# Prophets in 1 Corinthians 14 ## Background - I want to repeat something I have said several times in other places, there is an excellent chance the "revelations" in the "Oracles of Bud" are NOT from God. On the other hand, in the off-chance they in fact are from Him, I don't want to be found dis-ing Him. {[[Oracles_of_Bud]]} ## Notes - All verse references are to **1 Corinthians 14** (BSB) unless otherwise noted {[[1_Corinthians_14|1 Corinthians 14]]} - What did Paul mean when he told the Corinthians, “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said”? In particular, does this verse establish prophet “accountability”? {29, [[Prophet]], [[Accountability]]} - Context - The whole chapter seems to be related to building up the church. Orderly worship seems to be a subset of that major theme. For example: {[[Church]], [[Worship]]} - Building up the church - But he who prophesies speaks to men **for their edification, encouragement, and comfort**. {3, [[Edify]], [[Encourage]]} - The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but **the one who prophesies edifies the church**. {4, [[Gift_of_Tongues]], [[Prophesy]]} - He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets **so that the church may be edified**. {5b} - Now, brothers, **if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you**, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? {6, [[Knowledge]], [[Teach]]} - Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, **strive to excel in gifts that build up the church**. {12b, [[Spiritual_Gift]]} - You may be giving thanks well enough, **but the other one is not edified** {17, [[Thankful]]} - But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words **to instruct others** than ten thousand words in a tongue. {19} - **Prophecy, however, is for believers**, not for unbelievers. {22b, [[Believe]]} - When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. **All of these must be done to build up the church**. {26b} - For you can all prophesy in turn **so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged** {31} - Orderly worship - If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should **speak in turn, and someone must interpret. But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church** and speak only to himself and God. {27-28} - Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. {29} - And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, **the first speaker should stop**. {30} - F**or you can all prophesy in turn** so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged {31} - For **God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints**. {38, [[Peace]]} - **Women are to be silent in the churches**. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church. {34-35, [[Woman]], [[Husband]]} - But **everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner** {40} - Thoughts - **Verse 24** is about the impact on non-believers of people in the church prophesying. It says that as a result, “he will be convicted and called to account by all” {24} - “convicted” [[G1651]] means to convince with solid, compelling evidence, especially to expose - On the other hand, **verse 29** says that other prophets, “should weigh carefully what is said” by their fellow prophets. {29}