland,pg.661.
Page 17
2008 Thomas R. Browning
From the Teaching Ministry of Thomas R. Browning
Post Tenebras Lux
JohnCalvin,Commentaryon1Corinthians14:30.
12
Barrett,pg.329.
13
JohnCalvin,14:33.
14
Fee,pg.710.
15
D.A.Carson,SilentintheChurches:OntheRoleofWomenin1Corinthians14:33b36from
RecoveringBiblicalManhoodandWomanhoodeditedbyJohnPiperandWayneGrudem,(Wheaton,
Illinois:CrosswayBooks,2006),140153.
16
Page 18
2008 Thomas R. Browning
