“How is it then, brethren?”
The full verse · 1 Corinthians 14:26 · KJV
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Asked by
Paul: the apostle writing to the church at Corinth, which was "zealous of spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 14:12)
Asked to
Corinthians: the believers in the church of God at Corinth, who came together for worship and prized speaking with tongues (1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 14:12, 23)
The Scene
Having shown that prophecy can bring an outsider to "worship God" (1 Corinthians 14:24-25), Paul turns to how the Corinthians actually conduct their meetings.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionPaul stops to take stock. The commentators read the question two ways. Barnes hears Paul asking what is really going on: "What is the fact? What actually occurs among you?" Gill hears him asking what should be done: "what is to be done in the case he was about to propose?" Either way, the question turns Paul's teaching toward their gatherings, where many people came ready to contribute at once. Barnes notes that if all these things happened at the same time, "confusion and disorder would be inevitable."
The Response
What Scripture recordsPaul answers in the same verse: "when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Corinthians 14:26). He then gives order: tongues "by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret" (1 Corinthians 14:27); prophets two or three, one at a time (1 Corinthians 14:29-31). His reason: "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33). He closes the chapter with "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsThe Corinthian gatherings were open and participatory. Barnes explains each item: a psalm means one "Is disposed to sing," a doctrine is "some religious truth" a person wants to teach, and an interpretation is an explanation of something said by another in a foreign language. Gill clarifies that Paul does not mean every person had every gift, "but that there were some among them that had one or other of these several gifts." Gill says some of them had a gift of composing and singing a psalm on the spot.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyPaul does not scold the Corinthians for coming with something to give. He assumes "every one of you" has something to contribute, just as he taught that the Spirit gives gifts "to every man to profit withal" (1 Corinthians 12:7). The problem is not too many gifts but gifts used without regard for others.
So Paul gives one rule over them all: "Let all things be done unto edifying." Barnes calls it "the great principle, to promote the edification of the church." Behind it stands God Himself, who "is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33). Orderly worship reflects the character of the God being worshiped.
Look Closer
What one rule does Paul give for everything brought to the gathering?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, You are the God of peace and not confusion; what are You inviting me to bring to Your people, and how can it build them up?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- When you come to church or a small group, do you come mostly to receive or also to give? What shapes that?
- Describe a gathering where many people took part and everyone was still built up. What made it work?
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Come to the gathering of God's people expecting to give, not only to receive. A song, a truth you have learned, a word of encouragement: Paul assumes everyone may have something.
Then measure what you bring by one question: will this build others up? Sometimes that means speaking, and sometimes it means waiting your turn so another can be heard (1 Corinthians 14:30-31).
Order is not the enemy of the Spirit. Paul ties it to the character of God, who is "not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“What is it then?”
“What? Came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only?”
“If I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”
“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?”