Church worship and use of gifts: Paul contrasts speaking in tongues and prophecy. He closely allies the gift of knowledge, the gift of wisdom, and the gift of revelation with prophecy, while arguing that the gift of tongues in a worship service does not bring barbarians* together because the one cannot understand the other.
He picks out thoughts of "sound" with possible uncoordinated, unclear tones from a harp, pipe or trumpet. Everything sounds like meaningless noise. Who knows the song if instruments play indistinctly? Usually people woulld rather sing, "Something I know." Further Paul states the trumpet can only alert soldiers to the battle with a recognized musical signal. In verse twelve, Paul recognizes the desire of the Corinthians to have spiritual gifts, yet emphasizes his desire that they concentrate on having those which edify the whole church, not just their individual lives.
*Foreigners and conquered peoples from nations on the outer edges of the Roman Empire
NO TEAR UNNOTICED
4 years ago
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