How is it then, brothers and sisters (adelphoi)? Whenever you (y’all) come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification / building up.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 (amplified and emphasis added)
I love 1 Corinthians 14! The more I study it, the more amazing it becomes. It has been a fascinating and freeing journey.
My journey with this chapter began in 2008 with 1 Corinthians 14:1 and Paul’s encouragement to “eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, especially prophecy.” From there, my focus shifted to verses 14 -15 and praying and singing in the Spirit. Several years ago, I became especially interested in verses 26 and 31 and Paul’s repeated emphasis on each and all participating.
At various points along the way, I also studied 1 Corinthians 14:34–35—the two verses specifically about women that this chapter is often known for. But more recently, my journey has shifted again: I’ve started looking at the chapter as a whole. Oh the irony!
1 Corinthians 14 is probably most known for the two verses that have often been used to silence women in the church. Yet those two verses have received enormous attention at the expense of the other 38 verses, which repeatedly emphasize the participation of the whole gathered community. That is not a minor theme. It is one of the dominant themes of the chapter. Paul repeatedly describes believers coming together and contributing in different ways for the purpose of building one another up. The Greek word synérchomai (συνέρχομαι), that Paul uses in this chapter (v 23 & 26, along with 5x in 1 Corinthians 11), means “to come together, assemble, or gather.” (1)
Paul keeps using the same notes and chords so that every gathering of believers is a beautiful symphony. The “ALL” is one note. Paul uses this Greek word 12 times in this chapter, often referring to the family of believers:
- He wants all of y’all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy (v 5).
- If all speak in tongues and an unbeliever comes in… if all prophesy… convinced by all… convicted by all… (vs 23–25).
- “For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged” (v 31).
- “…as in all the churches of the saints.” (v 33)
Adding to that note, Paul also uses 18 plural Greek “y’all's! One of my discoveries is that there is a YALL version of the Bible!!! Paul writes:
“So it is with y’all. Since y’all are zealous for spiritual gifts, y’all should seek to excel (2) in building up the church.” (v. 12)
So far, that gives us dozens of words emphasizing the collective nature of the gathered church. Paul also uses ekklesia repeatedly for the church, congregation, or assembly; adelphoi (“brothers and sisters”) several times; and other inclusive terms such as tis (“anyone”) and ho (“the one”). (I hope to share a verse-by-verse list with additional comparisons between translations in the comments, highlighting the 50+ words and phrases that contribute to this picture.)
This is the heart of the Ekklesia, that whenever people are gathering together as the Family of God, that all may participate in meaningful ways that encourage and teach everyone.
What does this look like for us whenever we come together as the Family of God, as God’s Ekklesia? (3)
Our gatherings are meant to be orderly, not chaotic, so it’s meaningful for all. It’s meant to collaborative and encouraging for all! The gathering is to build up faith and unity in harmony with one another as God’s Kingdom Ekklesia. Anyone who contributes and participates does so in a responsible and mutually edifying manner. It is always to be anchored in agape love (1 Corinthians 13).
How can we create more space in our Sunday worship gatherings, and in other gatherings of believers, for participatory worship, sharing, testimony, prayer, teaching, and encouragement? How might we make room for people to share what the Spirit is teaching them and what God is doing in their lives? Paul gives us plenty of permission! 1 Corinthians 11 & 12 along with Romans 12 & 15 also are very inclusive with similar emphasis on ALL!
I am part of a chaplain’s group in our community, and our gatherings give a place and space for everyone to share what God is teaching them along with what He is doing in our lives and ministry. It is a beautiful and encouraging expression of God’s family coming together where all can share, learn and be mutually encouraged.
That makes me wonder: What are some ways you have experienced this beautiful fellowship/koinonia of the priesthood of all believers? (4)
Let’s make our gatherings into a beautiful symphony together!
Comments
AMAZING! SEVENTY SEVEN!
the following is most of 1 Corinthians 14 with a cumulative verse by verse tally for the inclusive words Paul uses for men and women to participate!
There are more, but hopefully, this helps give a much more expansive and powerful picture of how inclusive this chapter is!
I CORINTHIANS 14
INCLUSIVE &/or PLURAL LANGUAGE FOR PARTICIPATION IN GATHERINGS OF BELIEVERS
(emphasis and amplified added to 2011 NIV, including amplified with 1984 NIV and YALL translation 1 Corinthians 14 - YallVersion.com)
V1 (Y’all) Follow the way of love and (y’all) eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy (that y’all may prophesy). +3x
V2 For anyone (he) who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people (men) but to God. Indeed, no one understands them (him); they (he) utter mysteries by the Spirit. 2011 NIV (1984 NIV, ESV, KJVs, etc use 3-4 male terms) +5x=8x cumulative
V3 But the one/everyone (he) who prophesies speaks to people (men) for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. +2x =10x
V4 Anyone (He) who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves (himself), but the one (he) who prophesies edifies the church. +3x=13x
V5 I would like every one of you / all y’all to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you /y’all prophesy. The one (He) who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone (he) interprets, so that the church may be edified. +6x=19x
V6 Now, brothers and sisters (brothers), if I come to you /y’all and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you /y’all, unless I bring you /y’all some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? +4x=23x
V7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone (no word in Greek) know (it be known) what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? +1x=24x
V8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? +1x=25x
V9 So it is with you / y’all. Unless you /y’all speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you (no Greek word) are saying (is being said)? You / Y’all will just be speaking into the air. +5x=29x
V10
V11
V12 So it is with you / y’all. Since you / y’all are eager for gifts of the Spirit, y’all try to excel in those that build up the church. +3x=32x
V13 For this reason the one /anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that they (he) may interpret what they (he) say. +x1=33x
V14
V15
V16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else (he), who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they (he) do not know what you are saying?
V17
V18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you / all y’all. +2x=35x
V19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. +2x=37x
V20 Brothers and sisters (Brothers), (ya’ll) stop thinking like children. In regard to evil (ya’ll) be infants, but in your / y’all’s thinking be adults. +4x=41x
V21 In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners (men of strange tongues) I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” +3x=44x
V22
V23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you / y’all are out of your mind? +4=48x
V24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone /all is prophesying, **they are (he will be) convicted of sin / convinced (“of sin” is not in the Greek, 1984 NIV is “convinced by all that he is a sinner”) (“by all” in Greek but not 2011 NIV) and are brought under judgment / examined by all… (**very interesting comparing this verse to various translations) +3x=51x
V25 as the secrets of their (his) hearts are laid bare. So they (he) will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you / y’all!” (+1x=52x)
V26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters (brothers)? When you / y’all come together, each of you (everyone) has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything /all must be done so that the church (not in the Greek here) may be built up. +5x=57x
V27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. +2x=59x
V28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself (3rd person singular, not specifically male) and to God.
V29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. +1=60x
V30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. +1 =61x
V31 For you (y’all) can all prophesy in turn so that everyone (all) may be instructed and (all) encouraged. +4x=65x
V32
V33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people (saints). +3x=68x
V34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. +1=69x
V35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. +1=70x
V36 Or did the word of God originate with you / y’all? Or are you / y’all the only people (Not in Greek) it has reached? +2x=72x
V37 If anyone thinks they (he) are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them (him) acknowledge that what I am writing to you / ya’ll is the Lord’s command. +2x=74x
V38 But if anyone (he) ignores this, they will themselves (he himself) be ignored. +1x=75x
V39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters (brothers), (y’all) be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues +2x=77x
V40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
FYI, there are about 25 male references in the 1984 NIV, however the Greek is actually very inclusive.
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