Peter’s twofold summary of the twenty various gifts of the Spirit is comprehensive but not detailed; he lists the gifts of speaking and of helping…

Ignore Anyone Who Ignores These Directions (1 Cor 14:36–38) Paul forbids the Corinthians to start originating novel practices without conforming them to Scripture, which must…

This text is one of the most controversial in the New Testament, along with other Pauline texts that regulate the church role of women in…

The gifts should be regulated so that the congregation can maintain order (1 Cor 14:26–33a). This means that a congregation should regulate the frequency of…

Uninterpreted tongues are a sign of judgment for unbelievers, interpreted tongues or prophecy can serve as a sign that might lead to repentance (1 Cor…

Unedifying Uninterpreted Tongues (1 Cor 14:6–12) Uninterpreted tongues have no power to convey meaning, and thus no power to edify others (1 Cor 14:6–12). Paul…

Before Paul leaves behind his discussion on how the church should regulate the gifts, he turns from the general exercise of all the gifts to…

Friends may fail us—lovers may fail us—but love itself never fails. But then the eternal “God is love” (1 John 4:8). In keeping with the…

Love endures through every circumstance (1 Cor 13:7). Love reaps, not only because it sows, but also because it faints not. Love sows even in…

Love never loses faith (1 Cor 13:7). In relation to God, that means we take God at his word; in relation to man, it means…