“What does 1 Corinthians 14:29-32 say about prophets speaking?”

QUESTION: What does 1 Corinthians 14:29-32 say about prophets speaking?

“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.
For you can all prophesy one by one,
that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”
1 Corinthians 14:29-32 NKJV

ANSWER: It is evident when one looks at 1 Corinthians 14 that the meetings of early Christians were unstructured by present-day standards. This chapter presents difficulties to those accustomed to services where a man rather than the Holy Spirit alone is in charge. Verse 26 indicates in broad terms that brethren were free to participate, that participation took various forms, and that all participation must be for edification. The subsequent verses indicate certain limitations on this liberty. Speaking in tongues was limited to two or three speakers, and this only when one who could interpret was present; prophecy was also limited to two or three prophets on any one occasion, also with certain restrictions (the subject of 1 Cor. 14:29-32, the passage in question); and women were not to speak in assembly meetings (v. 34).

Verse 29 limits the number of those prophesying to two or three in one meeting. God’s people are human and He would not overload them. He has made us and knows that our capacity for what we can take in and digest at any one time is limited. A prophet was to speak as God’s mouthpiece, especially at this time when the full Word of God had not yet been revealed. Other prophets were to judge whether he was truly speaking on God’s behalf, and the others too were to pay heed to what he said. The meetings were not to be a forum for those with public gift to display that gift, but were to be meetings for the common good.

Verse 32 lays down the governing principle that those who participated orally in Church meetings were to exercise control over their own spirits. Self-control is a vital part of the ninefold fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. We see throughout 1 Corinthians 14 that not only what was done was important, but also how it was done. So here too, the one to whom the Spirit gave a revelation while another was speaking was not to interrupt, but wait until the speaker had finished. And the one speaking would make room for another led by the Spirit rather than insist on keeping the floor himself. Contrary to the custom in many churches today, all would be able to participate, learn and be encouraged.

Courtesy is always in order among God’s people. This chapter, however, makes even more plain that God is a God of order, not of confusion – and where the Spirit of God is present, all things should be done decently and in order (vv. 33,40). Man is not given the responsibility to devise an order of his own. To do so might well be regarded by some as the “profane fire” we see in Leviticus 10:1 (below). Rather, he is to seek out and submit to God’s order, as the Word teaches. If being led by the Spirit is to characterize our life, it should certainly also characterize our worship (Rom. 8:14; Jn. 4:23-24).

By Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.